Krista

I guess they're no longer 'participation trophy' gay dudes. Good for them. I know y'all were thinking it might should have happened before now. Maybe Joel can beat her to washing his sheets before she comes making that sort of chore round... and they can both miss out on that horrific scene.

She finally used her parenting voice on Joel. It was enough for him to perk up, it is weird that he probably felt more at ease hearing that tone than not. I do try to be a little careful with how I write her. I don't want her to be too much of a constant presence if that makes sense. Like the character in television shows that show up and into everyone's business.. etc. I may have watched too many silly little hallmark shows/films that have those types of characters... lately. I use them to shut off my brain so I can do other things with it.. lol. And poor Joel, Davin can be very tempting... 😮 But, I think it is mutual. They're starting to drive one another crazy... It sucks that shit hit the fan. But it is good that they accepted you back into their world... sometimes teens aren't that forgiving. Or they are more forgiving than adults. Who the hell knows anymore. He does like baseball.

I know what the birthday party looks like. I can assure you it would be Rissa's personal hell. The only question left is... did I put her through that or not.

The one time the boy chooses patience and manners and knocks. He was rewarded though.. not with bare ass... put probably something he likes better... maybe? lol Rissa is scary... Lance might not be, we don't know none of them get to say much before they get interrupted at their lunch table. But he could be scary, maybe. Rissa though, she definitely is.

hmm. Yeah this chapter was a pretty straight to the point sort of chapter. A nice calm section of life for them and they... took advantage of it I guess.

Everything took longer than it should have, I wasn’t eighteen, I had my wallet but the only real identification I had was my driver’s license. It was only two and a half years old. Celia took it all in stride though, with an unwavering smile. Every step closer to the Connleys that I took told me that I wasn’t going back. This stupid notion that I had a day or so ago seemed too far gone all of a sudden. Hearing my name over and over, the explanation that I was now living with and under the care o

You have scared me of late, @Valkyrie Also, I failed your other prompt challenge. But you may PM me another try. I can always finish the other idea in time.

I do like a good unreliable narrator, but even I have my limits.

Living on the edge, are we? lol... you're so brave.

Yes, I learned that lesson with my earlier writing. It is good to have a posting schedule, to complete the majority of the writing, and just allow you a window of valuable time without worrying. I did that with Learned to Lie. Then as I read comments, reread the story, and read the ending again. I started thinking that there's a bit of a rush, it felt rushed. Towards an ending that I had to really reach for.... And I remember the entire reason for that was. I repeated it over and over in my head. 'I don't want to be writing another story set in the confines of high school hallways.' But I also knew I set up Learned to Lie to do exactly that. So with me being bogged down in that mindset, I lost a lot of ideas, small, big, side-plot, side-character opportunities.. just because I was so sure that I 'didn't' want to write this whole school drama. And yet... it is a school drama. So that's my reasoning for making the leap and writing again. I'm already finished with one chapter. I'm almost finished with another. Hopefully, I can flesh out what I knew I needed to flesh out and still stay well ahead of the posting schedule. I will have to rethink some aspects of the ending chapter though.

Oh goodness. I am always excited about posting a new chapter. Anxious and excited. I keep waiting for the chapter that will completely derail all faith in me. I think I've been borderline on that front a lot over the years, yet here we are. It might be out later this evening or tomorrow. I'm in the process of writing a 'second' new chapter that wasn't in the original writing. The more I write those chapters, the more I realize that I needed to and was just bullishly looking linear towards the end. Did I say derailing? Spiraling might be a better word for it.

I went to my first one. No very many people came to it after they botched all the plans and kind of made everyone angry. I did some teammate reunions, but I'm still friends with some of them.. so it wasn't really a reunion. Otherwise, I don't like them. There's just this silly little pressure and awkwardness of talking to people that you've not seen since you left the place. Past a "how are you and your family..." and... "what have you been up to...." type questions it all falls apart.

🧐

😮 innocent, I swear. Wait who we talking about? If it is me then...

Maybe more of this when it comes to @wildone but the rest is lovely.

It wouldn't be a bad thing. I have enjoyed all the samplings of writing from you. Your distinct writing style is nothing for you to talk lightly about. It is so fresh to me that I wish I could do it. I can't find the technique or wordsmithing that you do. It feels and reads effortless, but I know that it isn't effortless. All good things. Your vocabulary usage, sentence structure, overall storytelling. I do enjoy it thoroughly. That is why I was on your case about this story some. Hope you didn't feel the pressure. And, I remember saying somewhere that if someone could write a catchy story where everyone is a satire, cliche, stereotype, etc... then I'd love to read it. Intention of pulling it off matters and sounds easily done. People fall into stereotypes unintentionally all the time. To do it intentionally and making everyone a bit chaotic and complete wrecks in their own ways... I think I've said it just feels so difficult to maintain. How far is too far? Do you allow them to grow far and beyond the chaos eventually? And his father does read complete Dad. Not Daddy, just Dad. The guy quietly manning the ship whilst the rest of the crew runs around him like angry hornets.

I know.. I know... sighs... I'll get back to writing now.

Not all of us can be mean, that's what makes the world a better place. Also, he'd have to become an insomniac to edit some of those chapters and we should all fear that, I'm thinking. If some of his cheekiness is coming from a place of sound mind and intention... think of what could come from all that mess.

Okay, I'm glad he talked to Father Matthew too, because his friends were feeding his freak-out spark and damn near turned it into a full-blown wildfire. I could feel myself growing more and more annoyed with both Kenzi and Lex in the sections of writing. They allowed him to freak out, and they were more impressed with the 'reaction' his kiss and what his hands had accomplished - than what that kiss and hands did to him, there was a sense of confusion, embarrassment, and fear with Skylar and they managed to feed all three. They were the opposite of helpful until Gabriel took control of that conversation. And I never saw someone kiss the hell out of someone, grab their ass... and then friendzone themselves so hard as Gabriel did this chapter. Is he that self-aware, that he can move on because he knows he'll be moved on from if he didn't? Or, is he waiting patiently for the mess that is to come with Ryan and Skylar? He also said the dangerous words again. "It was just a kiss..." but this time I honestly think he meant it a little bit. I still question his motives. No one is that puppy. Or maybe I'm just not wired that way myself. The conversation Skylar had with his family was also chaotic comedy for me. Thank you for that whole section. The father nearly inhaled and dry-drowned in morning coffee attempting to mind his own business. The confession and that whole talk towards the end had my smiling. I wish we had more people leading with Faith in the church instead of letting it fall well behind and quieted by everything else. I do hope it calms the storm that is his mother, I don't think she'll try to bathe him in allergy-infused holy water again. Not until he full on sins, but hopefully that won't become everyone's new meme whenever it does. I still don't think Ryan will take any relationship he wants with Skylar to the level that would be good for either of them. He doesn't have a strong poker face, but until he speaks the words aloud and to Skylar, I'm not going to think too differently. He definitely felt something, even the Father noticed. 😮 And, I do love your writing style. You throw in words, simple as they are, that gives weight and a bit of life to the scenes you create instead of broad stagnating words. Polynomials. Unnecessary, but far better than, "the equations written on the markerboard.." for some reason I appreciated that. Might just be my mood. Thank you for coming back to this story. I do hope some of your fears about the return of it have been alleviated. We're hooked. Let some of that pressure go.

Now I need to get back to work. I'll read this later...

Do not put me through that. He is bad enough with virtual restrictions and geography between us. Also, I'd emerge from that room with a smile on my face. Not a word written, a busted laptop, and a mentally broken Wildthing... I'm thinking. You guys do not know what I put that man through.

I remember Trace getting swatted on the arm for that piece of advice. 😮 But yes, the feet would overcome the knuckles rule.

Put me in a padded room with a couple cocktails of medicine, the more adverse the mixture of them the better if I even start to 'hint' at that.