Krista

Yes... for a lot of different reasons, unfortunately.

At least for now, she's behind him.

Yeah, Trace caught him in 'that' moment. People can come back to life, but sometimes they need to be caught right before, shown a different path and be helped along until they can walk it by themselves a bit better. It is sad, because for everyone who does, there are those that don't. He has shown some resilience, but I don't know if he would have had the chance to show himself that or not, not in the writing of Chapter one anyhow. I think people are too fast to end relationships, even with family now. Too willing to give up and be escapists instead of remembering and trying to stay, if there's something worth staying for, and it isn't too toxic of an environment for them. Joel couldn't stay after that, even if Lisa said all those things and let him stay, I wouldn't have written him as someone who stayed. If Lisa has a change a heart, she can find him. But yes, it still happens and not just with sexuality/coming out, but political differences, religious differences, disciplinary differences, etc. Go ahead and fantasize about Grady "Roy" with-Nice-Brown-Eyes Mason(Maison, because I've already caught myself oops changing his last name's spelling), so if I miss any, woops. It will be another Connor/Conner moment for me, for sure.

Yeah! Maybe?

Hmm. More than Cindy? 😮 Not to be off-topic, but (Do not read the spoiler if you've not read The Best Year...) I think the writing picks up a bit from this point on. There are some comments popping up that has me thinking I need to do some rewriting as well. They've been interesting. At least I have time to read and mull things over a bit.

Yeah, that last bit was a bit of new writing, because as I read this chapter (it was one of the 25k chapters that I split up), I saw that splitting it there, kind of left Joel's thoughts a bit... out there. I needed to bring them back to a more rounded out and central place. I liked the closing paragraphs. Joel is definitely guarded, maybe he won't be so guarded that he misses out. I'm glad you think Trace is still a strong role model.

Maybe. 😮 Or... maybe not. 😮 lol. At least Trace is trying to meet him more than halfway, definitely trying to wake him up with the jokes and promise of food and a roof.

Simon is the clam to Charlie's excited, flirty, outgoing nature. The rock that grounds the relationship and centers Charlie a bit. I didn't get into the dynamics of the lovers the "swim team" had, it was getting a bit clogged in the character department for me. If I developed Shaye-with-an-e because I totally didn't notice that I named two girls Shay until I remembered that Draeden had a girlfriend and that girlfriend had a name. At least Simon doesn't have to share his name with anyone else. He could have easily been a Gavin, btw, because apparently I can't go one story without a Gavin.

I can tell by the comments that this is the chapter that everyone was a bit miffed with me about, as it was a bit of a "nothing," chapter. I had to sit and reanalyze the story going forward, as I was worried sick that I was about to ruin these guys after all the building I put in all the chapters before this one. It was me seeing something different than what I think I wanted the writing to be.

I have three prompts on my "to do list..." but I never find the time to devote to them. I do have a story that loosely would work for Prompt 298; entitled "Sara's Joey." I wrote it ages ago, it was supposed to be for an Anthology, but missed the deadline by about two or so weeks like usual.

Yeah, I can dish it out, but I sure as hell can't take it. lol

Well you know, I did have a giggling Wildthing once tell me that I smooshed the poor balls off Jackson with the position I had them in. So, having help is helpful, even when it comes in the form of a cheeky Wildthing.

My oldest is hitting her early teenage years. I have that coming, the not listening. And yes, I believe that too. I didn't listen to my mother plenty of times, I do remember that. She reminds me often that my paybacks are growing like weeds... we'll see, there's four of them after all. Five if you count the selective hearing of my husband, but I also have selective hearing when it comes to him, especially if the words like 'camping,' 'deer season,' and, 'I want to fry some fish for dinner,' comes out of his mouth.

I've seen the cat gloves, the globe, and the kitty sleeve vets use just to trim nails, give meds, or shave matting, so flossing I'd say knock the little devils out. I'm saying this as a cat and dog person... I like them both. I do just own dogs at the moment though.

Aww, that sounds tragic. Also, if it does seem odd that I forget my own writing, I will say that TBY took a lot of years to write. I can't remember how many, so parts of this story were written a lot longer into the past than the end-date of the last chapter. I lost a lot of readers because they grew tired of my lack of posting, having to read chapters over again to know what is happening, and so on. This story is the reason I adopted the strict rule of not posting before I am finished with the writing, so I can keep a schedule. Unfortunately. At least you don't have to live through that torment if you continue your reading anyway. I am so far removed from parts of the earlier sections of this story that I can no longer remember it. The only claim to it is knowing that I was the original author. If you get a hint of my disconnect in some of my responses to you, that's more or less why... lol

He didn’t talk as I led the way across the hardwood of the living room floor. My cleats clicked and threatened to glide right over it, my feet were sore from having worn them as much as I have. Starting up the stairs, I felt him behind me. I wanted space but didn’t want him to leave my side either. I didn’t want one of them to get past him, even though all of them were out of the house leaving us to it. I wanted to get it over with before Mom convinced Cody to come back home. Being back so soon

I'll take your word for it, as I can't remember why they've fallen out, or how difficult flossing a cat would be.

Too bad he didn't hear this pep-talk.

It should be no mystery that sometimes Jackson is his own worst enemy.

I am not a good smut writer, but I am decent with dialog. I will always interject with something else during the act. I know in some circles, they will tell you that it is sometimes bad to interject and take away from the action, but when it comes to sex and sex stuff, I think dialog will forever be something I interrupt, or progress the actions alongside with. So, that is why there will always be some kind of talking there, some of it hot, some of it awkward, funny, and whatever else I think the scene may need to fill out the space. glad you liked it though.

Yeah, for once all the girls were a mess. I guess none of them are used to having long lasting falling outs with one another without anyone coming around and apologizing. I must admit I do not handle passive aggression well, I would have flipped out a lot sooner than what Heather did.

Yeah, I'm thinking anyone, but maybe Luke would have hit that door pretty hard, slamming it shut, and finding somewhere else to be. School or no school, failing, or not. Also, if he did make that decision then, he could have at least more easily finished out the semester. Finding a place might have been a bit difficult, but then again Toby is an only child with a single parent, so there's probably room. I think Grace and Craig would be like, "No, too close for shenanigans..."