SilentandBroken

I’ll warn you, it’ll be difficult to do just one chapter. Especially in the beginning. It’s a tear jerker there. So worth it though. Great night reading as you settle for bed.

Now don’t go spoiling anything. I’m just sucked into this one. I know Ridley at this point besides Luke and Jackson. I’ll catch up ..wait I’ve read Learned to Lie

I don’t recall telling him to go slow 🤣🤣🤣🤣

It’s a simple yet powerful encouraging phrase which does much more than even Jackson has any idea of I’m quite sure. At least anyway, at this point in the story.

Damn what a chapter. Absolutely do not apologize. Every word was worth it. I wondered going in if Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb were going to do something. As soon as a relay was mentioned and they were in it I knew. I don’t know about anyone else but I kind of envision Coach looking and sounding like J.K. Simmons the actor and yes that man would scare the fuck out of me if he were my coach. I loved the fact that Luke and Jackson are obvious to everyone they’re around except themselves and maybe a little less so Grace. Boys just spill it. Let Grace handle Cinzilla. Epic chapter. Bravo

Awe come on you gotta love Ridley. If you’ve not just stopped and read for a bit Instead of writing all the time @Dodger has a GREAT story that is..I think somewhere in the neighborhood of 173 chapters now, and the main protagonist is someone who reminds me of Jackson

This was the chapter that they had their last bonfire on the farm and Cindy showed up that morning hunting for both Luke and Olivia.

Ally apologized for being a bitch..again. Only this time in front of everyone to Jackson and asked for a truce and to be friends again. Olivia didn’t put up with Cinzilla’s momma rage and gave it back to her. It was a big flex

I think Luke is really beginning to have more than enough of his mother. I think that both Cindy and Grace are going to have another huge fight about both boys and I think it’ll be sooner than later. Speaking of Luke and Jackson, kudos to Jackson for being patient, cognizant of Luke’s apprehension of coming out. How Ally will handle it (because we know eventually it’ll happen) I think depends on how she learns it and to be honest, how much time it’s been since she and Jackson have been apart. Right now she gives me the vibe she’s more insecure about herself than she’s willing to admit. She may be popular but she too is infallible. I don’t think she sees it as well as the others did, but maybe there’s a hint in the back of her mind. I wonder if a blowup between Grace and Cindy will be how that happens if she’s there to witness it. She seems to be not only very territorial but also protective. Right now she’s very misguided on those and has the two things backwards but she doesn’t have a reason to switch them right now. I can totally see her stepping up for Jackson against Cindy. Speaking more on Grace, I think Jackson’s parents will be more receptive and even supportive for more the same reasons. They feel guilty they’ve not been as openly supportive of Jackson in the past and it was so heartwarming to see the affirmation from them to Jackson when Cindy was all Cinzilla (yes I’m still cracking up at that). Henry too for that matter. Luke hasn’t date girls so maybe he’s got an idea. Cindy will be in 💯 denial and I think it’s going to be Grace to fix that. Kudos to Jackson for reigning in his petulance with his Coach. Coach is right. Props to Emily for knowing how to handle her father as well as Jackie too. I think Jackson will do better than everyone suspects in this meet because of his confidence but he also recognizes he’s not as good as he should be…yet. I don’t suspect that’ll be something he is going to need to be too concerned with for long. Charlie is cute, and probably Jackson’s best ally on the team. That boy’s gaydar is strong. Aiden got put in place and rightly so by coach in a very not so subtle way. I love it. What a dick. I’m glad to see the team’s individual personalities are going to come out more. I would love to see all of Jackson’s friends and family plus Luke come out to this meet. Maybe that’s what will happen. Jackson will have his temper raised and he’ll boil the water at this meet and smoke them all handily and in celebration at the end of the meet Luke will slip up and completely smother Jackson poolside in front of everyone, outing them both and if this were a utopian world, everyone will love it. Grace will just be happy her miracle baby is happy. Truly happy. In the end, that’s all she really wants and I applaud her for stepping up prepping his meals. It is giving her that thing she needs to do to occupy her restlessness and burn away the lingering guilt she’s built up. I really think what Jackson needs is his friends and everyone in his corner to really shine and have the team support him. In time.

Great chapter. Kudos to Ally..shockingly owned it. Kudos to Olivia. You go girl. I can’t help but feel for Luke though. Living under Cinzilla’s thumb has to be tough. Speaking of her, she’s gonna get served a whole pie of humble pie I hope.

Cinzilla! BUHAHAHA love it.

Every time Jackson tells Luke “Just be Luke” my heart melts. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how they trade spots sharing nuggets of wisdom for one another. Kudos to Lily. Kudos to the two lug nuts Derek and Toby. Kudos to both Luke and Jackson for coming together like this and stop this petty I’m mad at you but love you bs. As for Alley, yeah fuck her. Great chapter.

Really good chapter here. I think Emily is going to be the perfect coach for Jackson. As for Tony, yeah, I get it he’s got to run a tighter ship with some relaxed things on the fringes. These are all still teenagers. They’re going to test the rules in some way or another. I can see Emily becoming a close close friend for Jackson and THAT’S how she’ll be most impactful to reach him mentally as a coach. Perhaps it’ll be Charlie instead though. Something tells me at some point in the distant future Luke and Jackson will draw closer to one another and around then they’re bound to have a disagreement that will throw Jackson’s concentration and it’s going to be noticed by them. Right now, Jackson really doesn’t have anyone to use as a sounding board or vent stress off of. This latest disagreement with Luke and Luke wisely stepping back is subconsciously eating and Jackson and he’s going to make the first move this time now that he’s seen what that freedom looks like.

Those Townsend boys already view him as a threat to their perceived superiority. Classic narcissistic type of move.

Yep and I bet Jackson never even realized it at the time.

I don’t know how to handle the fight Jackson and Luke had. At first it felt like Luke was intimidated by Ally. He was clearly uncomfortable and hurting from the exchange with Jackson. The commute will be hard to be punctual. The practice’s grueling. I’m worried about Luke

It’s a bit early I think for her to put 2 & 2 together just yet I think. That said, those thoughts..yeah she has only so many options at this point and it becomes a mathematical equation. I expect she’s gonna start asking questions in ways that might lead her down that road soon a bit further that is of course if she doesn’t catch them kissing or at least in an embrace. I must add however, I sooo love how you describe their embraces. That is special.

I don’t think you’ve done that here. I wouldn’t even call Jackson a bad boy. He’s bored and not challenged. The only challenges he has up unto this point of the story is his swimming, his punishment, and Luke..and in a way himself.

No people don’t change that quickly but that isn’t to say it hasn’t happened. Sometimes they need a spark or a kick in the ass. The way Jackson did an about face with his behavior can be attributed to both Luke and his long term punishment

Is Grace already smelling out how close Jackson and Luke have become? They’ve given her plenty of clues without trying to. Plus, in most cases, mothers really do know their sons better than their sons are able to admit. The fact Jackson was so quick to drop Allison is telling to me. I would’ve been less surprised NEXT chapter. But, even if Luke and Jackson are not an item yet, dropping her now I think is good for Jackson because she’s shallow and the principle is her father and the fact that he really isn’t a Jackson fan would be better for him. Much less distraction for Jackson. Luke on the other hand, both distracts Jackson and helps him focus in a different way. He grounds him. Already we’ve seen Luke build him up mentally way better than a new boyfriend would normally. They’re behaving like they’ve been a serious couple for more than a year and know each other pretty well ..at least in this area. Yeah there’s still a lot they’ve got to learn about each other but the way Luke handles Jackson when he’s being petulant is both smart and strong. Every time Jackson wants Luke to push back when he’s being a spoiled brat to him Luke doesn’t bite. He backs off. I’m not sure if it’s because he knows that’s what Jackson wants or if Luke is just afraid of conflict. Perhaps it’s a bit of both. I also like the way Luke handles his own mother. From what we’ve seen, it’s much the same. Perhaps Henry taught him how to fight well as a couple. I see the same traits.

I was afraid this was going to happen. But, there is a huge positive takeaway from this. Luke. GO LUKE.

I’m really proud of Jackson in this chapter. Ally is on my shit list. She has a chance to change her tune although I don’t expect it. She’s pretty shallow. Heather gets a point for keeping Derek more or less..ok maybe less but more than anyone else aside from Jackson. Toby is tbd. I’ll chalk him up to ignorant. I don’t expect Jackson’s guilt to last long and I also expect how Ally acted will stick in his craw. Whether he calls her out on it is another matter.

I’ll dm u

Like I said last chapter, this is the beginning of role reversal for both of them. Jackson cannot resist Luke even as he’s tried to. Luke is terrified. Jackson perhaps said the most intelligent thing when he told Luke to just be himself. Something broke open in Jackson when they kissed the first time. He had some really smart counters to all of Luke’s “can’ts”. Luke will calm down some but it’ll take a while for them to navigate their comfort level coming out. Luke will realize things will be ok in time.

Well we know where Jackson got his impulsive street from… I hope the house isn’t burned down