BendtedWreath

Before I forget, I have to say that after @Myr's letter, reading that first paragraph brought a smile to my face. While I'm glad the two were finally honest with one another and that their feelings were mutual, it's bittersweet that they drew apart over the years. I enjoyed reading from start to finish, tbough.

Don't read in public if you don't want to become a blubbering mess or, in my case, an internal blubbering mess while looking like a stiff, constipated fellow. Just beautifully heartfelt.

I have never struggled so hard to not let tears fall while in public transportation in my life. This was such a beautiful, heartfelt letter. My heart goes out to you and to everyone missing @Comicality's presence.

I finished this story feeling a good few things. It's a testament to how invested you become in the wellbeing of these characters. Great foreshadowing, and definitely a story you'd want to read more than once

Reading Ian's poem after Shawn's story hit me deep. I'm glad they sorted things out. This was such a good read.

I look forward to reading all of these heartfelt entries.

I trust the opinions of everyone on this thread. Can't wait to give it a read! Update: Just came back from reading it and I agree with everything that's been said. Definitely worth reading!

“And I’ve already been informed it's not Devin. And that’s very good to hear.”/“Truth.” - HAHAHA! Poor Devon getting shit on from all sides. “Can I ask his name?”/“Brandon.” - Oh, he is really telling everyone now. “No one says smitten anymore dad,” - Says who? Youth. Right. “We’ll be out with the Hendersons and will be home sometime later,” His father said as he walked towards the door. He opened the door and said, “If it were me, I’d probably ask him if he wants to grab a bite to eat.” - Ah, the weight of experience. Such a cool dad. If you aren’t busy doing something crazy tonight like painting in the dark or hunting for more scrap iron. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?’/‘like a date’/‘Yes, a proper date, with me.’- LFG! (Let's fucking go!) “Oh shit,” Tyler exclaimed as he ran to the closet. He grabbed a pair of black skinny jeans that always made him feel good about his body. He pulled a black t-shirt over his head and checked himself in the mirror one last time before he ran down the stairs two at a time to wait impatiently for Brandon to arrive. - Haha! Run, brother! Brandon rubbed their erections together as he looked into Tyler’s eyes. He said softly, “The reason I was behind the shop building on Monday…”/“That doesn’t matter to me anymore,” Tyler interrupted quickly. “Let’s start over, fresh.” - I approve of this. Go Tyler. “For believing all that shit and for not giving you a chance to explain,” Tyler said softly. Then he added, “And for thinking what happened between us didn’t mean anything, because it meant something to me.”/Brandon swallowed nervously and said, “It meant something to me too.” - Look at these young men talking things out better than most mature adults. Why am I feeling so proud of fictional characters that don't even belong to me? Tyler pulled at his other pant leg and almost fell over when he lost his balance. He blushed and said, “Opps.” - Haha! Keep trying to show off. Tyler leaned forward, and shoved his cock as far as it could go and held it there for a moment. Then about the time Brandon’s eyes started to bulge, he used his arm for leverage and started thrusting in rapid succession. Brandon made little noises each time the boy’s cock escaped his lips followed by a satisfied moan when it was once again buried inside his mouth. - Goddamn it, why do I always get to these parts during lunch at work? I'm going to have to pause right here for now. I'll be back later!

Then he looked back at the shop building and added, “Fuck you too Brandon.” - Uh-oh. “She realized it was completely out of my way after school so it was decided it was easier for me to pick it up than anyone else.” - HAHAHA! Tyler blushed and then added breathlessly, “I have a friend who has been struggling with his sexuality lately.”/ “I see,” Daniel said thoughtfully as he rubbed his cheek. “And you thought you might be able to get some insider info to help him figure things out.” - Oh yeah, the closest friend ever. Knows him inside out, that friend struggling with his sexuality. “Why do you think we got an Alexa for your room? Order that for yourself.”/Tyler turned around and asked innocently, “You got me an Alexa just so I could buy condoms? Why didn’t I know this before?” - HAHAHA!

“See, this is called getting to know one another,” Tyler declared as he stood up. “You don’t want to jerk me off, and I don’t think I want to jerk you off.”/“You’re going to be a handful,” Blake said with a shy smile. He decided he might as well go with the flow and take his cues from the younger boy. - Haha! They drove in silence for a few minutes and then Christine said lazily, “If it doesn’t work out with your mystery boy, you could always go after Brandon. He’s cute in a hey I’m an asshole kind of way.” - I'd have told her there and then. She wasn't serious, but she still hit the nail on the head.

He told himself it wasn’t to avoid Tyler’s disappointed gaze. It was just easier to walk all the way around the building and then back along to the other side of the campus than to cut right across the quad. - The lies we tell ourselves. This is so freaking relatable. And sitting this close to her, he had to admit, even if only privately, she was beautiful and smelled like raspberries. It was not an unpleasant smell but he hated her immediately. - HAHAHAHA! Brandon stood there for a moment before he replied carefully, “It doesn’t matter if you’re right or not. Tyler is straight and no one says methinks anymore.”/“I know the family, if he’s anything like his old man, he likes you back,” Matt informed him with a serious look on his face. - WHAT?????? Just who is Tyler's real dad?? “It’s not you,” Tyler called out as she slammed the door in his face. As he watched her drive away he said softly, “It’s because of a boy named Brandon.” - Oh, so we're telling everyone, now?

Brandon Myers threw the brush across the room in frustration./Tyler Scott had to be the most annoying person he had ever met, including his parents. - Uh-oh. But I'm glad we're seeing Brandon's side of it, too. It does take two to tango, after all. But as hard as he tried, and he tried all night, he could not push Tyler from his thoughts. - Brandon, buddy. Why don't you talk to him about it? So he had taken his time to draw Tyler as he truly was, a sexy boy with a crooked nose and devastating smile. - Ok, this one sentence stabbed right through my heart. Both because it was shock-full of "Brandon-ness" and the other because I also once fell for a sexy boy with a crooked nose and devastating smile. Didn't look a thing like Tyler, but it stung, nonetheless. Another reason to hate the confused straight boy that wrecked his calm existence. - Brandon, I swear I'm not laughing at your pain, just this sentence itself. You were the one who slept with him, no? Also, I love that they each thought a similar version of this of each other. That's just the cherry and sprinkles on top. That would be the last time he’d think with his dick instead of his head. - HAHAHA! Famous last words! Never say never. “What’s up B for Brandon? And what the fuck are you wearing?” - His feelings. He's wearing his feelings. “His name is Owen,” Brandon said absently. “And I gave him lots of chances.” - Wait, Owen?? How do I keep forgetting this tidbit? Their eyes locked and Brandon quickly turned away. He immediately regretted doing so, he did not want Tyler to have more power over him than he already had. He turned back and Tyler was still peering at him across the quad. But this time, Brandon would not be the first one to look away. - Ah, teen drama and staring competitions. I don't miss any of that at all. “Billy, the best thing for you is to find a new friend, maybe one that feels like you,” - That's also what I've been saying.

This strange boy had complicated his already complicated life. - Tyler, I swear I'm not laughing at your pain, just this sentence itself. You were the one who sought him out, no? “I told your father a hundred times that STW was going to come back and bite him on the ass one day,” She continued right on with her lecture as she rubbed burn cream over his shoulder. “But no, he thinks it’s some kind of badge of honor to have started this stupid tradition.” - HAHAHAHA! “So all you really wanted was a ride home?”/Brandon shrugged as he shoved his fingers in the air vents to warm them. He said, “You were the one that texted me.” - That's basically what I've been saying. “Believe me son, some men are just born bad. Matthew Garrison is one of those men,” His father said as he pointed at Tyler to drive the point home. - Uh-oh! That doesn't sound good at all. Maybe Brandon was right anyway and he needed to learn to get accustomed to a string of one night stands. - Whoa, whoa... not everyone feels that way. Just find someone who feels the same way you do.

You had to navigate the best routes to your classes, coordinate the best table in the quad to meet for lunch and lay claim to the table you’d be using for the rest of the year. - All while hoping your things don't get stolen if you leave them unattended. Or was that just my high school? Either someone really liked me or really hated me with the random objects that would disappear when I wasn't looking. There was just no way he would get an A in AP Calculus, not with Professor Robertson and his reputation of never giving anyone an A. - I'd say to pester the professor until you're more familiar with the subject than he is, but not all professors appreciate an earnestly hard-working student. All he knew it took all his willpower not to text Brandon the exact moment he had gotten out of bed that morning at 5:30. - No, I'd highly advise never to text anyone between the hours of 12am-7am. “He’s not looking at Tyler, apparently they’re on a time out,” Mindy explained with a shrug./“Why?”/“It’s a boy thing.” - This made me laugh. “My dad told me stories, back when it first started, things could get pretty violent. - Hahaha! Suddenly, the junior appeared around the corner with a goofy look on his face. The boy looked around quickly and then took off running towards the quad. A moment later, Brandon walked casually around the corner. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and walked into the shop building's main entrance. - This one paragraph told a whole story in just three sentences. Fuck you Brandon. - Uh-oh. Tyler, buddy, remember what you were saying earlier about the fact that you both left things fairly open last time? By the time he reached the halfway point, there were only ten or so boys in front of him. That number quickly fell to two as he went over the summit. - Way to go! But he took a bad step and cursed loudly as he went head over heels to tumble down the slope. - Oh shit! Tyler managed to say through ragged breaths, “We made it Devin, the table is ours.” - Victory!

Brandon dared not even to breathe as Tyler’s soft hand roamed over his body. He had dreamt of this moment for years and never thought it would actually happen. And now that it was, he didn’t want to do anything that might scare Tyler into stopping. - I sure hope nothing scares him into stopping. ...and it turns out nothing stopped them whatsoever. Damn, was it difficult to read this without having to stop every few minutes to try to remind myself to focus on the story again. 🤣 Glad these two figured something out between them.

Brandon Myers’ room was as miserably hot as Tyler Scot remembered. If anything, it smelled even worse somehow. - I laughed so hard at this tiny, pungent observation. He had the sudden urge to model them as he had been working up the courage to actually do something that would signal Brandon he was interested. But as he looked at the skimpy underwear, he chickened out. “I don’t think I’d fit in those.” - Oh come on! Model them for our Brandon. Go on. On each step was a silhouette of a man, and each figure had its head shoved up the ass of the man before him. In red letters across the top was a single word, ‘Conformity’. - Hahaha, what??? “One day,” Brandon answered softly. Then he realized what he had just implied, so he quickly added. “When everything has been done and there’s nothing new to paint. I think death would be welcome, don’t you?” - You wouldn't exactly be able to paint it while in the process of dying, though? One hand was pinching his left nipple while the other was wrapped around a cock no human blood supply could ever support./“My abs never looked that good either.” - Hahaha! “So maybe it’s a tad oversized.”/“A tad,” Tyler said excitedly. “If I got a boner I’d pass out from lack of blood to my brain.” - hahaha! “I miss having a bathroom in my room,” Brandon said wistfully. “I’d probably shower more if I didn’t have to go to the main house.” - That explains everything. I wouldn't want to go into the main house either. “I don’t really like the taste of soda so I use whiskey to disguise it,” Brandon said blandly and then took a huge gulp. - That's the opposite of most of the people I know. “Do you want a boyfriend?”/“Are you making an offer?”/“Um,” - I think the words you meant to say were "yes, effective immediately," Tyler. “You have three shower heads,” Brandon said excitedly. - I felt like such a plebe reading this line. Half the shower heads I grew up with weren't even fully functional. Brandon walked over to his bag and pulled a chair closer to the bed. He made himself comfortable and started sketching the sleeping boy. It was a long time before Brandon put his pad away and crawled into bed next to his fantasy. - Well, that tugged on the heartstring.

Agreed.

Maybe he had been out there with someone and gotten stranded. - Haha! I would have thought the same thing. “You say that, but you’re not wearing Lucchese’s,” - You looked up the coordinates and everything. That's on YOU. “Did you do all this with only spray paint?” - That's talent. Yet those things we do in the dark seem scary, maybe ugly, and we forget the darkness can produce beauty too.” - That's beautiful. “I have to see this painting,” - As do I. “Maybe your ass is perkier than mine?” - Hahaha! That's quite the outlet Brandon has, painting even out in nature.

“I’ve had an interesting few days. And I might be interested in someone else. I don’t want to lead you on until I figure it all out.” - Nicely done, Tyler. Better to let her know than to lead her on. “I can understand that,” Tyler said with a snort. “I can’t wait to get out of here.” - You, too? Here, I thought it was only Brandon.

On balancing trauma without diving too deep into darkness: You did great! We have enough hints that Brandon's thoroughly unhappy. On toxic relationships affecting the offspring: Even I wasn't spared this. I couldn't physically live further away- alright, maybe Australia, though I wouldn't survive, and I'm still not fully spared this. 🤣 On the juxtaposition of Brandon and Tyler as a whole: You did great! And I'd say it makes perfect sense that they'd re-cross paths like this.

This is why he was currently locked inside his attic room while his parents were getting ready to pretend to care about one another over the evening meal. He had known long ago, maybe even before they did, their marriage was basically over. All that was left was the pretense of happiness mixed with an undertone of disgust. - I can relate to this. I understand divorce is expensive. But if you're not happy, why cling to the appearance of a marriage for merely appearance's sake? (I say as I read this through an extended lunch hour I don't really have) But Brandon cared nothing for those predictions nor did he care about those that made them. He considered his life to be a journey. His constant searching for that one experience that would allow him the chance to achieve something extraordinary. This self-imposed journey was the reason he was locked in his room, swaying in time to the music that blared in the background. Inside the safety of his attic, he was hidden away from the rest of the world, an island isolated in an ocean of mediocrity. - I don't really have anything to say here other than I really loved this entire paragraph. We got a hint of what Brandon wants out of life "an experience that allows him the chance to achieve something extraordinary" and some colorful imagery about what he feels about where he grew up. To others, it's paradise. To Brandon, isolation and mediocrity. Just, damn. The area was littered with discarded brushes and empty paint tubes with a strong smell of paint thinner. To him, it was a scent he associated with home. - Again, one man's trash is another man's treasure. Why did Oscar Grouch just come to mind? Along the floor were smeared spots of color that had been left to dry where they fell. Though a few had been strategically placed during a phase he called spontaneous creation. - I'd laugh, but this is what I feel I've been doing regarding my own writing. So, I just can't. “You shouldn’t smoke,” His father chided him as he took in the sight of paintings. “Especially up here, it reeks of paint thinner and you could easily blow yourself up. Don’t you ever let fresh air in?”/“Blowing up might be preferable to talking with you,” - Haha! Oh shit. No, Brandon, we don't want you blowing up. “Go back to that mess you call a life. Inhale some more paint fumes, hide away from everyone so you can justify being a tortured artist that no one can understand. And when we find you dead one day because you can’t breathe through all the fumes, we can sell your unfinished paintings to cover your funeral expenses.” - Oof. That made me cringe. Not winning any father of the year awards, that one. “That’s the problem, I didn’t have any fun. She threw up on my fucking shoes and then passed out,” Dylan complained bitterly./ “That would explain why you still have a boner,” Billy said as he pointed at Dylan’s crotch. - Haha! I know where this scene is going. 🤐 Billy stared after Dylan for a few moments. Brandon could tell the boy was crying. But after a few minutes, Billy jumped on his bike and took off the same direction Dylan had gone. - Oof. Another example of why love's never easy.

I was just a dumb kid that didn't factor in the time and place. Your version, however, could make for an interesting story.

I think @Philippe nailed it with the "horniness does make us do silly things, especially in our younger years." Especially in places one shouldn't, like a funeral home's restroom.

I tried to think back on who Owen could be, but it's just not coming to me. He's not that actor that was giving a false name, was he? Either way, on to chapter 2. Contains underage drinking & smoking. - This warning made me laugh because now we know for sure that Brandon's "plausible deniability" was for Al's sake back in the prologue. On the opposite side of the room, two large easels were set up in front of two large windows. - Did he make it on time for that painting he was finishing for the prize money? “Since when are we friends?” Brandon challenged him. - He has you there. “I like what you did to this space, reminds me if Mad Max and Auntie Entity had a child.” - Ha! What an image that creates. You haven’t said more than two words to me in, well, three years and seventeen days. - Oh, he wasn't kidding about hyperthymesia. Brandon's officially the kind of person that would win any argument on sheer recollection alone. Tyler wiped the sweat from his eyes and replied with a grin, “Well, I said see you after class, and it’s definitely after that class.” - Buddy, you are a year past the expiration date. And when Tyler smiled, which was often, he had the cutest dimples. - Well, that's one thing we share. “I never cared about that. Never really understood why everyone gave you shit about who you like to fuck.”/ “They had to give me shit about something,” Brandon replied as he pushed the hair from his eyes. - I like his way of thinking. You hold onto that confidence and don't let anyone try to put you down. “Stop insulting my domicile or I won’t let you suck on my pipe,” Brandon replied dryly as he began packing the small pipe. Apparently, Tyler seemed to miss the double entendre. - Flew right over his head. “Popular glory hole,” Brandon said with a laugh. “Though normally, I’m the one sucking the dick.” - I laughed so hard at this point. He had never been attracted to the way a boy smelled before. - Tyler, I think you're just not listening to these cues your own body is giving you. “You’re so close to what you’ve been wondering about all these years. Now’s the chance for you to find out what it smells like.” - Ha ha! Brandon's having so much fun with him. “Did you really fuck a senior citizen tonight?” - Ha! We're his witnesses.