Krista

Yeah, bringing Greg back into the story was something that I waffled on a lot. I thought maybe his story arc was done in the beginning, but decided to write him back in later. Mostly because the original story idea, the character that would have been Corey kept going back to the Greg character, overlooking someone that was healthy and good for her. I don't think the dynamics of Corey/Clinton was ever that he was looking over his shoulder for Greg though... but it could have been that way. I decided to make the conflict go a different direction though... and Greg wasn't ever toxic really.

Good, because I was never going to. lol... for reasons. I kind of wish I knew what you were talking about specifically in this comment, but for the life of me I can't remember most of this story. I think spin the bottle was during the school break-in that kind of got invaded by people who had the same idea in mind. I don't remember a storm though? Maybe as they left the party before the cops were called?

Well, I'll take the W on that. lol

Aww. Have I ever made a character suffer? Readers yes, characters? ? hmmm..

I am thinking rather villainous thoughts at the moment.

How did that make sense? Reading it back to myself it made no sense... but I was trying not to spoil two things.. as you've not read the whole story yet. lmao.

Aww. I think if I was raising a Westley, I'd need something stronger than wine.

We'll see just how resilient he really is, or not. He has to move on from this somehow.

This made me laugh... lol. I struggled with all the motorcycle writing... I know nothing about them. I'm afraid of them to be honest. I wouldn't see that as a suitable birthday present for a child at all, but Cora got him one and his father actually went along with it... up until he didn't.

Well he sort of is, at least riding the bench anyway. I wonder if that would be worse than outright quitting? I was a little bit selfish as a writer when it came to the dog... lol. I know I feature animals a lot in writing... sports and animals.. hmm. Jackson didn't have a pet for a reason as well. The dog was fun to write, how she came to be in his life... I wanted to tell her story, because at least out here it happens a lot. People dump these poor puppies and think they can survive, or that good people happen along and they get happy lives. That is not the case usually...

Oh no... I remember being rather cheeky when it came to comments back in the day. Mostly because I didn't know how to answer a lot of them, thinking I'd spoil too much. As you were witness to with this story, I think. *whistles* Yeah, this relationship if I'm recalling correctly did develop rather fast. There is a reason for that, a bit intentional and unintentional, but I felt it needed to be a bit more fast paced within the story. I didn't want it as up in the air, because there was some wasted time earlier in the writing... for them, not for the overall story. This is a dynamic I wish I was a bit more words into before tackling to be fair, for reasons.

Yeah, I remember thinking, is this going too far with this whole dynamic? Knowing how I wanted the story to go... Cindy never did that - mind you, this story is older than TBY. And aww. I don't know if Clinton has good bedside manners or not.

Exactly. Although, he is only on Chapter 6... my chapter 6 not this chapter 6.. of editing. So he'd have to scramble a bit. lol

Uhh... next Friday or Saturday, if I'm to continue being an Angel. 'bout Tuesday otherwise, we'll see.

I don't how much math is mathing and how much splitting is going to happen in the future, but please.. please.. please do not wish 40 chapters on me. There's 25 on my end... and I know you're one of the ones that discussed chapter length in my forum topic so you're well aware at some of these massive word counts to come... if all of those end up being split...

Aww, this made me teary-eyed a bit.

Aww.

Might be on to something....

It would be understandable if he does develop anxiety.

Yeah, two totally different mindsets with Trace and Lisa. They can look at the same person and see incredibly different things about the person they're looking at. It may honestly just come down to both of them knowing exactly who they are and how they want to treat the people around them. They both seem self-aware, for better and worse. They both have convictions anyway. It would be some sort of poetic justice, but I highly doubt Phil has it in him at this point of the story. Will he ever - is the lingering question. And, my former job had me dealing with Medical insurance companies, administrative duties, and people above me that thought they knew everything about everything. So, I found myself wondering if it was indeed an 'at conception," thing, or "learned behavior..." Either way... does little good wondering, doesn't make you feel better after having dealt with them. lol

Hopefully it doesn't get as bad as Disney and Stepmothers. Shew mercy. Mothers... I can't remember all their names, but some of my favorites are: Cora, Celia, Grace, Cindy, and the mother I wrote for the short story, "The Runner." If I ever get around to doing the other parts to that story, I think she has the potential to go down as my favorite to write mother. Y'all know if I was a true and honest rebellious sort that I'd post this whole story. I am honest in saying that I am my own worst enemy when it comes to that. Yes, Baseball, Softball, Swimming, and lesser market sports are so limited in what they offer. NIL money does help, if one can get it. We've seen some smaller sports be recognized... but he's far from that I'm thinking. And yeah, he describes himself as "average.." so.. that awareness might need to kick in a bit now.

That, and some he's not even entertained yet... coming on a lot quicker than he knows.

Yeah, who knew an asshole like Jonny Lundst Jr. showing up could be exactly what Joel needed in that moment? 😮 Although, Trace wasn't too, too far behind him and did the honest work getting him off that bridge. Distractions... something else the mind to focus on. We take that for granted sometimes, because they seem like invasive creatures when you're in better mindsets.