Krista

Thank you! I do give hints and descriptions in small doses. I hardly ever give out physical characteristics in the character's own voice. I do it in comparisons and interactions. I feel a write-up or a mock-up style physical description just feels like placing a stencil on a canvass and tracing. You get the project done, but it doesn't add to anything, but a quick gratification. To do it all in one go and so literal and thorough just, it feels like a sigh and not a conversation. lol. I don't like it, so I don't do it, I want people to get a sense of what they want in a character physically with little guides as to what I want them to look like. To set it in stone like a baseball card stat-sheet, it just doesn't work that well. So I am glad you like the little details. Gabe's question about Matt was 100% curiosity, because everyone who would know them - would probably want that question answered for themselves. A friendship like that being broken doesn't break quietly. I know that some people can see mannerisms or maybe pick up on inflections or like-mindedness and see a fellow, whatever, in another person. So Gabe may have picked up on Ridley's attitude or maybe even reactions or receptiveness to him as common ground. I don't know, I don't know that if Ridley was more determined to keep his secrets and be stubborn if Gabe would have broke out a strip-tease or something though. Lol.. although fun thought. Gabe was going to at least try to get 'the' story.

Ahh, I've read these comments backwards from Part 5 to this Part 1. Lol. I couldn't help myself, that and I hit the notification that took me to the last part and I was too lazy to do the two or three clicks to actually get to Part 1. Ridley came easy, the writing. I think that helped this story be what it was for me. It was a break from a story I've been working on for literal years. People bring up Matt a lot, Matt is the character and plot that got away, to be honest. I never really wanted to dive into that backstory, other than from Ridley's point of view. And that was, "I am not good enough to be Matt's friend..." and Matt proved that by not being his friend. There was always just 'enough' there to allow for some doubt into that logic though. Matt paid him attention and kept up with him enough to know what he was doing and that Ridley was shutting people out, maybe he cared that he was one of those people. I don't know, if I had settled into this story a bit better, Matt's story would have been told. I think the overall story would be better for it. As it would answer one of the looming larger questions, I feel. While I was writing it, I just wanted people to 'think' Matt was a bit of an ass. lol He may very well be, but it would require more words for the evidence to tell the entire story there. I am glad you picked up this story, your comments were insightful as well.

Loving the discussion! I answered below since both comments are similar. Yes, Cindy would have been one of his teachers at his old school, maybe not his grade specifically at the time the story is taking place. I have her substitute teaching for the Freshman class. I can't remember if I ever named what subject and grade level she formerly taught at her old school. -- As for Cindy knowing better, she does. There's a difference in teachers though, when it comes to their children they're going to act differently. You don't parent students at school, you parent them at home. So Cindy being a parent is different than Cindy as an instructor, she probably does stay well within her professional boundaries while in front of the class. She loses it with Welker because of outside familiarity with him, they go to the same church and have been friends since they were in that high school decades earlier. I don't want to sound like I'm defending her, but to keep her job, she would act differently. Outside of her work, in her mind - she's trying to protect Luke and she sees Jackson as someone that's going to send Luke spiraling in the wrong direction. (Down and a little hot). Luke also is acting differently than he has all of his 18 years that she's raised him and what is the factor that has changed... Jackson came unapologetically into her life with smirks, swear words, and a reputation that she has seen first hand and through retellings from Grace when they were friends. So she 'thinks' she knows both Luke and Jackson, where they are concerned she is 'right,' something will have to change her mind. I do agree she has been very cruel when it comes to Jackson, but she was willing to lose her best friends since childhood over it, so we know where her priorities are.

😮 😮 😮 Why can't you sleep after reading this? It wasn't scary or gore-y, do I need to put special warnings on it? Delete it? lol I'm confused or having a blond moment, either way I need answers. I don't want to keep people up at night. Well, a few restless nights for Steven doesn't bother me, he called me rude the other day and is giving me the silent treatment. So, he can be wide-eyed at 4am.

Yesss! Congratulations.

Ah, Prompt 49 inspired me, and I wrote a short story for it. I wanted to step out of my usual romance genres, and this gave me the excuse to do it.

“Can you believe it?” Livia asked as we drove down the winding road just at full dark. The moon was rising, but not yet over the tree line, full and chilling. Not because it was winter, but because we both knew it gave our enemies power. These nights the alliance between protectors and predators were always strained. Still, on this night, the chill of the moon didn’t touch me. We were about to celebrate our graduation from the Academy. “We’re finally done.” “Yeah,” I said as I focused on th

Jack is better behaved than Jack. Yes, Henry needs protected at all costs, I think. This story is really about Connor and Henry, let's be honest here. There is evidence to this throughout the entire story. Also, I wanted the guys to have a nice Cindy free day, they deserved one, they may not have very many of them in the coming chapters. The Christmas out in the snowy field during a full moon, is one of my top 10 favorite scenes I've ever written across all of my stories. At least I had fun writing it, I don't know how y'all feel about it, I'd have to go back and reread that chapter. It was a ways back there, so bringing it up was more of a treat for me than for y'all. Unless you remember it and feel the same way I did about the entire thing. lol Henry is the best of the best, we should all try to be like Henry - aside from marrying a Cindy of course, but nobody is perfect. The volcanic explosion probably happened after Luke left to be honest. lol, I do wonder how many defeats she'll take before she changes her strategy again though. Hmm. Thank you for enjoying this chapter and sticking with the story. Also, thank you for leaving a comment. Thank you for enjoying the chapter, leaving a comment, and sticking with this story! Sorry poor Cindy is always in the periphery, she needs to be there, if not the story doesn't really work. I hope I haven't overdone her though, I do fear that I may have. I almost had them be interrupted, but it wasn't Cindy, but decided nah, the boys needed two or so chapters of complete stress free loving. lol And yeah, there is no doubt in my mind that if Cindy thought something was going on next door, like a wild party... and Luke was somehow involved she would totally interrupt. In her mind, she isn't being cruel. She sees Jackson for who she thinks he is, a bad influence that is living a... I don't want to say sinful life? Unhealthy one, that will lead to his downfall. She has no respect for him. So her not wanting Luke around that, isn't cruelty - to her, it is protectiveness. We see it differently, because we see Jackson better, but she doesn't. I guess you can say she has a blindspot, but she is also very out of touch with teenagers and you really can't be if you're raising one. lol And yes, she wants a Luke that will listen to her, too, because she feels that she is right about things. It does make her all the more fun to write, I just hope I strike a decent balance with her, so that she doesn't overwhelm the story.

Hi hi! Sorry I never got to these comments, I did read them when they were first made. I promise I do live a little for each and every comment I do receive and am very appreciative of them. It is my busy schedule and my forgetfulness, I actually realized that I hadn't responded to these the other day, after I posted a new chapter. Lol... woops. Since these comments are a full chapter older, I'll just leave it at that. I hope you all are still enjoying the story as I slowly write it. I haven't started on chapter 45 yet, since it came out of nowhere after I ended chapter 44 (this is probably better discussed there). -- So thank you, for your continued support and comments, the discussions and the humor in them always put a smile on my face and keep me thinking on my toes.

Aww, this made me almost cry. I am so glad you read and enjoyed this story. It made me cry writing it, multiple times.

Nice to know I didn't break anything this go. The last time the archives updated, I wrecked it.

Good thing I live in the middle of nowhere, there's always parking. I honestly don't think I've had to parallel park since my driving exam when I was 16 years old. Lol. Even then I hit the cone and nearly hit the police car I was parking beside. Still passed.

The only thing you need to fear, @wildone is when you get cheeky and press your luck with me. I also didn't even realize it was Friday the 13th. Not having to work Fridays, I just sort of morning like usual, say bye to the brats and start my Friday routine of cleaning, napping, and pretending to do work whenever the husband has a view of me. So you know, don't really keep up with the date on that day. I wasn't superstitious playing sports either, mostly because I heard that some people don't wash their socks or they wear the same underwear if they have a good game or are on a streak of good games... and there I was half gagging at the thought of people doing that. So no... not for me. Aaron is a bit superstitious, but not about sports. During hunting seasons he gets bent all out of shape. He doesn't shave, that's bad luck. He doesn't wear the same outfit (he wrinkles his nose when I call his camo an outfit btw), and he uses different scent repellants, because apparently it is bad luck to use the same one. From a writing interest, it would be a bit funny to write a character with those quirks. It has probably been done here, but I've not read a story with a sports central theme that has a superstitious character. Generally, there are just some things a lot of people don't do... Walk under ladders, break mirrors, step on cracks in the sidewalk (unless you have a vendetta against your mother). A bird that flies into an open window is a bad omen, if you kill a spider it will rain, etc. I think I remember being told that one of my grandfathers wouldn't parallel park in the spot closest to a Stop sign, because he thought it was bad luck, I hadn't heard it since. That was back before the town he grew up in got stop lights though, so you know, quite a ways back there.

After we got back to the house, I barely had the door closed before Luke pushed me against the back of the couch. I was trying to toe out of my muddy shoes and he was pulling my shirt up over my head. With an agitated hiss I finally raised my arms and he pulled it up over my head. Watching him he smirked before he leaned forward and found my neck. I was struggling to keep up with him. When I finally had my sneakers off I grabbed the back of his head and pulled his attention away from kissing dow

Boybands did Bass (Lance was the Bass within that group, I think) singers something awful. They never got the spotlight except for the general one-liner. Bass singers today are rather celebrated, but the era of boybands waned decades ago. As far as being the only out gay former boybander, wasn't there one from a different band, outed a few years ago? I can't recall which one, it was an older band before my tastes changed to include Pop music. My mind keeps going to, The Beach Boys, but I'm not sure that's the correct group.

Good. Can't have all of you looking like over achievers, especially our Steven.

Me!? I was never a groupie, I heard about your younger days back well before Bill Gates got rich. If either of us were groupies, it would be you.

The band's name is N*sync you boomer.

I am aware of more homophobia and racism where I live. Being a heterosexual married woman, I don't get a whole lot of grief from anyone. The entire reason I am here, as in this forum, was partly because I have two friends that experienced severe homophobia in their lives. They were outed by, well not being computer savvy and hiding their searches. That was back in the mid-90s though and to be honest, I never heard the term Queer or the F-word until I was 14, it just wasn't discussed negatively or positively in my very tiny bubble. Fast forward to the present, I feel my area of the state (Kentucky), still experiences a ton of growing pains with regards to the community acceptance of LGBTQ. There is a growing presence here statewide as a whole I feel. Directly concerning my area though, there is absolutely nothing here and if you don't have Netflix or some other form of social/entertainment media, there isn't anything of inclusion to note. I lived in Lexington and that city has gotten better on that front, but way worse in a lot of others. I personally wouldn't recommend living there gay, straight, or otherwise. The other city I live near, is far more peaceful by comparison, but the community isn't as strong, but I feel it will grow with the city itself. Around me, we're a more live and let live, be neighborly sort of tiny community, but like I said, my ears hear things I'd rather not hear.

We've both been busy. This chapter was written like two-ish weeks ago and I've only done two pages of work on TBY since. It was actually meant to be a larger chapter, but decided to cut it off into a shorter one. The next one is a continuance of sorts, but I feel that the chapter after will be Districts and that will take me a lot of concentration, I've not done a swim meet for a bit. So yay for me, I guess. Oh.. and if the mood hits and you want to throw a tomato at Wildone, do so.

It was late when we got back, so late that Luke didn’t get to shut the engine off and stay with me for a little longer. We both also knew he had an argument waiting for him back home. It was pretty obvious that Cindy knew that Luke was with me, but I hoped she also thought there was more than just me. The bowling lie Mom told still felt like a stupid one from the start of the night and now that we were back home, I wanted it to be enough. Every light in the house was off aside from the porc

All I got from your post is that you have a cousin that looks like Cullen? You say? Lol. Dragon Age 2 was a big letdown for me. It sucks because I really liked Fenris and some of the characters and their stories. I didn't like how they didn't restrict romance options as well. The main plot was awful, it should have been a series of DLCs, that's what the entire game felt like. It did introduce Varric and Cassandra though, so at least something good came from it. I'm probably also one of the rare people that didn't like that we had pre-made Hawkes as well. I was more forgiving with Mass Effect, mostly because their character creation tools were so touchy and it took me ages. I use a blog to find attractive original Shepards now. None of the games are as bad as Andromeda though, where I happily took the premade characters. Ashley was meant to be xenophobic, but I agree it felt too dated for something that was so into the future. If they were going to do it, it should have been done with a more modern take on racism and xenophobia. A bit difficult to do, but they just made her so stereotypical and loud. It would have been better if the writing was more subtle, so that it is there, but not in your face. It would have layered her better, for better or for worst. I would still not be able to like her, but in all honesty, the whole basis of a lot of trouble within the Mass Effect universe was based on that dynamic. It just felt different coming from a human, I guess. Mass Effect 3 for the M/M romance is the reason I like the game best out of the three. It brought more story out of Kaiden and it did feel like there was a history and a connection between them, if it came completely out of nowhere, I wouldn't have liked it. The Mod probably added to that and enhanced the other games, which leaves me feeling a little left out. Consoles... They butchered Alistair in Dragon Age: Inquisition and I am still pissed about that. lol His character looked awful. Zeveran being the only M/M option in Origins was a bit of a letdown as well. I was very slow to warm to him and he was so easy to get romantic with, but not loyalty out of, story-wise. It made the romance end up feeling more physical and casual than actually romantic. It has been a very long time since I played Origins though, so I may be misremembering.

Welcome to GA, you will find your way soon enough.

Yeah, mods are good for PC gaming, not so much console. I don't play enough to really warrant a PC gaming set-up, I don't think. Also, if I did break down and buy it, I doubt the brats and the husband would let me on it anyway. You can M/M Romance Alistaire with Mods for Dragon Age: Origins too. As well as Cullen in Dragon Age: Inquisition. Mods are really nice for a lot of games of that nature, especially older when creators and studios were a bit hesitant to include the options. Kaiden as a Romance option later games doesn't really do it for me as far as M/M, if I play a male character in Mass Effect, I always gravitate towards Tali. You spend the majority of the game after ME:1 at odds with Kaiden as well.

I know what yours was, @wildone... it was written on the bathroom walls. --- To answer the question, I don't recall any nicknames, Krista isn't my first name so I guess that counts. I was the type of person that corrected people that attempted to call me by something that I didn't like. So that ended the Krissy, Kris, Tina, attempts rather quickly. A group of guys liked to call me Legs. And I still don't like pet names like Babe, Baby. I live in the small town south, we don't get very original when it comes to nicknames for girls. Guys on the other hand, there were plenty. Bub, Spanky, Ace... there was one guy in my high school that came to be known as Sure Shot... and not because he was good with a gun... or basketball. I think I used it in a story once, I can't remember.