Summerabbacat

Certainly the most "mist-ifying" chapter to date @Laura S. Fox. What do Jack's hallucinations or whatever he is experiencing signify? Has Theodore conned everyone? Did he slaughter his own pack or did he have a twin brother who did the dirty work? I have no idea, I cannot even begin to speculate what Jack has "seen" and what is going to happen. Outstanding chapter @Laura S. Fox

No sexy seductive musical accompaniment for this chapter @J J or @Laura S. Fox, just the "superior" vocals of a woman with a "habit" and a song about goats.

For me it is your seductive sex scenes which have set the musical flame alight @Laura S. Fox, especially in recent chapters. The name Theodore immediately made me think of Teddy Pendergrass, who was well built, always had a beard, could do a "mean" growl vocally, and had women (and I dare say a few men) swooning in concert.

"In the fourth game, the boy ahead of him on the depth chart at DE suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the first quarter. Jeff was thrust into full-time duty on defense." I know nothing of American football or football in general @Lee Wilson so must ask what DE means, if in fact it is a football term? I am very suspicious of the motives of Asha Williams, particularly after her mother's comment that it is convenient Leon's lives just a few houses down from where they are living. This may be a perfectly harmless comment in a @Lee Wilson lite story, but in Wilsonlandia things are often not as "innocent" as they appear to be. If Asha and/or her mother are not plotting something dastardly, perhaps a relationship between Leon and Asha will attract the unwanted attention of the local chapter of the KKK, of which a relative of Gavin Richter's or Melton Dixon's will be an active member.

Perhaps Liam and Adrian should both be honest with each other as each is carrying emotional baggage. What is the worst thing that can happen? They find out they are sexually incompatible, but they enjoy their time together so remain friends? They find out they are sexually incompatible, and don't like each other sufficiently to become friends?

Not as clueless as I thought.

The moment for Adam was emotionally challenging, and not just for those who participated in the tribute. Respite from the trial of their Uncle and associated parties, a form of therapy itself. And the dolphins, such magisterial mammals, bringing joy to all present. A beautifully written chapter @Paladin.

I should have guessed Peter is in love with Will; it is not just hero worship on his part. West's conservative morality is going to cause him much angst I think. Was it necessary for him to break up with Tony just because he kissed Peter? It does not really matter what anyone else thinks, as Andrew said he has to live with himself and clearly he could not do so. Teenage angst so well written @Topher Lydon.

"I am going to put these papers on that desk," Mister Greenwood pointed. "I didn't see anything, and when I leave this room had better be straight..." he corrected self-consciusly, "cleaned up." It's good to see Mr Greenwood has not lost his sense of humour. In a moment of deja vu, Will and Andrew are now Peter and West. And what's with the "hippy bean dip"? It may well be the type of food I eat, although if it contains kale, it is definitely inedible. Jenny-Lynn is pathetic, a spoilt childish brat. She and Brad, whom she previously considered "beneath" her, are well suited. May they be very unhappy together in their shallow "small" lives.

I too am surprised Will is dating a smoker. Tony very well may eat breath mints to improve his breath, but as an ex-smoker I can attest that everything about you stinks when you smoke, not just your clothes, hair and breath. It is a filthy disgusting habit. Will must ditch the Call Centre job. A heinous environment to work in, regardless of the position held. Matt urgently needs sex with someone other than himself. It appears a female would be preferable, but he apparently would not say no to a male either. Jason Jensen's parents are Baptists. If they are of the southern USA kind, Jason's brain will have been filled with all manner of hogwash.

I do not believe there is anything inappropriate regarding Peter's friendship with Will or his frequent visits to the home Will shares with Brody, but are Peter's mother, and perhaps more "importantly" his father (depending on his attitude towards gay men), aware Will is essentially co-parenting their so, including feeding him frequently it appears? I hope a friendship develops between Peter and Blake as it will be a good thing for both of them I believe. "Anyway, so I'm there today at the store and this pretty young thing came up to me, now me I'm always the first to compliment a pretty girl...anyway before I can get the words out of my mouth she's all like 'how you doing!'..." he laughed, "Girl's a player and I'm thinking 'damn girl... you can take me out anytime...'." He shook his head. "Yeah?" Andrew asked smiling, "And did you?" "Well I was about to, and then this little 'un came running up all 'mommy mommy' and..." "You ran a mile?" Andrew replied with a light smirk and a nod. "Hey, I'm no body's daddy!" Brody said holding up his finger." Is this perhaps a reappearance by the ghastly Jennifer who tried to get her hooks into Will before outing him? I cannot remember if Brody ever met; I assume if he did he would remember the vile bitch.

Mel is far more astute than Jenny-Lynn and has a wicked sense of humour. I did not like her initially, but she has grown on me with each passing chapter. She does her own thing and takes responsibility for it; offers no apology for her actions which others may view negatively, even though no one appears to get hurt; and, does not judge others for who they are. Brad is a tool. I suspected he might be a homophobe and he proved me right. Clearly West's friendship meant very little to him, other than someone to transport him around. Peter's revelation that Brad was a bully to other students surprised me somewhat in that I cannot fathom why West would want to be friends with him at all. Blake's teasing of Peter is relatively harmless and may be just what Peter needs to bring him out of his shell a little.

@Summerabbacat, wrong again. West and Tony did kiss with West's parents upstairs, albeit outside where they assumed they would not be discovered. Is West doomed to be like Will and Andrew, "caught" kissing at every opportunity? If I understood West's comments regarding his brother correctly, it appears he is aware Joey is doing drugs.

"You know he’s right, Jamie’s voice slipped in, calm, unhurried. Alex is trying to get close to you. You should let him in. I pressed my lips together, eyes on the closed door. “I’m not ready.” When, Adam? Jamie said softly. You know, I’m not here, right? I didn’t answer. Not because I didn’t know, but because speaking it out loud might make it true." Realisation, a very apt title for the chapter. It may have a double-meaning, at least. Adam's realisation, or perhaps admission would be more apropos, and the realisation, or at least suspicion of his friends that Jamie does not exist other than in Adam's head. I reiterate my speculation made in respect of the previous chapter, is the "fantasy" Jamie in Adam's head the only thing which propels him forward, which keeps him alive, which prevents him from committing suicide? Devastating chapter @ChromedOutCortex

It certainly appears to be so @CincyKris. This may explain why his family is perhaps unaware he has a tenuous grip on reality at best. The fact he continually lies to Alex that Jamie is on his way to pick him up is very troubling. Is it possible his delusions are the only thing keeping him alive, that if he unequivocally acknowledged Jamie is dead he may commit suicide?

With his parents upstairs? I doubt it, but I am nearly always wrong.

He is either attempting to matchmake Tony and West, or Tony is his drug supplier. I suspect it is the latter.

West is unusual for a man of any age, but particularly unusual for a man of 17/18 years of age. Unless he has been taking care of business himself, he will have a case of DSB beyond comprehension. Behind the facade of the quiet, geeky, goth lies a self-confident sexual dynamo, someone who knew what he wanted, went after it and seemingly got it @drsawzall.

Corcoran is the consummate stalker, like a tiger. Rick, through no fault of his own or anyone else, has been one step behind Corcoran from his first sighting at Bondi Junction railway station. Is @weinerdog's comment regarding Corcoran having a "mole" in the police department such a wild speculation? If Corcoran has been working alone all the time, then he may have at least one other disguise, perhaps his cousin "Danielle" or is it "Daniella"?

I cannot take credit for referring to him as the minor major @Doha. I was previously referring to him as Mr Carter until @drsawzall referred to him as the minor major. I thought this an even more "disrespectful" name for him and therefore totally appropriate, one which would incense him.

I could have written molasses in reference to the dessert comment or even more arse.

If the murder victim bears any physical resemblance to Rick, then it is quite possible Corcoran was the assailant again. I agree with my fellow readers, Helen and Rick must review the security discs before concluding Corcoran was not the killer. Hopefully Corcoran will be caught on disc somewhere on the premises, and if he is caught opening the fire door then he could well have lay in waiting in the laneway hoping for the opportunity to stab Rick, as Rick feared may occur. It may be purely coincidental Corcoran AND Rick were present on the night of the stabbing, but if so it is a whopper. Although Rick appears to be Corcoran's target now, Adam, Nick and Brad it they attend Mardi Gras, should be seated in the VIP area or watch it from the safety of a closed environment, they should not stand amongst the crowd of people who line the streets en route of the parade. It would not take much for Corcoran to stab one of the three, and he has become more brazen and unpredictable in the past week. Benevetti is an idiot. His personal "grievance/s" against Rick are blinding him to the fact Corcoran is a madman.

"Oh, and if you kiss..." his father said quietly, "use your tongue, nothing's worse than kissing a guy that doesn't kiss back." OMG, West's father is hilarious. And both parents, preparing him for his first date with words of encouragement and practical assistance. Mrs McGee was a bit of a sourpuss. Maybe she has never got over losing her son, or perhaps it was her husband, to Janis Joplin.

Of course Jenny-Lynn had to make it all about herself. She was upset so she had to talk to someone, she the "injured" party. Oh puhlease. If she is devastated she brought it all on herself. Had West ever had sex with her - no. Had West ever kissed her - no. Had West ever asked her out on a date - no. How did she make it all about herself then, to the point of asking Mel for advice. Even if he was not gay, maybe he was just not interested in dating her. As for all the haters at the school, West will only have to put up with them for a little longer and he is clearly strong enough to do so.

Two very different conversations with his parents reinforced what West already knew - he has been blessed with a mother and father who could not be any more loving and understanding, and who have set a great example for him his whole life. His mother's comments regarding "little Matt" humping his leg were very funny, but the piece de resistance was his father's comment "I know a good vet you could take him to". The subsequent discussions regarding his impending date with Blake and his revelation to Jenny-Lynn had an element of amusement, but were also poignant, particularly his father's statement he was proud of him for being honest and for his extraordinary courage. Wonderful chapter @Topher Lydon.