Krista

I'll attempt to break these all down: Here we are typically broken down into two categories. Districts and Regions. Regions contain Districts, so they're easier to understand. Districts are clusters of Counties and if you're talking sports - High Schools, Independent Schools that are private, and/or Independently coached Teams, like Jackson's within a State - Like say, Kentucky. Although Kentucky isn't where this story is based. This story is based wherever I based, "Standing In Shadows," in and I can't remember where exactly that is.. lol. Districts are broken down mostly based on Geography and what counties are neighbors or bordering them + independent/private/unaffiliated schools. Regions are made up of Districts that neighbor one another + independent/private/unaffiliated schools that are also within the same general locations. Kentucky has 120 Counties. There are 11 Districts + a ton of unaffiliated/independent schools and teams. For the most part, during the regular season, he would be competing in different places in general. They aren't restricted to where they want to compete. Some teams travel to different states during the regular season, it is just open competition. They may be required to go to some meets within the district, but for the most part it is up to the coach and/or athlete where he or she wants to compete. District and Regional breakdowns are only important during the end of season Championship Invitationals. District, Regional, and State. In Kentucky, there are 9 regions that combines and splits up districts based on general geography and how many independent/private/unaffiliated teams are in those districts. Being larger, if he broke a record during a Regional Championship Invitational, it would mean a lot more. He would be in a lot better company as far as past record holders and present competition. In Jackson's world, he's in a smaller district that contains no larger cities and they are an independent team. So him breaking a District record during the regular season, isn't a huge deal since his district isn't all that competitive. Also to add, I feel like most smaller districts would actually have 'more' independent and unaffiliated swimmers than actual school sponsored/affiliated teams... at least in states like Kentucky. If my research is correct, there are more individual athletes and independent teams than there are school affiliated ones anyway. I didn't want it to feel so individual and alone, so I wanted him to be in a team and within a district, etc. Technically I don't think you have to be, you just have to be individually good and if your times are good enough, you can qualify for these invitationals. At least at the District level since Regionals would require you winning your event finals at the district level or coming in a close second and hope your times hold up.

Amusing jackass is what I think when I write him. There's always going to be moments where you either laugh or roll your eyes. I don't know exactly how many more times he outright annoys everyone that reads the chapters as the story progresses though. lol

I love these comments. I set out to see how annoying I could make him, but still make him a character worth reading. I hope you're not completely discouraged.

Thank you guys! It only took me a decade and a half.

Oops! I did an iconic car an injustice by adding two whole doors to it. Lol. I think I've done that in earlier chapters as well.. *slaps own wrist* I'm glad you brought this to my attention. Not going to say why...

Hearing my phone chime, I groaned and curled into a ball in my bed. When it chimed again I swore and shoved a pillow over my head. Mom and Dad had just left for church, they always woke me up with their noise, but I never had a problem with falling back to sleep. “Fuck me,” I groaned when the chiming accelerated. I knew I was added to a group chat, no one would be blowing up my phone that badly this early in the damn morning. Reaching blindly behind me, finally finding it where I left it th

Thank you, now I don't feel as bogged down by having to do two more. For better or worse, I'll just press onward. lol I didn't watch much of the swimming this olympics, I didn't watch much of the olympics at all. One that I do like to watch is Triathlons though, the swimming, cycling, and running. It is a long event, but the men is worth the watch at times. I do watch the women too, but more for the actual event. *whistles* I almost had Emily recruit Jackson and Drae for Triathlons, but I didn't think Jackson would go for it. Thank you! You're welcome - I do usually have a sports backdrop in my writing, but this one I decided to do one where the sports aspect is central. Here where I live, you're just plain bored if you don't get into some sort of sporting, whether it be sports, hunting, hiking, etc. There is nothing to do otherwise but stare at a television and I don't like that kind of life. Although I spend a lot of time staring at a screen when I work and write. I do like the representation in sports now - there needs to be more of it.

They're not LGBT novels though. I didn't think we were 'only' discussing LGBT novels within this discussion. They both have distinctly religious and superstitious elements in them. So I wouldn't suggest them if you're only looking for LGBT representation as those definitely won't have them in there. Woops. To add, I've not sat down and read any life changing LGBT novels, most of my outside of GA reading with those elements have been rather mainstream and common themed.

I think I've said this in a different thread, but there's a local author here that wrote stories about impoverished people set in Kentucky and Michigan back during WWII. Two of her novels I really fell in love with and I actually take time to read them every year. Harriet Simpson Arnow's, The Dollmaker, and Hunter's Horn. They're not novels that would typically touch everyone that reads them, as it does focus (sometimes to the extreme) how people in Kentucky lived. I found her when I was in college and my professor had a poster of Local writers on the wall in her office. I had never heard of her before then, but I'm glad I got nosy enough to buy both books when I saw them on the shelves of a local bookstore that has since went out of business.

Happy tears can be very productive, Steven. Good for your digestion, maybe. Thank you for reading! Thank you for reading! I'm glad you enjoyed the swimming part of the story since it took up a lot of the space. Thank you for reading. And yeah, I bet Jackson feels a lot lighter after. He had a nice meet, where he performed well, but finally just bit the bullet, got brave, and got out what he needed to say. And not an explosion of any proportions either, so! Thank you for reading! Thank you for reading! I am glad you're still enjoying the story. Thank you for reading. I am so nervous about the swim meets, so the feedback on those scenes will always be welcome! Hopefully the next chapter won't be so angsty and the guys keep their act together a bit. I sorries, I might put in a disclaimer for the next swim meet they have. I am really glad you enjoyed the story and this chapter. When I write long chapters that include all the action and sports, I worry. I feel like they're dragged out and possibly boring! So this puts me at ease a little bit. Yeah! They did well. It was a nice meet for them to get their feet wet before the two championship invitationals. I'm glad you liked this chapter.

It’s Saturday and I still haven’t fucking told him. The day after I skipped, I returned home after practice to Mom sitting on the couch. She hadn’t lost any practice from her lecturing me, during my Luke induced good behavior stint. She didn’t appreciate me telling her that either. The rest of the week was filled with awkward silences. Cindy was still terrorizing her freshman English classes. Toby was getting surly about his detention all week, it was with Coach and knowing Tate he was still on

Cheeky, Steven. Cheeky.

Hmmm.. needs more pink. Otherwise, I'm excited to see what badges I randomly earn. I can see it being enjoyable for new members that don't have a lot of them grandfathered in.

Being ready for something, but too scared to do it is an odd mess of feelings. I don't like making decisions when I feel that way, but putting yourself out there bare boned and all heart makes those times a thousand times worse, so I do feel for Jackson. His go to strategy for big decisions has been stubbornness and/or being completely ornery, so we'll see if he's adopted a better way to do these things. Yeah, happy accidents when you're rewarded for stalking my stories, I'm afraid. Lol. I'm about as predictable as the weather when it comes to posting schedules, but I'm glad you got rewarded this one time. "The life expectancy of her control," is a good way to put it. I think everyone sees it but her, or maybe she does and she's doubling down to see if she can finally break Luke. If she does that, I can see her successfully ridding herself of her new Jackson problem too. 😮 I already know 'how' this story will play out, so I don't know if I can do the supernova of her vanity and justice or not. lol I'm of two minds on this, in the south disturbing dinner is a rather huge social no no. Unless you're like most families and dinners are spread across the house in front of televisions or phone screens, but if they're still family functions, then Cindy's anger is rather justified. On the other hand, not allowing someone who is visibly upset not explain themselves is also rather rude. Me, I don't like doors to be closed in my face either.. lol I don't know, I think a Jackson explosion may be good for the situation he's in. He's not the type to really quake under all of that, he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. Maybe he finally will and it will be at Cindy's expense? I don't know, I don't like to write and tell. It is so burdensome to bottle up important emotions too and these are new and big, so maybe it is also good to be worried about him. Either way - something, for better or worse - has to happen soon or everything will come to a complete impasse and I'd rather it not come to that myself. Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying the story! It is a big step and if you didn't see it coming or it isn't part of your grand plan... it makes it worse. It puts the pressure on for sure. I couldn't see myself in this situation really, I never had a big plan or a seemingly possible dream that I prepared for my whole life. So I don't really know how Jackson would make such a decision or go about weighing the options. And yeah, poor Luke and really, poor Henry, although - Henry might just be used to it by now. lol Thank you for keeping in touch with this story through all the delays and such! I'm glad you're enjoying the read so far.

The show looks interesting, Hulu is very hit or miss for me as far as original shows. I DNF most of the things I sit down and watch though, I think the only recent television series that I've watched from start to finish is, 'Merlin,' and that was years ago and only after it was on streaming and I could sit and binge it. If you make me sit on a premiere schedule, I will 100% DNF the show.. lol I just can't be bothered. So at least these streaming services that put out entire seasons helps me out a bit. There is a long list of highly recommended televisions shows though, that I have only gotten a couple of episodes or a couple of seasons into and then just got tired of it. But yeah, I've also never read the books, so that might save this show for me. Ignorance is definitely bliss when it comes to most book to film/show adaptations that's for sure. Showrunners and studios rarely do their source materials justice. Especially in this YA/Mystery genre.

😏 I am nothing, but predictable. Do I need to go into hiding if I do that? Lol.

After swimming and my ears ringing from Tony’s whistle attempting to keep me on task, I was glad to be home. Mom was in the kitchen finishing up the healthy dinner for us both. I couldn’t focus on Mom’s smile or the smell of the food. All I could think about were those neglected recruitment packages sitting on the kitchen counter where all of our mail went. Unlike me though, my parents opened the mail as soon as it arrived and either put it into a designated bill drawer or tossed it into recycli

It has been a while since I wrote this story/read it, but I think the store was failing for some time before they absolutely had to take that deal to sell it. Also, small town teachers and coaches don't make a lot of money 30 - 40k a year. So taking on a debt of that magnitude might mean short term living in that apartment. I mean once Cora/Mom gets full time employment + some of the debt paid off, they could probably move again.

Lol, I get the feeling that was complete sarcasm. In the south we say, "Bless your heart," for things such as these. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. It is, I enjoy writing them. It is getting a bit difficult to find the time and cooperation from my life to actually do it. I think Jackson loved so much were he was at, that he forgot about where he wanted to go. About the coach and lack of council from the people around him - I think in a small scene I had his mother did ask him about his future and the recruitment packages. That didn't spur him into action though. I want to explain my reasoning better, but I can't right now. So I'll allow the suffering to continue if you really want to know. Cindy... well we'll see Cindy again soon. Yeah, I've had some of those as well. Waiting for life to happen is the worst sort of waiting we can do. It is nice! If Jackson can pull all he wants off, he'll have to be rather determined. We've seen a determined Jackson before, maybe we will again. Thank you for sticking with it! I'll be fighting for more free time in the coming days so that I can hopefully get some writing for the next part done. Sometimes I wonder myself, how I come up with some of the things these characters say. I had forgotten for example, that Olivia retorted with, "In my pants," when asked where Connor's senior loyalty was. I laughed myself, so it was a nice surprise when I was reading it before I posted it here. Having read, "Standing In Shadows," after forgetting most of it, I surprised myself in that story a lot as well. Happy accidents like those are nice even for the authors that forget what they write.

Congratulations!

After the shower Luke had to get back home, he didn’t know exactly when Cindy would be back home. I walked him to the door not wanting to let him leave, but knowing I wouldn’t be able to convince him to stay. That and it was a school night and I didn’t feel like another Cindzilla rampage on my front steps, I doubted mom would’ve handled that well. I also didn’t want to see the conviction he has now, leave him. The strong set of his shoulders and the boundless energy as he fidgeted at my door, me

Yeah, maybe there is something to be said about first kisses in the middle of running for your life. lol. I don't know how many people could say their first kisses involved a good dose of fear. I really enjoyed the cat and mouse game the two guys were playing as well. It was fun to write and I could see it amusing and infuriating someone like Ty who was already battling with duty and having this odd character sitting across from him. I also don't know how much Jace would remember the maps, he spent most of his time in that room on his belly staring and swearing at a bulky table leg. Maybe his time should've been better spent studying. lol.

Thank you for taking time to review this story! Starting in the middle of action is just a good writing tool for some stories. I like there to be a bit of action, subdued or otherwise to start my stories. It just makes it easier for me, if I have to do three or four pages of world building I tend to struggle and think it is boring.

UV clothing is so soft, breathable, and light weight. I love wearing it out camping. It is moisture wicking and it dries very quickly when you're wet from swimming or something. So I highly recommend people do that - even the long sleeve options aren't hot or as hot as a heavier cotton for example. Especially if you're using clothes to cover up to keep from being sunburned. I don't have a sensitivity to sun like you either, I just want skin health. If I had a sensitivity like rashes, or blistering - I'd probably live in the clothing from May to late October.. lol. They are coming out with more fashion sensitive options in our area, before it was mostly tight one-note materials that looked more like athletic wear, etc. Although I don't care a whole lot about fashion when the temperatures hit ninety to triple digits regardless.

As an Eastern Kentuckian, I take offense (but I also know what you're talking about so fair play to you). You also speak the truth. We get a lot of our weather from the Gulf in the summer, so the humidity is what gets people. Dry heats aren't as bad - although - I bet no one feels comfortable in 110 - 130 degrees so I feel for those people that are living/have lived through the heatwave. Swamp ass is a thing here though and that's all due to the humidity making people sweat as soon as they walk outside. Not me though, I simply glisten. Still, if you're not a wildman living out in the wilderness, you have to wear clothes everywhere here. So I wear very breathable and very short shorts. If the occasion is more fancy I wear skirts. I can't get by without wearing a bra, so that's still very much a part of my wardrobe and thin t-shirts/strapless t-shirts. My hair is either braided or pulled up off my face and neck. I wear sunscreen. I wear more pastels and lighter colored clothing. Sunglasses are a must. Flip-flops are also a must. I've never been a fan of hats though, I feel even with the breathable ones they just makes my head too hot. I have dark brown hair, so it absorbs a lot of sun as it is. I'm surprised how many people are drinking sodas though. Sodas have sodium, sugar, and caffeine in them (one or two won't hurt you, but you still need to pair it with water if you're out in the heat all day), even if they're diet/zero sugar the substitutes still digest similarly. By that, I mean it dehydrates you quicker than drinking straight water. Dehydration causes body warmth and if you pair that with sweating, you're just hotter than you would be typically. So I only drink water and not severely iced down water either, quick/significant temperature changes that chugging cold water does to the body can make the rebound hotter than you were to start with. It also gives you headaches. Out camping I use a fan - we only camp where there's electricity, if that's not real camping please keep that opinion to yourself. So there is always air movement and shade trees/awnings are a must. Just being outside more helps. If you're stuck at home or work a lot your body becomes rather acclimated to the use of air conditioning. So just do more front porch/balcony/outside sitting when you can instead of being cooped up indoors. Early morning or evenings turn off the air conditioning and open windows. Just to change things up a bit. I spend a lot of time outdoors in the hottest months, I have to, I have children that enjoy that nonsense and I really don't feel like wondering what they're getting into. That includes a very tinker-loving husband and if I hear a boom I want to know first hand what happened.