Jjeffalch

I have to say, I'm surprised at how this is devolving. Given that Mommy Dearest and Ryan were in cahoots, I expected Ryan to trigger the crisis. But now, Sarah suspects Andre and that's going to be a nasty surprise for Ryan, so maybe he'll seek hIs own vengeance on Michael by revealing their affair. "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive"! I'm going to enjoy Michael's downfall 🤭

Not sure why Will cares what Thor does. So the hookup didn't work. So what? WillHe wanted to hook up with him, not start a relationship, or did he? Woll has never had a problem finding someone to sleep with--Fabien is a case in point. Thor threw away his chance and made a decision he'll now have to live with. He has made himself superfluous to Will, and that will probably the best thing for all concerned in the end.

Really despicable. Michael has earned every single bit of the catastrophe that is looming over him...he's more of an asshole than Ryan.

So, Nathan and Susan are not going to just "find out" about Michaek amd Ryan , they are going to "be told". This Ryan is not just an asshole, he is totally unscrupulous. I wonder how much "Mommy Dearest" paid him? I wonder if Michael will find out about her role. It won't make a difference, the damge will already have been done, but perhaps it will get him to finally and definitive kick her out of his life once and for all. Of course, Sarah will be out of his lifemass. Poor fool...

I liked the justice inherent in the ending. That so many months had passed since the confrontation with Nicholas at the lighthouse, that Brandon was delivering his valedictorian address—obviously, something very important to him; that this came upon him totally unexpected but with that cursive note from Nicholas explaining who was behind Brandon’s downfall…simply perfect. It totally deflated that supercilious sense of superiority, the confidence that he had “got away with it”. And the beauty of it was that he had absolutely no idea it was coming. I’m glad to see Nicholas reunited with Dawson, but Bali???? What about Jett? Will he let years go by before he returns to the son who loves him so fully? Questions that don’t really need answering. This was a very disturbing sorry, but as always, masterfully done. Thank you for a real experience.

If this develops as the last scene seems to indicate, I am now really glad that Ledger killed Tom on the cliff. Tom was obviously not expecting that to happen, it spoiled his play. His surprise at the last moment shows this. He expected to be there when the whole sick scheme was revealed, to revel in his revenge in Nicholas for rejecting his advances. Sick bastard. But Brandon is sicker. This was how he gets back at his dad, by KILLING another youth! I can only hope that Nicholas brings all this to Dawson, and that Brandon is prosecuted for his part in the murder. Nicholas can continue to love him as a father does, but Brandon belongs in jail as a murderer does.

Ryan is an absolute asshole. He not only decides deliberately to betray his own boyfriend, but he rides roughshod over the initial objections of Michael to force him, too, to betray his partner. He read Michael right, but he did NOT have to act on it. How despicable to follow your sick into a tryst that would destroy the trust of two siblings if it became known. I hope that when Michael gets back to thinking clearly he will realize just how horrible Ryan has been and have nothing more to do with him.

It is still always a surprise to see how the utter self-righteousness and self-absorption of some parents wreak perfect havoc with the emotional well-being of their children. The other parent absolutely has to stand up and be counted, to protect the defenseless minor child from the nasty attacks that never seem to relent, and to support emotionally the older child learning to stand up to the parental bully. For, let there be no mistake, this is the absolute WORST form of bullying, because it comes from one of the two people in the world who should love and support the child unconditionally. Michael's dad has connived in his wife's nasty bitchiness all Michael's life. He WILL lose Michael, of whom he is so proud, if he continues to let Mrs. Bitch dictate the relationship with his son. It will be his loss. That said, Michael recognizes where the problem lies, and knows inside himself that he needs to end this abuse to save himself and the save his relationship with Sarah. If he needed anymore incentive to break off that toxic relationship, that a aborted dinner was it...here's hoping he finally acts.

I share your concern about Travis cutting loose in NYC. He initially resisted the open relationship when Will suggested it, but he now seems to be actively embracing it - not just opening himself to the occasional unplanned tryst, but actively seeking them out. I foresee him coming up to Boston less and less, and by the time he gets back to Cali, well, who knows... Does EVERYONE in the Schluter family surrender any vestige of self control as soon as a male of the Sievres line beckons? Good Lord, they all line up to be put through their paces by Fab, and then gather round to hear their ratings!!!! These are supposed to be accomplished, self-assured gay men. What makes them get so swept up in this, unless it us some latent sense of competition among themelves to find who is the best of the best? But that would probably mean they're not so self-assured after all. I was particularly surprised that Matt and especially Wade allowed themselves to be shot up in that fever.

Like so many others, I cried through this chapter, while clenching my fists in rage. The heartlessneas of the abusers is indescribable, and when we stop to think that this exploitation is organized as a 'business with a bottom line', 2ell, the rage knows no bounds But through all that horror, @empath, your skill just shines brighter and brighter. It was masterful how you crafted the scene between Thomas and Micah, showing how the empathy Thomas has for Micah's trauma from having suffered through it himself enabled him to find just the right touch to reach Micah, and ease his terror. Wonderfully done!!

“Enough.” His tone was colder than she’d ever heard, his voice a solid wall of defiance. “I won’t stand here and let you insult Carter like that. I came here to tell you about us, not to ask for permission.” Laura froze, his words a slap in the face. A tear slid down her cheek, but she quickly rubbed it away, her anger directed back at Carter. She glared at him with an intensity that could burn, her hands balled into fists. “Are you happy now?” she spat, her voice wavering. “Are you satisfied? You walk into our lives and create a rift between mother and son in a single night.” “There’s no rift,” Jeremy said, his tone unwavering. “Unless you choose to make one.” Finally, I've been waiting thirteen chapters for this moment...!!!!! This mother, like all the evil mothers/stepmother in your work, @vanalas, has no sense of the boundaries between her own person and that of her son. It is long past time that Jeremy makes it very clear to her that she does not determine his life, whom he associates with, whom he loves. Jeremy made his position equally clear to Dexter as well, but that freak is so crazy, he's sure to go after Carter now, as @VBlew points out. Awaiting the next chapter with bated breath!

Jeremy seems quite okay with just leaving hus little boys without any explanation. He disappears for months without so much as a goodbye to the little ones and no message to them during his absence, and whatever happens to Carter that 'requires' Jeremy's presence, well off he goes, again without so much as a message. His mother is an interfering idiot who wants to run his life, but she must be driven crazy by these unexplained absences and when she finds out that they are all linked to Carter, well small wonder that she loses it. Where does he get that? Not from his own father, according to his description of the man to Carter in this chapter.

Crazy sillY little question—how did Karen know where to send her spy? Did she have Bruce followed?

What is it going to take for Carter to stop allowing himself to be so badly mistreated and disrespected by Laura? There were hints that he was beginning to stand up for himself in the face of her earlier tirades, in the last chapter, but then in this chapter he seems to backside. And what the hell is this that the police arrest Carter (for whatever it was he did) and bring him to Laura????!!!!! Who is she that this should happen?? And finally, what is the actual status of Dexter? He behaves as if he were the betrothed of Jeremy, but prior to abandoning his sons for 8 months (I STILL haven't gotten over that!!!), Jeremy was still so wrapped up in his misery at losing Ethan that he surely wasn't a part of that fantasy. So why does he put up with this entitled behavior from Dexter, and how does Dexter fit into this dysfunctional family in the first place? He seems to be living there full time...

He stays away from his boss for EIGHT MONTHS???!!!???!!! Okay, that is more than hard to understand, and more than a little self- indulgent. 😠

This last chapter was a catharsis. Until this point, Carter and Jeremy seemed destined to cause each other difficulties and suffering. Both had deep-seated unresolved issues that weren't being addressed. Now Jeremy has seized the bull by the horns and will work to regain control of his life. I hope Carter can do the same and start getting over his guilt trip about his father. Carter also needs to exorcize his aunt, just as Jeremy must exorcize his mother who trying to impose a bit of a guilt trip on him-- and also Dexter, who seems to have imagined himself into the role of fiancé. I worry only that Jeremy has now started this journey while Carter may not fully realize how desperately he needs to do the same thing. I would love to see you continue the story. Perhaps f first a few chairs about how each comes to terms with their separation and desires with their emotional issues, and then in a list phase his they come back together, handle the required exorcism, and build a life together. Bravo thus far!!!

"Elle was right. He looked like he was out of control. I didn’t trust him. Heck, I didn’t trust me neither". And there we have it. Dylan knows he can't control himself around Liam-the hormones overwhelm him every time. But there is a stopgap measure that teenaged bits have used since time immemorial to help when the hormones surge. It works. And Dylan knows what it is - he actually recommends it to Liam..."Feel free to jerk off.” "Liam was throwing me out of balance, challenging me, daring me to succumb to my desires and submit to him. But I wasn’t a fucking animal.". With all due respect, Dylan, I beg to differ. Despite all that perfectly rational introspection before the bathroom incident, literally mere moments later, he's in the bathroom 'succumbing' again. And hardly has Liam taken his pheromones out the bathroom door, rationality returns... Another animal metaphor (my apologies to the reader community, but in my defense, Dylan has been sorely provoking me)... when I was 8 years old, my Dad told me to bring the family cat to the car, we were going to get him neutered, so he wouldn't always be trying to get out and get some (well, he didn't use exactly those words but you get my drift). Simple solution to a simple problem. Dylan obviously can't put himself up for castration, so maybe he should just accept that he is out of control and do what his hormones are driving him to do, ride the telephone pole and just enjoy. When he gets to university, he can go on the hookup apps and easily find another 12-incher to scratch the itch without all the drama. sorry, but the last vestige of respect and sympathy I had for Dylan went out the bathroom door with Liam and his pheromones...

This is an interesting perspective-- you're right, he's not in "some sub/victim/ dependent mode", and if he can stay out of that, he probably does have a chance to get out of this situation. Here's hoping!!!

Thanks @Avogadro1001...I think many of us would agree that the Jake problem is the pressing priority. It strikes me that Dylan might even need some help from Liam and his Dad to be able to extricate himself safely, so maybe keeping Liam within reach makes sense on that level. But to be honest, I'm just mad at Dylan on principle. I don't really think Liam will get violent again unless there is some trigger event lurking around the corner. What I'm more worried about now is Dylan getting caught between Liam and Jake--Liam might just decide to find a white charger and come riding to Dylan's rescue as a way of making amends for his past crimes, and end up making things a whole lot worse. But, my Lord, I don't know when last a story has got me so involved! Thank you so much!!!!!!

Imagine you're a teenaged boy living next to a neighbor who has a very gentle Rottweiler you have known since he was a puppy. Beautiful regal animal! One day, without any provocation whatsoever on your part, that dog mauls you into the hospital. The same dog you took for walks, played with, gave treats to--you just do not understand what brought on the attack. You recover and leave the hospital. You figure something must have set the dog off, there is no other way to explain it. You become wary and keep your distance, but-- it happens AGAIN! No provocation. No external factors. Now, in what universe would you EVER AGAIN put yourself into the proximity of this beast?? No thinking person could consider this an good idea. But it seems that this otherwise smart, Ivy-league bound almost-adult is so thoroughly guided by his DICK that he willingly decides to open himself up to another thrashing from this admittedly hot guy who has done it twice and seemingly has ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA OF WHY HE DID IT IN THE FIRST PLACE????!!!!!???? What the actual F***? Maybe what set the Rottweiler off, what set Liam off those two times, was the color of the shirt Dylan was wearing on those days!!! The sex scene was undoubtedly hot, the next one in two days (our dear Dylan obviously won't be able to resist his urges for two weeks, even if Liam can) will be even hotter, I reckon. But he just killed any sympathy I might have had for him in his effort to resist Liam's " I love you to death now, though I almost BEAT you to death TWICE IN The LAST THREE YEARS". Because he has just GUARANTEED that Liam is NOT going to leave him alone! Go for it, Dylan--the guy is just too hot and that dick is just too majestic. But maybe you could usefully take the two days before your dick shuts off your brain again to figure out how to safely get out of the relationship with the presumed murderer?

Well! It might not matter at all whether Jake is a dangerous murderer or not, as long as Jessica thinks he might be. And Dylan seems to be on good terms with Shanice already anyway--smart kid like him could possibly find a way to bring up the Jessica problem to Jake, and have him unleash his mom, perhaps... okay, that was really weird, I admit--a testament to how tightly you have me wound up in this marvelous story!!! Thank you for that!

I love that Dylan threw his "dangerous murderous boyfriend" into the mix to give Jessica something to think about. I still think Dylan should talk to Jake's mom about Jessica, though--a quiet chat between the two might help calm Jessica's vengeful inclinations.

Dylan doesn't otherwise sound like a fool. His curiosity about what Liam could possibly tell him about Jake sucked him in to that seriously weird situation in Liam's bedroom, but I can only hope and pray that it was enough to counteract his physical attraction to Liam, going forward. I mean, Liam is an obsessed asshole with literally no redeeming character traits at all-for Dylan, he can only spell disaster. Dylan needs to cut him out if his life right away. I wonder, though, why Dylan would put himself into a position that guarantees that Jessica will try to take revenge on him thru his little sister. Who knows, maybe he can appeal to Jake or Jake's mom for a little assistance there...

I understand Jeremy's grief and wish that he finds peace soon. But none if that excuses his despicable behavior toward Carter. And where is Carter's sense of self-respect. Is there really no possible alternative to submitting that videos form of continuous emotional torture?

Really didn't like Rick's attitude about Joe Carlton's cheating on his wife-- Rick doesn't know her (though he knows of her), and so he's okay with getting involved with Joe and potentially causing problems in Joe's marriage, if it should get out. Who knows, maybe Joe's wife doesn't mind if he plays outside the marriage. But Rick doesn't know that, and i doubt that anyway-- notice that when Jiey Chinese to being in a relationship, Joe said nothing about a wife... Rick would not have liked it if Randy had done that to his sister, but hey, Joe's wife is not his sister. Double standard indeed! At least Joey felt a bit ill-at-ease.