Krista

As a mother that's dreading this realization more and more by the second this evening, thank you for washing your 'handy rag' on your own.

I'm just now starting to realize that I might have put off getting them off a bit too long. But, the creativity of all of these comments have been eye opening and I applaud each and every one of them. I'm just going to blush whilst I do it.

Eager, one could say.

Proof enough "If you give them an inch they'll take the whole mile." Thank you for proving that out with me. The next time my golden retriever husband says, "Let them go ahead and..." to whatever I told them no to, I'm going to sit him down and force him to read this. He's going to read this knowing full and well that he pulled the exact same thing on his parents too. My mother was different. She'd excuse a minute late. If you walked in hours late you better be ready for the lecture and following punishment. She gave us a curfew of 11pm on weekends and during the summer. Which, looking back annoyed me, that's usually when parties were at their peak. As a parent, I know she was being more than generous and my children don't get curfews, they're too young for them. Only one of them is free to drive, but she's also the most grounded as far as what she wants in life. Who she wants as her friends... and her interests. Of course she noticed boys a long time ago, but she kept them at a distance until more recently. She friend zoned a guy for years. He's been I don't want to say in love with her... for years, but definitely wanting more than friendship. I've seen it. His mother has seen it. My husband has muttered and grumbled about it... I think she's finally starting to see him. So, she may start needing a curfew in the coming months. The rest of them, bless them, are too young for a curfew. I am more than ready to be consistent though. The whole one minute is the same as one hour won't fly, that's certain. Thank you for this, you don't know how helpful to me you've been this night. I'm sure if my children could thank you, they would too.

To be completely honest, I've not put a lot of stock into their sexual dynamics. When I write sexual dynamics, I do want to progress them typically. I usually do when their relationship grows and they become more comfortable actually being in one together. I know people can and often do have sex before they're even sure about the person they're in a relationship with. Some people aren't far past knowing first names... and even then, a lied about first name doesn't stop them. Sexual dynamics in coming of age stories are typically progressive in nature. Progressive is a comfortable spot for people to write in. Step A leading to step B, that leads to Step C.

*whistles innocently* Now I'll see myself out thinking I successfully dodged that question.

Oh gosh. It took them 23 chapters to touch a penis that wasn't their own. Slow down, slow down... lets not freak them out.

Lacey and Trace would like that too. I honestly don't know if he has that much loss of control in him. It takes a bit to relax in the saddle and trusting the horse to at least be calm. I miss riding horses. Beautiful high maintenance wrecks of animals, but yeah, beautiful.

Oh gosh no... lol. I remember the Basketball puns in Ridley, but they were for more innocent things. Not these shenanigans.

Hmm. Maybe I should try that approach. Might get me left alone and my husband snoring quicker. I have writing to do, damn it.

I know raising two... soon to be teenage guys... I will not handle all of this well at all. I already know I'm sending the husband in to handle those landmines. My goodness. I'm not even sure if Celia could handle all this with her usual tact and grace. We don't know where Celia's line is drawn.

Yeah, Davin's head is more on moving forward with a 'boyfriend' in mind. I don't want to call Joel a bonus, but he is something that Davin probably didn't plan his senior year around. And, unlike Joel, Davin's senior year still looks mostly intact, just with the bonus of someone in it. And yeah, Joel will need to catch up after his own senior year comes more into focus. Davin is a bit if a shocking bonus for him as well.

They might think a bit more ahead before they make their messes. Might being the important word.

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.