Krista

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.

Yep. Colt got really snarky... shameful thing.

Four chapters. For now. I have a chapter titled 19.1, if I choose to allow that to remain something I am willing to post, there will be five. That number may change again, if I continue further. I am back to writing this story some, sadly. But I am doing so with the thought that, if it falls to the wayside or I'm not happy with it, then what I've added so far doesn't impact the ending or the story too much. And the Chapter document numbers do not match Posting numbers. So that's why that is titled 19.1. Because numerically and within the timeline it falls in the middle of 19 and 20. I am my own worst enemy with this, I'm seeing.

Yes, I have used the Mood toy.. err tool. And I can't remember all of them. I'm almost sounding stereotypically female aren't I? Before you answer, know that you will receive a generous sampling of a mood if you do. Tread carefully. As far as military goes, I wish I had an answer, because I know there have been family members, distant to me like great grandfathers, great uncles, etc. that have served and I should do better to at least know their names and how they served. Just overall be more knowing of where I came from. It is something I can rectify though, maybe I will. Most of my husband's friends are former and/or recently retired military. Marines and Army.

Celia said no more busted knuckles. I wonder if he remembers that? We don't know if Jaxton is the type to come at him like that or not. Maybe most of his tactics has to do with running his mouth and not using his fists. He might melt like a snowflake if someone got into his face and meant it. Or he could be very good at running his mouth and throwing punches. And, yeah, Joel has already shown he's more than ready to defend himself.

And, I got the bug to where it didn't allow my huge response to all this post. So I will just say: Yes, he is prickly. But what you explained aren't excuses, they're realities. Up until now Roy has been a periphery figure that followed Jonny around. Someone that Joel did not like, or held little respect and caused him torment for which Roy was a witness or possibly a lesser offender. Roy also did not denounce his friendship with Jonny. Jonny also vouched for Roy. Jonny will not be in prison forever. So, that makes Roy dangerous to let in. He also says things that annoys him, so there's that. And he's mostly fine with everyone else. Trace, Lacey, Celia, Colt - although their banter/communications can be prickly, but it is both of them doing that, Gavin, and even Lorianne despite being scared of her. He was prickly with Coach Finn, but neither of them knew what they were stepping in when they first met. That might have been doomed from the start. He's prickly with Davin, because Davin has this entire picture already in his mind. He sees the utopia that is Joel being their teammate for the season. That batting average and fielding advantage. The perks of spending time with someone that has a lot of shared interests and that he can kiss. So yeah, he's adding pressure. And any pressure for someone that's in a state of mind that Joel is in, isn't going to be well received. It is also pressure Joel has felt for a large chunk of his life. Pressure that recently exploded in his face. So yes, the two people that he is the most prickly with are the two people attempting to scale the walls. And you are correct, we're still less than a month into all this change.

Oh, Colt knows of the altercation. News like that didn't stay contained to the cafeteria three minutes after it happened. Social media and access to wifi and phones made sure of that and Colt has more connections than Joel does. Joel doesn't have many at all, so any attempt to get ahead of anything to 'stem the tide' or contain the fallout wouldn't work for him yet. And boys... I am trying to behave myself when it comes to Joel and boys.

I just have to mention couch and he changes his tune. And we have a nice couch, but that also means he has to share the living room at night with one hundred pounds of bluetick coonhound/black lab mix that snores loud enough that you can hear him over the television, and a little beagle that has toxic toots. When someone sleeps downstairs, they want to cuddle too and won't sleep in their beds. So yes, the mention of couch straightens him right up. No one wants to be the little spoon to a one hundred pound dog.

Knocking Jaxton's ego down a few pegs will do Jaxton more harm than breaking arms or fingers, I'm thinking. If you break his bones he becomes a "fallen hero.." you prove him out as less than he is, then he won't be able to cope. But that would mean Joel would become one of the 'monsters' he's scared of.

Oh yikes. 😮 That's a very terrible painted picture of a possible outcome, isn't it? I do wonder how long Westley would keep the secret. Or Cody for that matter. Kids who don't see an issue with something, because Cody doesn't agree with the decision to kick Joel out, might no longer feel the need to protect his secret. Maybe in an attempt to seek help in getting Joel back. But, I don't know if there are any monsters lurking in Tempton at least not as bad as his own mother.

*high pitched* uuuuuuhhhh! The one asking the question. No need for confirmation or polls.