Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 17:01:42 -0700 (PDT) From: K Davids Subject: Some Sense of Security/ In Search of Solid Ground ch.1 This story is pure fiction and is not intended to imply anything about the true sexuality of the reader. This story contains sexual contact between to underage males if this is illegal to read where you live then please hit the back button now!! Everything in this story is made up, the names and people are fake: they are not real; I did not base them off people I know! Please do not copy or paste this anywhere else, but please feel free to email me k.davids@ymail.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Hey everyone this is Part 2 of SSOS -In Search of Solid Ground. I had received a ton of emails supporting me, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you! That is the reason I write, it's to entertain, there has been questions regarding Tanner and Chase, if they will get back together or not, I cannot be sure if they will. I just ask that you keep an open mind to new characters, and no the old ones do not leave for good they will be involved... For the first Chapter or so it will be only Chasen's POV ----------------------------------------------------------- "It's okay to feel lost, it just means you're alive", I've told myself a thousand times. From the ashes we will rise. ~Senses Fail~ The Fire. ------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- Characters Chasen: Age 16- Main Character Kevin: Chasen's Father Caroline: Chasen's Step Mother Ryan: Age 16- Chasen's Brother Kyle: Age 15- Chasen's Brother Lexie: Age 14- Chasen's Sister ----------------------------------------------------------- I'm sitting on the beach, yeah I can't believe it, I only live a block from the beach now. I like it a lot, it's not too crowded but it's not desolate at all, but if you come in the morning its perfect, not that many people are out. I have been out here since the sun came up, if you have never seen a sunrise on the beach you really need to, it's probably the most beautiful thing you will ever experience, the sky turning different shades of oranges, reds, purples, with the ocean reflecting it. Simply beautiful, I have watched it quite a bit since moving to California to live with my dad. (Two Weeks Earlier) Wow where to even start... My dad picked me up in the early hours from the airport but he wasn't alone, my younger brother Kyle was with him. I saw my dad, he had a smile on his face as always, I guess that's why he has all those smile lines on his face even though he is still quite young. Kyle looked half asleep, he was cute, and was for sure a Tarrant. He looked just like my dad but with brown hair, hell he was almost like a younger version of me, he had a spot of freckles over his nose, it played well with his looks. "Hey dad." I say once I get in speaking distance with him. He reaches and hugs me, "How you holding up kiddo?" he asks. I shrug, "I guess as good as I can be regarding the events that went down tonight." I say looking at him trying to hold back tears. "Looks like you might have a black eye starting; here let me take your bag." He says taking the bag from me. I hand over my bag to him, he smiles and pulls me into yet another hug, "I am happy to have you with us Chasen; I promise it will get better." Kyle, clears his throat, My dad lets out a chuckle, "Chasen this is your little brother Kyle, the eavesdropper." My dad says putting a hand on Kyle's shoulder. I laugh, "Hey Kyle." I say sheepishly. He is still red in the face from when dad spilled that he was eaves dropping, "Hi..." he tells me and smiles. Dad and I both laugh at this, "Now Son you wouldn't leave me alone on the way over here about Chasen. Now he is here and you don't have anything to say?" He teases him. "DAD!" Kyle moans. I laugh at how Kyle is looking at dad, its way to funny. "So how far do you live from here?" I ask. "It's not far, about twenty five minutes, and its where you live now. Speaking of which you have a bedroom with a king size bed, but that's about it, we will go later this week and get everything you need. I am sure you want to settle in first." I give a weak smile, "yeah sounds good to me." We start heading to the car, it's not too far from the exit of the airport, we all walk side by side, I look over at my dad who has a smile on, I guess he is really happy that I am here. My dad unlocks the door of a BMW, I don't even know what kind all I know is it has the BMW logo on it and that its very nice, he sets the bag in the trunk and closes it, Kyle gets into the back seat leaving me to sit up front with dad. "You must be feeling the jetlag, why don't you just lay your seat back and get some rest I will wake you when we get close to home ok." My dad says. I nod and lay back, I don't know if it's the jetlag or if I'm just exhausted or if it's the pain that I'm feeling in my heart from what Tanner did. Before I know it I'm being shaken, "Hey dude wake up we are home." Kyle tells me. I just look at him and he instantly takes his hand off my shoulder, "Uhh...sorry dude just, umm we are home..." "Dude its cool, sorry I just forgot where I was. It's been a long day man." I say and reassure him with a smile. He smiles back, "Come on, I will show you your room!" he tells me urging me to follow him into the house. "Hey you got to take your shoes off at the door. Mom don't really have many rules, but this one." He says smiling. Revealing a mouth full of braces. I smile back and take off my shoes following him into the house, it was huge! The floors were white marble and to the right was a step that led into the living room. Then to the left was a long hallway, "What is down there?" I ask. "Mom and Dad's room. Ahead of us is the kitchen and dining room, the game room is upstairs pretty much directly over the den. Come on I will show you your room." Kyle tells me. He leads me up the stairs, that are decked out in white carpet, we pass a few rooms he tells me whose is who's, the first two on the left are just guest rooms, first on the right is Lexie's room, and the third on the left is Ryan's. We stop at the forth room on the left and he tells me this is my room. "Where is yours?" I ask. He points right across from me, "That one is mine." He smiles and opens my door for me. We walk in and the room is huge! I stand there and look around, the carpet is bluish green color and the walls are a light blue and there is the king size bed in the corner it looks so small in this huge room. I look at Kyle, "Is every room this big?" "Pretty much." He says, "I'm going to let you settle in, I am kind of tired, I will see you in the morning." With that he left and shut the door. I made my way over to the bed and sat on it putting my bag down on the floor. I hear a knock on the door and my dad comes in. "Hey son. How do you like your room?" he asks coming across the room and sitting on the end of the bed. "Yeah it is huge! Where is everyone?" I ask looking at him. He pats my leg, and smiles. "Caroline is in bed, she wanted to let you settle in before everyone overwhelmed you. Ryan is at a friend's, and so is Lexie or she would have been in here interrogating you about your whole life." "Dad...Does Caroline know about me being well ... um gay?" I ask hesitantly. "Yes son she does, and she is perfectly fine with it. She doesn't care at all. She told me she would support you no matter what. Ryan, Kyle, and Lexie do not know. I figured you could decide if you wanted to tell them when you were good and ready." He tells me. "That's cool with me, why isn't Kyle at a friend's as well?" I ask. "Kyle, doesn't like to go to people's houses, it's something you have to ask him, he likes to be at home." He smiles and pulls me into a hug, "Well son your old man is tired I'm going to head to bed ok." I tell him good night and watch him leave my huge empty room, I turn on my cell phone only because I was supposed to text Aaron and have him let everyone I made it. No sooner does it turn on, my phone starts to go off like crazy, I have over fifteen text messages from Tanner, and four voicemails. Most of the texts said, "Chase, babe I am sorry I didn't meant to sleep with her, please forgive me. We can try to figure this out." That was most of the texts he sent over and over the same thing. I listened to the voicemails, "Please babe, answer me. Look I was drinking feeling pretty good and horny. You weren't here and well Kristy was...I know it's not an excuse but we can work this out ok." I was getting pissed all over, how could he think I would forgive him after that shit just cause he was drinking, wow shows how much I meant to him. Next voice mail. "Fine be a dick, yeah me and Kristy fucked, we did it a lot! Only cause you wouldn't put out for me!" and the voice mail hangs up. The third Voicemail is from Tanner yet again, "Babe I am sorry, I didn't mean that last message...I was just angry please talk to me." The last voicemail is from Aaron, "Hey, dude like a lot of shit is going down, yelling and screaming. I have never seen Margaret or David so upset. Tanner is crying, he is still drunk though but they told him you left. Text me when you get this." I text Aaron telling him I made it and I will call him tomorrow. I shut off my phone; this is too much for me to deal with. I lie back on my bed and fall asleep. I woke to a knocking on my door, I mumbled for whoever it was to come in. The door slowly creaked open and a lady popped her head in the door. She had blonde almost brown hair, and blue eyes, she was a thinner lady, her complexion was flawless it seemed. She was really pretty. "Hey Chasen, I'm Caroline. Would you mind if I came in to talk with you?" She asked from the doorway. I tried to cover myself more, as I was just in my boxers and I sat up against the backboard of the bed, "yeah sure." I say looking at her. She walks across the room graceful very easy it's like she glides almost, she sits at the end of the bed, "How did you sleep last night?" "Good I think, honestly I don't know I just pretty much passed out. I was just exhausted from everything that's happened." I tell her looking at her. "Poor thing, I imagine it's been pretty hard on you. I just wanted to say that I am really happy you are here, and so is your father! Yes hun, he has told me about you being gay and I think it's amazing of you that you were up front and honest, I will stand behind you one-hundred percent." She tells me smiling. I smile back at her, "Thanks Caroline that means a lot. But what do I tell umm..." I trail off. She laughs, it one of the light laughs but it's not a fake one, its lovely and real, "Your brothers and sister, well hun I can pretty much promise Kyle won't give a darn whether your gay or straight, he tends to look up to older kids. Ryan, he probably will not care, I can't be too sure though, he is the most moodiest teenager I have ever known! Lexie will love it, she will probably drag you boy shopping." I laugh, "Well I hope you're right...I'm kinda scared to meet Ryan, I saw a picture of him, and of Lexie. Of course I met Kyle last night." She looks at me intently, "You have nothing to worry about with Ryan he mostly stays to himself, and you both are almost the same age, only a month and some odd days apart. The part I find crazy is that you both could pass for twins, yall look almost exactly the same. And your birthday is coming up!" she says excitedly. "What do you want? How about a car? Have you got your license?" I stare at her with a confused expression, "umm...yes I have it, I mean I never really used it though the Garrets made sure I got it. You and Dad don't have to get me anything really..." I tell her. She almost looked hurt, "Chasen! We have to get you something! That's what we are here for to support you emotionally and physically! No matter what and you're a young teenager you need your own car, and not have to ask all the time to go somewhere. You need that freedom." "Thank you, a lot I mean it's just all so much to take on, I don't know it's just been a crazy time for me. I don't want to dump it all on you, but it really means a lot." I tell her. She gets off the bed and moves towards me and reaches to hug me, she moved a little too fast causing me to flinch out of habit with adults, "Hun, why don't you get some rest, we have a lot of shopping to do, I am going to go pick up Lexie soon and she will want to go shopping with you." I just nod, and watch her leave the room. I sigh, leaning my head against the backboard of the bed. It was a relief to meet Caroline and I am so happy she likes me, just its still a lot to take in. I know I can't keep putting this off, I need to call Tanner...I can't start out like this, I got away from my life and I am not going to start my new beginning here as a coward, I am going too tell him how I feel, and how much he hurt me. I know it sounds weird but what he did could work out best for me, making me stronger. I grab my phone, and I scroll to Tanner's name, I punch the call button I practically force myself to stay on the line, because I know if I don't I never will. It rings and he picks up, "Chasen, baby where are you." "Tanner, you know I left." I tell him. "I know...my parents told me but I didn't believe them, why couldn't you talk to me before you left? We could work this out babe, so you don't have to live there, you can come back and be with me." He tells me pleadingly. I try to fight back tears, "Tanner, you know that's not the case, Did you sleep with Kristy?" "Yes..." He says defeated. I almost lose control of all of my emotions, but I have to stay strong I knew this was coming, "Why Tanner? why would you do that to me? How did you think I would feel? Did you think I would stick around after that? You were all I had holding me to that god forsaken place." I start to raise my voice. "You weren't supposed to find out..." he starts to say, but I cut him off. "Bullshit Tanner! I wasn't supposed to find out! You were my boyfriend; you were supposed to be faithful to me! Was the only reason you cheated because I wouldn't put out enough for you desires? You know what don't answer that, just know I can forgive you but I will not forget what you did to me." I tell him in a emotionless voice, "I won't be like my mother and hold a grudge but just know that I will never let it ever happen again." "Chase, please can we talk about, this come back." He pleads. "No! Tanner I can't come back not now, maybe not ever. You hurt me! You did this to yourself, to me!" I yell at him. "Chase, let me come down there and talk to you ok, I can be there tonight!" He tells me. "No Tanner, don't. I need to be space. I'm kinda grateful that you did this, it's going to make me stronger. I love you Tanner, I probably always will, you were the first person I let in. You were also the first person to break my heart...That's something that doesn't happen without a consequence." I tell him in tears now. I hear him sigh, "Fine Chasen, do what you have to do, just try at least to talk to me every now and then." "I can't make promises Tanner, I need space away from you...Goodbye Tanner..."I tell him and hang up the phone. I throw the phone across the room into the wall and shatter it, "FUCK!" I yell out. I walk over to the phone, yeah it's pretty much trashed I slide down the wall and put my head in my hands and I just start to cry. I didn't even hear the door open or anyone come in, I just feel arms reaching around my body and being pulled into a hug, I look at who is holding me and it's my dad. "I'm sorry, dad." I mumble out to him. "Chasen you never have to be sorry, about crying. Let out the pain. The more you hold it in the more it will hurt when you finally let it out. I take it you called Tanner?" He asks holding onto me still. I just nod my head and lean into him, I hate that I am crying but I need to get it out of my system or else it's never going to end for me is it? After about fifteen minutes my crying had subsided now I was pissed at Tanner, but I didn't want to seek revenge I just wanted to move on with life. My dad helped me stand up, "so I heard you and Caroline had a good talk?" I nodded, "Yeah dad she is pretty great." I tell him and give a smile. "So are you ready to get some things for your room?" He asks leading me out the door. "I guess, I don't really need much..." I tell him shrugging. He gives me a side glance, "Damn Chasen you have to stop being so modest I want to get you these things ok, I have been out of your life for so long, and I know these won't replace the time I missed with you, but it's a start to a better life ok?" I just nod my head, "Where is Kyle?" He laughs, "Probably asleep still, that boy will sleep all day if you let him, let's go downstairs and get some breakfast and talk about where we want to go first, that and we have to go pick up Lexie." We reach the table and there are two plates on the table with bacon and scrambled eggs and glasses of orange juice, I look at my dad and smile, "Where is Caroline?" "She is on the phone with Ryan, telling him that we will be picking him up later on this afternoon." He tells me and starts to eat. I take a bite out my eggs, I did it to be nice, I'm usually not a huge fan of eggs but I didn't want to be rude. Surprisingly they were good! "Who cooked the food?" My dad chuckles softly, "I did today, we usually has a maid but we give her weekends off!" he says laughing at me. "You cook?" I ask in surprise. "Yes son, I like to cook and for your birthday I'm going to grill up a storm and hopefully you will have made some friends then so we can invite them to your party." He mentions as he eats. "Party? Dad, my birthday is like a month away, I don't think we need to have a party. I'm only turning seventeen, I mean for Ryan that's great, he knows and has probably lot of friends." I tell him. He gives me a funny look, "We will talk about it when it's closer, now come on and eat your food, we got to get going, and pick up Lexie. Lord knows if not we will feel her wrath!" He says smiling at me. We finish eating and go get our shoes on, he offers to let me drive but I decline politely, the reason being is that I have no clue where I am let alone where anything else is. That and I don't want to chance my luck since it hasn't been that great lately. We drive down the road making small conversation, nothing to big just to get to know one another, till we arrive to pick up Lexie, I mean I am still not used to being around my father all the time, even though he is great. We pull up to a house that's not quite as big as ours but still huge! Dad gets on his phone and sends a text out, "She will be out here in a second." Sure enough as soon as he said it the door opened and out came a skinny girl with jeans and a pink American Eagle shirt and flip-flops on, with straightened blonde hair and sunglasses on. She walks up to the car and gets into the back seat, like a typical girl she's on her phone texting, "Dad can we pick up Chelsea?" she asks not even looking up. "No Lexie, but you can say hello to your brother." He give glances in the review mirror. "Dad I live with Ryan, why do I need to say hello?" She says still texting on her phone. "Well because this isn't Ryan, it's your other brother Chasen." He says trying hard not to laugh at her. She looked up and lets out this horrible ear-screeching sound, "Dad! How could you not tell me he was here! Hi Chasen, I am Lexie! Oh my god you look just like Ry, it's crazy! How long are you here for?" I just look back and smile, "I just came in last night, and I guess I am here to stay..." I tell her. "Oh my god! This is going to be great! Wait do you have a girlfriend back home? If not I can totally find you one! I already know the perfect girl."! She says way too enthusiastically. "Whoa, Lex, let him settle first and I don't think Chasen is looking for a girl friend." Dad says while driving. "DAD! He is a Tarrant of course he is looking for a girl, hello girls just fall over Ryan, and even Kyle is getting a few lately." She says still talking really fast and texting, "Where are we going?" "We are taking Chasen shopping for clothes and stuff for his room." Dad says coolly as he gets onto the highway. Lexie smiles, "YES! Chasen, you have to let me help out, I can find everything that would go with your frame and make your eyes stand out, we will have girls falling over you!" I laugh harder than what I have been and turn all the way around to face her, "Lexie, I don't like girls. I am gay." She looks at me, "You're not kidding are you? Oh my god this makes you like the best brother ever! We are totally going guy shopping soon! Well still I can pick out everything and make the guys go for you!" Dad and I both listen to her chatter about all these people who I couldn't even begin to remember the names, she must be one of the most popular people in the school, she has named off so many people, that I have kind of stopped listening because I am so lost. Dad is sitting there driving and nodding his head, saying yes and wow's when they are required as if he must be used to this. Lexie pulled me into a store so fast that she almost literally was dragging me by the hand. She threw a pair of shorts at me and told me to go try them on, and I did. I came out , still trying to pull them up because they were so baggy, "Oh Chasen come on leave them alone they need to sag, it will look hot on you! Trust me I know this stuff." She told me checking the shorts out. It went downhill from there, she threw shorts to me left and right, along with pants, shirts. Once she had my sizes she was just throw2ing it all at the register. I didn't want to see the bill, but my dad just smiled and paid for it. She made me get flip-flops, she told me only then I would officially belong here, she was kind of scary about all this but I trusted her for some unknown reason. After a few more stores, we stopped and got a quick bite to eat. Dad announced. "Well Chasen, now it's time to go to the furniture store, and get you stuff from there." I gave a little nod, knowing I couldn't fight this one off either, "What do I really need for my room?" "Well a lot!" He says chuckling. Dad drove us to this store, we went in and it was huge of course some sales person rushed over quickly. "Mr. Tarrant, what can I do for you today?" "Well my son needs some stuff for his room, like a nice computer desk, dresser, the best computer you have, a flat screen tv with a wall mount, blue ray player, and some kind of lounge chairs ok." He told the sales person. I stood there wide eyed, "Dad I don't need all that stuff!" "We have been over this, I don't work for nothing, money comes and goes and this is something I want to do for you. Ok its fine. It won't dent the bank account son. Just relax and come over here, he is bringing the books so you can decide how you want your room to look." Dad tells me ushering me along. After twenty minutes of going through all these different books we finally finished, dad paid for it and they told us it would be at the house in a few hours and they would set it all up for us. I was pleased with what I selected, it kind of reminded me of when the Garrets took me clothes shopping, but I didn't have Lexie then. Even though she has a very strong personality I like her a lot. I am actually glad I didn't get a super bitch as a sister. Of course she loves her phone, but don't all girls? That and she loves her family which is always a plus. We are driving back to the house, dad gets a text message and announces we have to swing by and pick up Ryan, "Lex, how do you think he will react to Chasen?" he asks. She lets out a sigh, "Dad I don't know its Ry for crying out loud the boy is unpredictable. I think he will be cool with it. I don't know about the whole you being gay though Chase, it will probably take him some time to get used to it." She says looking at me. "That's what I am scared of. I don't want to freak him out or have him hate me." I say. "Well he isn't going to hate you, Ryan just doesn't like surprises." Dad says laughing. "I still can't get over how much you and him look alike except your hair is longer, it's kind of scary like twins. I don't know if I can have two Ryan's around. But he is older than you." She says in an exaggerated voice. "By a month, and like a few days." I chime in smiling at her. "DAD! Where you a man-whore?" she asks. "We are not going into this young lady." He tells her with mock sternness in his voice. We chat a little more until we pull up to a house that is huge like all the other houses in the neighbourhood. The door opens and out steps a boy, he has blonde hair and pale blue eyes. It is very scary how much him and I do look alike, he looks to be about my height. I am skinnier than him though, only because it looks like he is built from surfing, or skating...... He gets in right behind dad, "Kyle you douche you know I ride shotgun, lucky I'm too tired to kick you out of the seat." He says in a humorous voice. "That's all good bro, but I'm not Kyle." I tell him turning around looking at him. "Who the fuck are you?" he shouts at me. "RYAN JAMES TARRANT! Watch your mouth!" Dad yells at him and I see Lexie hitting him in the arm. He looks at me like he has seen a ghost, "Well will someone please tell me who this is, and why do he looks like me?" I laugh, "I'm Chasen...your brother." "Where did you come from?" he asks still not believing me. "He is my second eldest son, from a woman who I used to be with before your mother and I got married." Dad chimes in. "Why are you here?" he asks. "I flew in last night, I am going to be living here..." I say kind of trailing off. A look of confusion comes over his face, "Wait you're the dude that dad went to visit not too long ago? Why didn't you tell me? Dad why didn't you tell me he was coming to live with us? Will someone clue me in?" "Oh brother, I am not listening to this." Groans Lexie. "It was a spur of the moment thing, the place I was staying at I couldn't stay there anymore." I tell him looking at dad. "The thing that matters Ryan is that we will be helping Chasen get his life together and adjust here in California." Dad pipes up. "Ok...but dude I totally own the front seat." He says laughing at me. "We shall see bro." I tease back at him. (Present) So yeah that was my first few days here in California. It wasn't like a big fuss at least I tried not to make it one. I usually walk here to the beach every morning, ok guilty there's this surfer that I like to watch. He is not like super great at all, but it makes me envy him. Just coming out here and not caring what is going on or who sees him wipe out on his board. I have two weeks tills my birthday...I still haven't met anyone not like in boyfriend prospects, I am still hurting over Tanner, I guess that's normal I don't really know, all I do know is that I don't want to ever hurt like that again. As I am sitting on the beach I see the surfer dude come onto the beach, wow he is sexy is all I can say. He has to be around my age. He has dirty blond hair, hazel eyes, and a six-pack and isn't like bulky but built from surfing quite a bit. you can tell he has a tan, I can see a hint of his tan line, where his board shorts stop. Kind of very sexy, "gees Chasen, stop perving over this dude, you don't even know him!" I tell myself. He walks up closer to me and digs his board into the sand so that it's standing up straight. I try not to stare as he bends and picks up his towel, but me being well me I couldn't help but stare at his butt and DAMN! It's nice. He straightens up and starts to towel himself off. He looks over and offers a small smile, I smile and awkwardly wave at him, 'Damn it' I tell myself that was the geekiest thing I ever have done! "Hey bro, how are you? You must be new I haven't seen you around here lately, besides the last few mornings?" he says over to me. "Shit!" I mentally think to myself way to be smooth Chasen, he totally saw me checking him out. "Hi...yeah I just moved here from Florida..." I say lowly. He walks over, and extends his hand, "I'm Braiden Hanley." I take his hand and shake it, wow its soft and his grip is firm I just smile, fuck I need to say something and stop smiling like a douche, "I'm Chasen Tarrant." He looks at me, "You're a Tarrant? The Tarrant's have another kid?" "Yeah, something like that, it's kind of really confusing." I say and smile. He laughs, "I think we all have those things bro. Hey bro do you know what time it is?" "It's eleven." I tell him looking at my watch. "Damn I am late, my mom is going to be pissed, hey bro maybe I can stop by later and we can go chill, show you around town?" he says looking at me. "Yeah sounds cool dude." I say. He leans over with his fist out. I bump my fist to his and I watch him grab his board and jog up to the parking lot, I watch him get into his black car and drive off. I think I might actually have a friend finally! I guess I better get back to the house, and see what everyone is up too. I look out at the ocean it's all calm now since Braiden left. I smile to myself I know it's going to be alright just got to the take time to get my head straight... ------------------------------------------------------------------ Well that's the first part of In search of Solid Ground. I hope you like it. I hope you enjoyed it, I want to thank everyone who sent in the emails about ch.10 it was amazing how many of you read the story. I am very grateful that you do. The Aaron story will be called Comfortably Confused, I have decided that I am going to write a few chapters first before putting chapter one out. I really hope you are excited to see where part 2 leads as much as I am! I am sorry it took longer than I expected to get it out, but I was sick for a few days and it took me out, and well I took time to read an amazing indescribable book called Clay's Way, I really do urge you to read this book its incredible! It didn't take me much time because I read it in two hours, I get made fun of cause I read faster than most people. Clay's way is by Blair Mastbaum it's just a phenomenal book, and part two is coming out soon I read. Well I hope you enjoyed first chapter of ISOSG. tY: I for one will be keeping an open mind, I enjoyed the chapter. It was nice to finally meet his sibling, it may have been briefly but we got a sorta feel what their personalities are like. I get the feeling we will be getting to know them quite well. To be honest I kinda liked the sole pov this chapter, quite interesting. I speculate that Ryan will have trouble with Chase being gay, but in the end I can see it bringing the two brothers closer than most. I can't wait to see have Chase interacts with the new school and them with him. I wonder what Aaron, Maxx and Troy have been doing? I think we'll find out more with the next chapter or maybe in the new story. Here you are KD reading books :O lol there's a stack growing my table. I just picked up Towers of Midnight but can't start it till I finish The Reluctant Mage. Both really good authors but I too have been sick (you must have emailed your sickness to me KD) and I've been trying to finish some writing of my own. Time is an enemy we all face. (Especially with DST ending this week, I lose an hour of sleep) Kd and I commented on teen suicides and wanting to be there for you guys if you need someone, email me itari@live.ca