SilentandBroken

I will say yes, however Gabe DID make it right with Ridley because Ridley’s mom’s permission vetoed Ridley there a bit and Ridley also finally got his head out of his own ass. I still want to see more growth between the boys. What about college scholarships? Ok ok I’m done I’m done ..maybe. 😆

UGH NOOOOOO! I wasn’t done. Gabe FINALLY got him to open up enough to start healing and growing. But to be honest, both his mom and his sister gave sage advice and testimony on how Ridley has been and how his behavior has affected them for the past two years. I get the task is daunting to come up with enough substance to make a respectable sequel that has its own storyline. I do. But man does this story need one. Even a time jump. Alas, I will accept your decision. Nicely done

Well that was disappointing. Cheer up Cal. Someone will cross your path and you won’t be able to resist. I’m glad you found the sense to listen to your intuition and hit the brakes with that asshole Draven. For that matter, with Kyle too. There’s more boys out there yet and you’re just starting to grow into yourself. Jonah is right about all of it. Listen to him.

Noah’s over the top efforts of compliments to Nick’s mom was a little nauseating.. the whole weekend at Nick’s was …surprisingly uneventful. This patience by Noah was also surprising. It definitely oozed experience to me. It was ..almost too perfect. Now my guard is really up and twitchy. As for Jack, sigh…it feels like he’s given up. I think he knows Bout him and Noah and perhaps the rest of the mealtime table too. He definitely missed Nick over the weekend. I must’ve missed the fact in the beginning Nick’s mom was a doctor. This might be important down the road. I’m really worried about Jack and I don’t think Nick has caught on yet. Jack is teetering on another breakdown.

UGH!! What just happened?! Like I know what I read but…RIDLEY!!!! What are you doing?! Pushing away a boy who obviously cares about you more than you understand. What is so bad so wrong so..too personal to let people know about what happened to your dad and why you were named after your father’s savior? And Gabe!! YOU! Ok yes you did an amazing job in that article but dude…you missed one major opportunity here in the still of the night. What Ridley doesn’t know he needs to hear is how you feel. Yes Ridley told you not to publish the story about his dad, and it’s fair for him to be a bit pissed about that, but ugh! I don’t even have the words at the moment to express what I feel. Gabe, you better make it right with Ridley. Ridley, get your head out of your ass. rant over. It’s clearer now that Ridley has accepted his orientation, I guess wanting to wait until after high school to come out but dammit. Sigh..

Ok HOLY FUCK I didn’t expect Ridley to be so bold so quickly. I mean yeah I knew he was frustrated and was feeling kinda horny ogling all that eye candy in the locker room but damn boy got after it. The way he just snatched his shirt ..I about teared up there more than the phone call scene. I couldn’t determine whether it was an impulsive kiss at first or an emotional one but then as Gabe settled in for it…sigh…. ok I’m drying up getting my shit together.. that last scene in the parking lot, lots in signs here that Gabe is a little Romeo. Held the door out of the gym after waiting for him after the game. He took his bag, and hustled around to get in. The amount of thoughtfulness he put into the gifts he’s giving to Ridley. Hell the amount of patience he’s shown Ridley from the first mtg makes me think he’s had him on his radar for quite a while. Not only is this cute all his doting, but how Ridley almost lost it emotionally when he realized what Gabe had actually done for him… I’m ok I’m ok..breathe…whooo. ok NOW.. looking back to the rest of the day and evening before all that ..all I can think is Jesus what the hell did Gabe write? In the span of basically a school day morning, all of the sudden Ridley is getting respectful looks and smiles from just about everyone who makes eye contact with him. His teammates are giving him the evil eye every chance they get and Matt! OMG Matt acts like they’ve never fought and are back to friends again. What the hell was in that article?! bravo Krista

Yes but Nick put himself in that spot. And well sometimes Jack too.

Ok I’m gonna drop my thoughts and then go back and read everyone’s before I lose mine. First off, this was a very telling chapter. But not just for Ridley. For Gabe too. For starters, Ridley is missing the opportunity given to him to use the article to express his wishes people stop using his given nickname he hates. BUT, since he doesn’t it’s become a bit of a double entendre. Sure it’s a play on his name but he’s keep his personality and life so close to the vest and pushed away everyone, he’s intimidated everyone in a sense because just as Gabe said, they DON’T know him so they make shit up. Ridley just doesn’t care to fix it. Gabe apparently is the only one who’s not intimidated. More on that in a minute. The other part of the double entendre is even more so because as with the true definition of a double entendre one side being sexual, sure it’s obvious to us readers Ridley is gay, I don’t think he is completely at full realization or at least acceptance that he is. So, maybe a double double entendre? Anyway, back to Gabe. He has given more inclination to lead us to believe he’s attracted to Ridley by way of is physical light touches, the respect he’s giving Ridley, the understanding, and patience. What’s more, is that I don’t think Ridley really even sees it. I think Gabe has gotten a true honest look at what Ridley is going through, the hidden pain he’s experiencing without Ridley even realizing it. Yeah Ridley is pretty selfish when it comes to socializing. That’s what he knows that’s safe though. Unfortunately in this instance, it’s doing more harm with the isolation. I think that’s the cusp of the issue between him and Matt. I hope Gabe sees that. I hope Gabe can bring Ridley out of his hiding and get him reconciled with Matt and possibly open to exploring a relationship with Gabe. great chapter.

Awesome start. Ridley comes off as feeling disrespected because people ignore his requests at using his name vs his nickname so why should he care about them either or their small town. I don’t blame him one bit. The students and staff, not all but a good portion seem shallow. Matt seems not but it’s fairly easy to assume why their friendship dissolved. Or maybe not. The way Matt spoke to Ridley seemed almost ..resentful but not why. I’m sure that’ll come up. Both boys seem to be ready to snap. All that’s needed is just a little more prodding from someone who is likely clueless. Gabe’s nudge was…interesting. Almost, affectionate, knowing. I hope something develops there. Others think Mara is the one who Ridley will lean on, my money is on Gabe.

I see it a lot. It’s sad. The primary logic is (using Phil as an example here) they don’t like conflict & it saves fighting just to not cross them. I’m like Oh whatever. It’s just delaying the inevitable and I really want to counter to Phil with “and what have we learned? In my mind he’s just as complicit in destroying the family because he cowed. However there’s another thought.. he might simply be in shock since all this and is starting to come around..

Ok I agree to a few points by others above. Small town rural mostly (I’m guessing here) white blue collar where in Joel’s family the mother wears the pants and is the boss and Phil goes along to get along. Trace on the other hand, pisses standing up as a man should. I can see, as mentioned, Lisa and Trace having similarities on paper but there are also some very stark differences between them too. One of them being, you accept your children for who they are, not ostracize and otherwise disown them. Lisa is blinded by her prejudice and shock..allowing those emotions to dominate her reasoning. Because of that she is weaker than her husband Phil. Joel is right. Lisa tore the family apart. If Phil grows a pair and stands up to her, will she kick him out too for siding with Joel? Hmm

Absolutely

I’m gonna go on for a bit here and sorry but I feel it needs saying to have it said. I can’t say for sure whether or not American boys at 14 are generally more mature that their European counterparts but I would imagine there wouldn’t be THAT much difference. That said, I think it honestly depends on the individual upbringing. We are dealing with kids that are already trying to cope with life that is ..well..let’s face it, a tad not normal. Not every 14 year old boy comes from abused homes or is abused in other ways. I’d say MOST don’t. At 14, there’s still very much an innocence to kids, that is by and large unless of course they’ve had traumatic experiences that force them to mature earlier. In my mind, it becomes the difference between the bullies and the kids being bullied. The kids doing the bullying are still ..invincible and don’t really comprehend the consequences of their actions on others. There aren’t repercussions for them. Hell, if it’s a group of them, they encourage it and that’s affirming the negative behavior. This behavior can go on full on into adulthood if the bully is never stood up to. Look how long it has taken US schools to instill anti bullying policies. They fail to work of course. The teachers and staff still don’t recognize it for what it is. Not until it’s too late anyway. Sadly teaching what to look for will never equal being able to recognize the behaviors of both parties unless they experienced it themselves. Bullied kids are forced to mature quicker as a means of survival for them. There are many forms of bullying and many levels of it. The more severe forms are obviously more easily recognized but usually by time the bullying has reached that point, that level of severity, it’s too late. The damage has been done. Trauma changes the mind. Literally. Areas of the brain develop quicker in some areas than regular kids and other areas fall behind elsewhere (social skills). I swear it feels like some folks who have never been through “it” don’t take it seriously and blow off the red flag warnings given by those who have and that’s one reason why the advocacy and research of childhood trauma specifically is so far behind. Abused kids learn as a survival method not to say shit to anyone in hopes it’ll just go away. One of the great things about GA is many of the stories bring a voice personal experiences of folks in a means of safely bringing to light what they experienced in a sort of semi-fictional safe format that is affirming which is HUGE to the abused person’s view of their own self worth. They feel safe enough to tell their story. Some of the anonymity of the internet helps there obviously. Sorry for the minor soapbox rant but I had to say it. It wasn’t meant as a berate at anyone or anything. I just wish I could write my story in a fictional style and write as beautifully as many of these authors do here. For that and the engagement all the readers bring to the stories, I love you all. Keep spreading love.

I wasn’t speaking about the anger he showed towards her on the phone in my previous comment. I was referring to his comfort he seeks with Nick in bed. Yes, you’re correct, we don’t know what’s going on and for a 14 yo kid to rip into his mother that badly, he clearly blames her for whatever he’s gone through.

I have a bad feeling Mark is going to spill the beans to Jack who Nick went with while they’re still gone and by time they get back, and repairing that needs to be done by Nick will be beyond difficult. Hopefully it won’t be irreparable.

Yep. He needs pick one and quickly ..before it’s decided for him. I’m for Camp Jack but that’s just me. I have soft spot for broken kids as I used to be one. Something happened to that boy.

Mostly but it had to start from somewhere

Great start to a story that has much more to say. I have an inkling of where it might go but I hope I’m surprised .

I think they have history. Both have been there at the school for a few yrs I think

Absolutely. Nick has his own anxieties from trauma of some sort. I agree the med given is much less a mood stabilizer for him than a sedative, although it’s probably being used as such off label, meaning that the medication’s primary use is more of a mood stabilizer but the side effects from taking it make folks drowsy and so there is a secondary benefit there because quality sleep affects their ability to keep emotion regulation under control.

You’re welcome but to be honest it’s from a personal experience from Trauma, specifically c-PTSD. I was initially misdiagnosed as ADHD until more was learned about c-ptsd years later. Unfortunately I see myself in Jack because at that age, I behaved very similarly for what’s it’s appearing to be much the same reasons. A lack of love and affirmation and good social skills. That said, I do have a vague understanding of abnormal psychological behavior that I remember from my college days. The abuse affects the social skills, which affects his appearance to others. He’s got some disassociation tendencies there too when he’s cryptic and emotionless in his responses WHEN he responds to Nick. At first I was thinking he might’ve been what was called Aspberger’s syndrome. Now I think it’s just another type of autism on the spectrum. But I don’t think that’s Jack’s deal. He’s just got unresolved trauma and it is affecting his social life. The school isn’t equipped or trained to handle it. Mr. G however, sees what’s needed but as an adult he can only do so much. Pairing him with Nick is already showing to be a great move, the best move honestly, so long as Nick doesn’t screw it up more.

Absolutely on both points. Telling Jack he loved him started the trusting process so well…only to be undone once Jack learns Nick invited Noah to his house after Jack already warned Nick Noah is not a good person. Jack is only going to speak when he wants and he’s very economical in his words. He’s straight to the point. He’s not going to fill the silence to kill it or hear his own voice. Nick will realize that very soon. Perhaps in a very difficult way. By not being transparent with Jack, Nick might lose Jack’s trust and affections to Mark. Remember, Jack already outed Mark to Nick earlier.

It’s not ADHD. It’s trauma. Whether it’s more emotional than physical is to be determined. Often times inattentive behavior looks like straight ADHD but it’s more likely straight up anxiety. That vitriol Jack had for his mother was definitely harsh but came from somewhere deeply personal. Given is other manic behavior, and his desire to snuggle up to Nick in bed and the almost childlike way he does so, this boy has been deeply hurt emotionally and for a long time. This can appear to someone on the outside as immaturity.

Great start to a very compelling story imo. I love your character building. I really hope you pick this one back up with part two with a chance at states or higher with the boys on this team in the next level being modified (8th grade?) and on into high school as Grady and Brennan’s friendship blossom and perhaps maybe Grady can go out for swimming in the off season to be with Tom too. Then there’s David. Anyway, there’s so much potential yet to this story. You’ve invested 5 chapters . I just hope you haven’t lost interest.

I’d wager Brennan is feeling jealous and doesn’t know why, doesn’t understand. Time will help