Krista

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.

Yeah, I think it is safe to say that Joel does worry what Colt is thinking. Maybe at the peripheral level since there hasn't been a lot of time spent between them.

Reading all these comments about Colt have been interesting to me. I know most of it has to do with the limited space he's occupied with the story and being of similar age to Joel. I know there's a lot of weight in unknowns.

And... for better or worse you will stay in that same window for the next part. I knew going in, after the first part there would have to be a ton of transitional set-up for this story to build from. I don't think I have the skill that it would have taken to set up this transition within a few parts, then move on because I've been able to build the true foundation to this story. I decided to take a slower approach, mostly because I know if I tried to rush it, skip some of this... then it wouldn't feel real to me. Within my document space you guys are only in "Chapter 4" as well. Here it says 6. Splitting up the massive chapters 3 and 4 slowed it down even further, but those chapters were massive. "Chapter 5", which will be "Chapter 7," for y'all is also a bit long, I forget how long. "Chapter 6" is also a split chapter. So, I'm thinking that has something to do with it. Would it feel as slow if you guys were already well within a whole other portion of the writing... I honestly don't know. It was a fear of mine, splitting these larger parts up that it may mess with the pacing and add too much time to the timeline chapter-wise. I know you were just making an observation, I just wanted to explain what's happening a bit more behind the scenes. And yeah, if he was in the heart of the school year, then it would have been a rather messy situation. So, the calm of summer may be beneficial for him. It would have been an interesting write for me, I think. Still fully hiding from that speculation as well.

Jury is still out on if Colt telling them to shut up means anything other than them two being idiots and talking about Joel within earshot, or points to something deeper. Honestly, some people need to hear the words, "shut up," and they show it often. The twin inclusion in the dynamics was a breath of fresh air for me to write in these earlier chapters. Not a lot of time passed between Chapter 1 and to where we are now. The pace picks up when they're in the room, for sure. I would have a difficult time writing these earlier chapters if it was the Connley's and Joel, I think. And yeah, they both seemingly took it all in stride, at least surface level... the brownies may have saved Joel from looking down and seeing a missing Taco, for sure. I love that you included Lacey. You're also welcome. You can thank Wildthing for this story as well, it was his idea that I took on... without him giving me the green light, then I wouldn't have written this story at all. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far, I hope it holds out for you all the way. I really like the writing for the next part. I know I said that last time... and no it is not a ploy to keep everyone reading, but if it works... *whistles*

I'm lovely, he's the cheeky little thing... causing all the trouble and shenanigans. Me: Him:

Colt might also tell the twins to shut up, and call them idiots a lot throughout the day. But yeah, I think it is safe to say that Joel would be the topic of discussions that day - if not, then I'd have to wonder what else was going on in their lives to overshadow a whole new person coming into their lives on a seemingly mysterious and "permanent" way. More permanent than a "visitor," anyway. And, do the wimpy little burritos from Taco Bell really even count as Burritos? I think most fast-eating teenage guys could finish one off in two bites... after a bit of chewing, mind you. And I agree, what is Trace's problem? 😮 Rude... let the boy eat.

Aww, this was lovely. Yeah, Joel will need to settle himself in. Or try to... because he's out of options. At least it was one more option than he thought he had a couple chapters ago anyway. Right now, I think he could go either way. Close-in completely and focus primarily on an escape route, planning for a future to where he can be on his own. Or, he can adapt... but it all depends on how things go with the Connleys really. Something may happen that changes everything...

If there's a funeral, then I failed.

I'm baaaaack. Wildthing, I don't get mad, I get even.

Oh, right. I forgot he owned the apartment building that they moved into.

The rest of the ride he left me alone; I listened to the buffering sound of the wind coming through the driver’s side window. I could feel the warmth in the breeze that hit me, it completely overtook the air conditioning he left running. There wasn’t a cloud covering an inch of sky and the flatness of everything that told me we were close to being back at his ranch more than the leaving of the last town. We weren’t that far apart, as things went, but nothing looked normal out here three counties

CJ's dad sounds like a piece of work too, but off-screen for the most part. So maybe Cj is exactly where he needs to be... entitled and assy.

Yeah, someone who knows me well told me that I reminded them of Jenny a bit. I don't see it really, aside from being pushy... but really. *whistles*

Aww, thank you for this lovely comment.

Yeah, Cj and Clinton's dynamics were interesting to me. I think if I was writing this story now, it would be even more fun for me to write than I remember it being when I wrote it all those years ago. Corey's taste of freedom has been eventful, but I agree I think if he had his friends next to him, a lot of things would have been different. I don't think his dunk in the river would have happened, Cj would have been wrecked, I imagine. The concept of Summer has been mostly lost on poor Corey over the years, working, being conditioned for football, etc.

Fair. I'm sure Corey does as well. lol.

I think this is where I transition the story a bit, judging by the comments I'm reading. This story is a lot older than it looks as well. Most of it was written pre-GA Stories upgrade, when it was still an Archive. So the dates are a bit skewed as far as first published compared to the last date published for the last chapter. It was back when all Signature authors had "Hosted Sites," and Forums of our own. Typing that out, I suddenly feel old...

Yeah, I remember him being rather efficient.. lol.