Max’s Awakening
“The long overdue Character list”
By J and craigpwriter888@tutanota.com
Authors’ Note: We realized we’re long overdue in creating a character key. Since the story has now been published over a long period (approaching 5 years… wow!), details are hard to keep track of. For us too.
While we intended for this to be a simple list with a few details, it turned into so much more… which we decided is okay. Maybe it will allow for new readers to come in mid-stream, or jar your memories. We’re pretty proud of the depth we’ve been able to weave in, sometimes completely unintentionally, and hope the story resonates. Hopefully it’s still quality and not too over the top. We really try to keep things realistic… or at least plausible.
We tried to vary format and give some variety to our structure, so apologies if things seem disjointed.
Finally, in compiling this, we realize there are multiple continuity errors over the years (e.g. birthdays, appendage lengths, etc.). We really strive to keep things consistent, but obviously need better notes. Moving forward, this guide supersedes anything previously published and should be considered canon.
So, to all of our loyal readers who continue to follow this story and are invested in our characters, consider this an early Christmas gift!
And speaking of gifts...maybe it's time to send Nifty a few bucks to they keep hosting our tale!
Setting: Minneapolis, Minnesota; story begins on New Year’s Eve, as 2019 is being ushered in
The story, as of this submission, covers the subsequent 10 months (approaching Halloween 2019) in Craig and Max’s world.
Basic Synopsis
This fictional saga is bifurcated and written in the first-person perspective that relies heavily on protagonist introspection. The original story, Max’s Freudian Slip, is told from the perspective of Craig Peters, a hebephilic boy lover who lives a closeted, normal, heterosexual life. Its companion, Max’s Awakening, follows gymnast and middle schooler Max Coleman. While both editions cover many of the same events, the different perspectives of our main characters render each unique and include content not found in the other. If you read only one side, you’re missing half the story.
As a result of Max’s friendship with Craig’s next-door neighbor, Noah, Craig has been in Max’s orbit from a young age. However, they only became closer after Max offhandedly remarked he’d rather have a boyfriend than a girlfriend at a New Year’s Eve party. Despite his Freudian slip registering only with Craig, Max was visibly despondent. Always compassionate toward a hurting boy, Craig reassured him that it was okay to be gay. Their connection was palpable, and Craig became Max’s mentor — and, eventually, his surrogate dad.
Max is a charismatic, athletic, and beautiful boy who happens to be gay. His father was always an asshole, and is currently incarcerated for child rape.
When Max initiated sexual contact with Craig on his birthday trip to Mexico, Craig’s defenses fell and he succumbed to finally (and repeatedly) sampling the forbidden fruit. Despite Max being eager and willing, Craig has been riddled with shame and guilt at his transgressions and the inevitable fallout. Craig has committed to do better by Max and has since eschewed the fleeting sexual component of their relationship, but still struggles with the way he’s wired and fears a ticking time bomb. Those who have discovered Craig’s secrets haven’t ostracized him, but he isn’t convinced that won’t change in time.
Craig must reckon with his true nature while striving to lead an honorable life as best he can. Despite grappling with his intense romantic attraction toward Max, Craig is committed to being the man his boy needs and deserves: a loving father.
Meanwhile, Max is navigating puberty, sex & relationships, being gay in middle school — and his own trauma.
While there are erotic components, at its root, this is a multifaceted love story and coming of age tale that explores adolescent development, parenting, and the morality and ethics surrounding hebephilia. It is a literary exercise that confronts the challenge of addressing sexual taboos and offers a nuanced, humanizing take on those attracted to minors.
Character Overview
Main Characters
Craig Peters, 53 (born January 16th, 1966) —
Appearance: brown hair that is graying, green eyes, glasses, 6’1”, 210 lbs, Caucasian, fuzzy. Average looks with a dad bod, though he wears his excess weight well, appearing slightly muscular.
Sex Stuff: cut, 6” long, 4.75” girth, generally submissive and, in a perfect world, would bottom for men and top with boys.
Craig is a boy lover (he doesn’t love that term, but it’s more accurate and less stigmatized than the p-word). He is most strongly attracted to lads in puberty, particularly Tanner Stages II and III. His typically preferred age range is about 11 to 14 or 15. To his angst, pubescent (or on the cusp) boys are exciting in a way that’s hard to describe. He feels toward them how most men do grown women.
Personality: Craig is a college-educated professional. He’s always tried to manage his attractions and not cross any legal, moral, or ethical lines… until Mexico. He swears he didn’t mean for it to happen and wasn’t grooming Max, but also knows it was the best week of his life. Max concurs.
He’s also enjoyed amorous encounters with Bob, Cam’s father, but they’ve mostly struck up a parent friendship. They moderate each other’s natural fathering tendencies.
Craig loves his wife, but isn’t in love with her. He doesn’t regret having a family, but has come to grips with the fact that he is predominantly homosexual. On the Kinsey Scale, he would be a solid 4.5-5, but he came of age at a different time. He is moderately-liberal politically and upper-middle class.
Craig is intelligent and considerate, and feels remorse when he has to lie or manipulate out of self-preservation. He really tries to be a good man but is also acutely aware of everything that’s wrong with him.
He and Max share not only a special bond, but a deep mutual attraction — and pine for that proscribed love straddled between the paternal and pederastic. Despite his intense desires, Craig has come to recognize that Max “needs a dad, not a Daddy.”
Relationships: Kim (wife), Emma and Rachel (daughters), Max (surrogate son), Noah (surrogate nephew), Bob (occasional fuck buddy, but mostly confidant). He has become friends with Stacy and considers Noah's parents (Adam and Lisa) part of his inner-circle.
He is more important to Max than he realizes, and considers Max to be the love of his life.
Fun Details: Craig has always been adept at interacting with and relating to boys, to the point his family and friends notice (he’s been known to cringe when his wife calls him a “boy whisperer” in front of others, especially strangers on vacation). Kim basically dresses him because his fashion sense is atrocious. He’s a typical guy who enjoys beer, football, his family — and a second chance at being a(n almost) boy dad.
Random Quirk: actually enjoys vacuuming and always leaves neat lines
Weird Skill: packs the tidiest, best organized suitcase you’ve ever seen
Max(well) Alexander Coleman, 14.25 (born July 22nd, 2005), 8th Grade at Olympia Middle School—
Appearance: straight short blonde hair with a duck butt, piercing almond-shaped blue eyes, a small Duchess nose, 5’2”, 104 lbs, ripped, Caucasian (Norwegian, Swedish, English, and Ukrainian ancestry), Max is symmetrical. He has an innie belly button, dime-sized pink nipples, wears size 7 shoes, and has a few stray underarm hairs. His voice hasn’t changed, but has begun to crack occasionally. When shirtless, you can see every muscle — and rib.
Max knows he isn’t ugly, but doesn’t think of himself as particularly attractive, either. He’s wrong.
Sex Stuff: cut, 4.75” long, 3” girth, pinkest and smoothest little starfish you can imagine, generally submissive vers bottom but thoroughly enjoys topping too, usually shaves his pubes. He’s attracted to both boys and men. He thinks Noah is crazy, because girl parts are nasty.
Max is increasingly insecure about the slowness of his puberty and physical development.
Personality: charismatic, introverted, broody, and prone to anxiety, Max is slowly coming to grips with his burgeoning popularity and leaning into his academic abilities for the first time. His favorite subject in school is social studies, but he’s also developing an interest in writing and is *still* confused by how he tested into geometry. He’s desperate for male approval, especially from Craig. Cam gives confidence and Craig steadies his emotional turmoil like no one ever has before.
Max is loyal and empathetic, and generally wise beyond his years. Unfortunately, he’s also impulsive and quick to anger (he’s working on it). His issues are largely related to his father’s verbal abuse and incarceration.
While Max has matured significantly throughout the course of the story, he still exhibits behavior more pronounced in younger children. This includes occasionally wetting the bed, a propensity to cry when overwhelmed, and seeking physical reassurance and affection from adults.
He views Craig as the best thing that ever happened to him, and if pressed, would admit he edges out even Cam.
Relationships: Stacy (mother), Rick (bio father), Craig (surrogate father), Noah (bff), Cam (boyfriend). Max views Noah’s parents (Adam and Lisa) as an aunt and uncle and has become increasingly close with Craig’s wife, Kim.
Fun Details: while he’s a gifted gymnast, Max doesn’t understand the appeal of watching or even enjoy playing more traditional team sports. He wears Old Spice deodorant, uses Crest toothpaste, and prefers Axe body wash. His favorite food is pizza (the more meat, the better… haha) and would definitely choose chocolate over vanilla. He’s middle class and understands money is finite, but has been shielded from the reality that his mother struggles at times financially since Rick went away.
Max was very excited when he was made an office aide at school.
Random Quirk: prefers overcast weather and rainy days
Weird Skill: memorized the Gettysburg Address in fifth grade for an assembly and can still recite it by heart
Cam(eron) Brendan Rice, 13.75 (born December 20th, 2005), 8th Gradeat Widmer Preparatory Academy —
Appearance: short dirty blonde hair parted to the left, pale blue eyes, cute little button nose, 5’3”, 110 lbs, ripped, Caucasian (German, English, and French ancestry), Cam knows he’s attractive — and that Max is even more so. He has an innie belly button, penny-sized pink nipples, wears size 7.5 shoes, and has a small smattering of armpit hair and light fuzz around his ankles. His voice hasn’t changed but is starting to get raspier. While Max is still more compact, Cam is beginning to show signs of lankiness, especially in his legs.
If Max is a 9/10, Cam is a solid 8-8.5.
Sex Stuff: cut, 5” long, 3.5” girth, delectably smooth pink pucker, dominant, vers top, keeps pubes trimmed, addicted to boy ass (and Max’s is intoxicating) but also enjoys bottoming, which he will do on occasion. He doesn’t share Max’s attraction to men but isn’t turned off by them, either.
Personality: Cam is confident, hardworking, polite, and strives to be a Damn Good Boy but struggles with impulsiveness and the bad temper he inherited from his adoring father, Bob. While Max has Daddy issues, Cam suffers with his overbearing, phony, and homophobic mother, Jeanine (she’s trying, which even Cam has grudgingly acknowledged).
In school, Cam prefers math but struggles to focus in science because he’s bored to tears (can you blame him?). He’s more religious, extroverted, refined, and confident than Max. Cam is fiercely protective of and loyal to his boy, who he believes makes him a better person. Cam is eager to please adults, especially his father, but is also assertive and stubborn.
Cam can be wickedly funny, but is learning there is a fine line between humor and being a jerk, and is ashamed of his younger bullying tendencies (particularly to Max, who Cam hassled when first moved to Minnesota in sixth grade). He especially enjoys skewering straight Noah for so thoroughly enjoying boy orifices… but also doesn’t blame him.
Cam has never had a pet because his mother worries about “hygiene,” but he has always wanted a puppy.
Relationships: Bob (father), Jeanine (mother), Max (boyfriend). Has also become close to Noah and Craig.
Fun Details: like Max, Cam is a gifted gymnast but also enjoys football and baseball, where he played shortstop and pitcher (haha) before moving north. A Texas transplant, Cam has a slight drawl that becomes more pronounced when he’s stressed or angry. He’s more a Gillette and Colgate guy and is frustrated he’s yet to find a good taco place in Minnesota. Cam comes from an affluent family and recognizes their means, but isn’t a douche about it. He attends private school and rolls his eyes at ostentatious displays of wealth (probably because of his mother).
Random Quirk: scared of bees, pathological saver
Weird Skill: can rattle off pi to 17 digits, gifted at interacting with adults
Noah Andrew Reed, 14 (born October 9th, 2005), 8th Grade at Olympia Middle School —
Appearance: shaggy brown hair, green eyes, 5’7”, 150 lbs, average build, Caucasian (English, Dutch, and Italian ancestry), medium Roman nose, Noah is sometimes insecure about his plain appearance, but shouldn’t be. He has an innie belly button, quarter-sized brown nipples, sports size 8.5 shoes, and has a tuft of armpit and fair amount of lower leg hair but is smooth from the knees up (save for his bush). Noah’s voice has noticeably deepened but no one would mistake him for an adult.
Sex Stuff: cut, 5.75” long, 4.33” girth, hairless dark pink hole, straight but horny. Noah thinks shaving pubic hair is dumb and needlessly itchy, but will occasionally trim the margins to make his junk look bigger.
Until recently, Noah regularly cammed. He thought he was masturbating for a girl, but this was not always the case.
Noah has some anxiety about sex with other boys, but trusts Max and Cam. Besides, they’re so soft and tight, warm and wet…
Personality: Noah has been Max’s best friend since they were toddlers, and has quickly become close to Cam as well. As a result, he has decided to avail himself of his horny gay friends because, hey, it feels good. He’s also Craig’s next-door neighbor and views him as his cool uncle. Despite romping with his friends, Noah is hopelessly straight and super into his new girlfriend, Ashley (psst… she’s cool with it).
Compassionate but increasingly comfortable with being a leader amongst his peers, Noah is willing to throw down when provoked. He looks out for everyone and is incredibly loyal to and protective of Max. Their bond is stronger than that of most brothers.
Noah is an average student who doesn’t really enjoy academics, but he doesn’t hate lab day in science and manages respectable grades. His older brother (Jackson) can be a jerk, but they have recently begun to connect on a deeper level. In particular, they bonded over mutually admitting to same-sex experimentation.
He gets annoyed at casual reminders of Max’s attractiveness and athletic abilities.
Relationships: Adam (father), Lisa (mother), Jackson (older brother), Max (bff), Ashley (girlfriend), Craig (neighbor and surrogate uncle). He is also close to Kim (Craig’s wife) and Stacy (Max’s mom and his surrogate aunt), but is scared of Cam’s dad, Bob.
Fun Details: Noah isn’t super athletic but enjoys both playing and watching football, hockey, and basketball. When it comes to toiletries, he takes whatever his mom buys and doesn’t think about it. He’s naturally good with younger kids and puts those around him at ease. Upper-middle class and oblivious to it.
Random Quirk: chews on his shirt collar when stressed or anxious, always counts the number of stairs as he’s climbing or descending them
Weird Skill: has a knack for assembling and fixing things
Secondary Characters
Stacy Coleman, 38 —
Stacy is Max’s devoted and loving mother. Now a single Mom, she is overwhelmed with her situation but works hard to provide Max with whatever he needs. Her ex-husband (and Max’s father), Rick, was arrested for child sexual abuse right as Max was beginning puberty. While this was a shock, Rick was verbally abusive to her and Max, so him being removed from the home has been a blessing.
While she has accepted Max being gay, Stacy has struggled coming to grips with him already having a serious boyfriend and being sexually active. She has feuded with Cam's mother, Jeanine, for her behavior when news of Rick spread. Stacy has a history of drinking excessively, which has been a source of tension between her and Max.
Stacy has come to rely heavily on her village — and in particular, her best friend from college, Lisa (Noah’s mother), and Craig, whom she views as a godsend and miracle worker with her son.
Rick Coleman, 40 —
Unseen but often referenced, Rick is Max’s biological father and Stacy’s ex-husband. When Max was in sixth grade, he was arrested and later convicted of forcibly raping a 9-year-old girl. He is currently serving 20 years at Moose Lake and qualifies for civil commitment under the provisions of Minnesota’s Sex Offender Program, at the conclusion of his criminal sentence.
Rick is a piece of shit who often denigrated his wife and son. He has shown an interest in reconciling with Max, but is virulently homophobic. He has no idea that Max is gay, as Max came out after his conviction. Max has seen him sparingly since his arrest 2.75 years ago and not at all since he was transferred from county jail to state prison last spring.
Bob Rice, 41 —
Conservative, fit, affluent, and dominant, Bob Rice is Cam’s strict but loving father who has high behavioral expectations of his son and has drilled into him good manners. He reluctantly married his wife, Jeanine, but is secretly bisexual (on the Kinsey Scale, he would label himself a 2) and has been known to have dalliances with Craig as a relief valve for his homosexual urges. The most mortifying experience of his life was when Cam (and Max) walked in on him with Craig.
Bob was not always on the right path, and in his youth, hung out with the wrong crowd and engaged in delinquency. He turned things around as a teen and has since become a well-educated, successful businessman. His son is the light of his life, but he is not afraid to discipline him and will not tolerate Cam making the same mistakes he did as a teen.
Bob is aware of Craig’s proclivities and transgression with Max, but recognizes the bond between them is genuine and believes Craig is sincere when he swears nothing sexual will ever happen again. Bob determined that it would not be in anyone’s interest to destroy Craig, as the collateral damage would be too great.
Jeanine Rice, 39 —
Jeanine is Cam’s mother and Bob’s wife. She is “extra” and the quintessential judgmental “church lady.” She has a record of being snide and notoriously homophobic. She was brutal about the Colemans when Rick was arrested, for which Stacy holds a significant grudge.
A homemaker, Jeanine is deeply involved with her Southern Baptist church and associated charities. She enjoys the trappings of the affluent lifestyle her husband provides but also tries to give back to her community.
When Cam suddenly came out, she did not react well and fled to Texas. Since her return, she has made more of an effort to accept Cam’s sexuality and treat Max with respect. She loves her son, but feels as if he has rejected her values out of spite.
Liam Masteler, 13.5, 8th Grade at Olympia Middle School —
Appearance: short dark brown hair with a tight fade, striking hazel eyes, 5’8”, 157 lbs, thick but average build, predominantly Caucasian but with darker features (Armenian, English, and Brazilian ancestry), innie belly button, nickel-sized brown nipples, size 9.5 shoes, sparse armpit hair and narrow but full pubic bush. Liam is otherwise smooth, except for moderate lower leg hair. His voice has changed but definitely still sounds like a teenager.
Max is intrigued by his plump, round bubble butt and squishy torso. He always thought of Liam as kind and “cute enough, in a slightly above-average sort of way” but never paid much attention to him. After getting to know him, Max is smitten and finds Liam incredibly alluring. In fact, he realizes Liam would be great boyfriend material if he and Cam weren’t already a couple.
Sex Stuff: cut, 6” long, 4.5” girth, brownish pink hole, hasn’t done much and is open to whatever but really wants to top and rim. And kiss. Kissing Max felt so right, and he feels blessed to have the fantasy he first conjured as a sixth grader actually coming true.
Until recently, Liam pretended to like girls, but it was always an act.
Personality: Liam is quietly confident and grounded, in large part due to his devout LDS faith and strong familial bonds. He comes from a large family (older siblings, Emma [19] and Ezra [17], as well as two younger brothers, Luke [9] and Elijah [7]). He has struggled with his sexuality but come to realize he is gay and has secretly admired Max from afar since middle school started. They didn’t become friends until Liam anonymously propositioned Max (after he was outed at a school dance with Cam). He is widely regarded as “one of the nicest kids in school” who will help anyone, which is why he was recruited to be an office aide.
Liam loves football and plays tight end and linebacker. He’ll hit an opponent hard, but then help them up. He wrestles in the off-season to stay in shape, but damn if he can’t get rid of his soft tummy. He is masculine and competitive, but not aggressive.
He is middle class, and his father makes a good living. However, money can be tight. He has a stay-at-home mother and his eldest sibling is on a mission in Peru. His family also tithes 10% of their income to the Church, so luxuries like eating out or going to the movies are rare.
A member of the Aaronic priesthood, Liam takes his responsibilities as a Deacon very seriously. He enjoys helping his father woodwork and knits blankets with his mother to donate to charity. He works hard and gets good grades, and like Max, enjoys history and language arts — especially this year, since Mrs. Hickman assigned him to sit next to Max!
Spencer Schwab, 12.25, 6th Grade at Olympia Middle School —
Appearance: medium length brown hair, light brown eyes, 4’10”, 85 lbs, lean build but developing muscle mass, Caucasian, outie belly button, dime-sized pink nipples, size 5.5 shoes, almost completely smooth but has sprouted some wispy pubes. His voice is high.
Sex Stuff: uncut, 3.75” long, 2.75” girth, bright pink slit, definitely a bottom but enjoyed topping Max. He is way too proud of his new hairs to ever think about getting rid of them. Max has described Spence as “the horniest kid in Minnesota” because his libido and kinkiness are so pronounced.
Personality: Spencer is well-intended but incredibly impulsive and hyperactive, which can be off-putting to those around him. He has ADHD and struggles in school, both behaviorally and academically, but isn’t a bad kid. His parents have recently split and he overheard that his dad is not biologically his father, which has thrown him for a loop.
Spencer is a good gymnast and interested in wrestling because a.) the singlets are revealing and b.) he wants to be manhandled by and rub up against other guys. He deeply admires both Max and Cam’s prowess and has been crushing on Max since he was a third grader. He is lower-middle class and would be mortified if any of his friends knew he needed a scholarship for gymnastics.
James (“Jamie”) Ellison, 13.25, 8th Grade at Olympia Middle School —
Appearance: medium length sandy brown hair, gray eyes, 5’5”, 177 lbs, chunky but thinned somewhat as he’s become taller, Caucasian, innie belly button, quarter-sized pink nipples, size 8 shoes, smooth save for a small bush of pubes. His voice is just starting to change and has always been raspy.
Sex Stuff: cut, 5.25” long with a distinct upward curve, 3.75” girth, pink hole, just starting to figure out gay sex. Jamie always thought he was straight, but meeting Seb flipped a switch. He’s confused and not sure what his sexuality is, other than he “isn’t completely straight.” He doesn’t understand how Seb (or Max) could be attracted to a hairy man, but damn, butts are nice and dicks are kinda fun to play with.
Personality: Jamie has been friends with Max since elementary school and has always stood by him. He can be blunt, boorish, and sometimes tries too hard to be funny. His father was an alcoholic and out of his life after multiple DUIs, but he has bonded with his stepfather, Wyatt. Jamie’s hygiene isn’t bad, but he’s known to be a slob. Max has joked Jamie’s messy locker and bedroom are “biohazards.”
He’s lower-middle class and not always a great student, but works hard. He struggles mightily with geometry and would have transferred out if Seb wasn’t there to help him. Mr. Beckham has no idea how he was enrolled in his class.
Seb(astian) Marks, 12, 7th Grade at Olympia Middle School (formerly Widmer) —
Appearance: short black hair, green eyes, glasses, braces, 5’, 90 lbs, small and soft, Caucasian, innie belly button, dime-sized tan nipples, size 6 shoes, completely smooth and high voice
Sex Stuff: cut, 3.5” long, 2.5” girth, grayish pink hole, bottom but is new to things. Recently became boyfriends with Jamie, he’s known he’s gay for a long time. Seb is attracted to boys and men, and swears the experience with his teacher was enjoyable and voluntary. He is turned on by Jamie’s bigger size and forceful personality.
Personality: Seb is quiet, studious, and comparatively effeminate. He has been a target of bullying his entire life, and things came to a head when he attended Widmer. A popular teacher was caught molesting him, and his peers were ruthless in response. Cam tried to help, but Seb transferred to Olympia, where Max and his friends have looked out for him. His parents and law enforcement pressured him to aid in the investigation, but Seb maintained silence. He has suffered from suicidal ideation, but has begun to turn the corner.
Seb is clever and can be playfully snarky. He enjoys computers and gaming, and revels in his nerdiness. An only-child, he is sheltered by overprotective parents. He is upper-middle class, excels in school, voraciously reads, and has a gift for mathematics.
Tertiary Characters
Jackson Reed is Noah’s almost 17-year-old brother. He is predominantly straight, but played with his best friend in middle school. They were caught, but he hasn’t forgotten how good it felt.
He is 6”, 170 lbs, sandy hair, brown eyes. His erection is 6.75 inches long and 5 inches around. He has a faint treasure trail approaching his navel — and anus (not that he ever reaches back there).
His and Noah’s parents are Adam and Lisa (who is also best friends with Max’s mom, Stacy). They are extremely close with their next-door neighbors, Craig and Kim.
KimPeters is Craig’s wife of 28 years. Their daughters, Rachel (25) and Emma (23), are out of school (and the house).
Kim is in love with her husband and deeply attracted to his nurturing, paternal nature. She does not suspect his homosexual or underage attractions. She’s grown to really appreciate having Max and Noah around. She enjoys corny Hallmark Christmas movies and is active in her Presbyterian church.
Ashley Richardson is Noah’s girlfriend and spunky as hell. She was originally attracted to Max, but genuinely likes Noah and is becoming actual friends with Max. She is turned on by gay boys and appreciates that Noah isn’t pestering her for sex. One of her good friends, Mariah, had a significant crush on Max and did not accept his coming out well.
Her younger brother is 9-year-old Aron, who is autistic and ADHD.
Max’s other sometimes-mentioned school friends include Austin, Paxton, and Reese, three other eighth grade guys he made friends with when middle school began but doesn’t do much with outside of Olympia.
Then there is sixth grader Ian, who is on the same gymnastics team as our boys but attends a different public middle school. He used to experiment with Spencer (and later Max and Cam), but has since stopped… proclaiming that he wants a girlfriend now that he’s in middle school. He is considering taking a break from gymnastics. Craig loves Ian’s red hair and he is one of his favorites to ogle at the gym whenever he takes Max to practice.
Jan is Max’s therapist, who he began seeing after his father was arrested. He had graduated from regular sessions, but when he started getting into trouble and blowing up in the fall, he was sent back for a tune up. Jan is blunt, incisive, nonjudgmental — and adept at getting Max to open up. She suggested a mentor for Max and facilitated recruiting Craig. She would be beside herself if she ever found out Craig and Max were involved sexually.
Coach Dale is Max and Cam’s primary gymnastics coach, who rides them hard but accepts their relationship… so long as it doesn’t hurt the team.
Mr. Tim Braverman is an Olympia safety and security officer who deeply cares for his students and school. Highly effective at counseling and disciplining middle schoolers, Mr. Tim has quietly looked out for Max since news about his father broke. He is of average height and build and has wavy strawberry blond hair, a baby face, and green eyes. He is 29.
After the fracas at the Spartan Night, when Max and company managed to get into trouble, he has become better acquainted with Max and his friends. He serves for Max a somewhat similar role at school that Craig provides at home. In fact, Max refers to Mr. Tim as his “school Craig.”
While Craig appreciates Tim, a small part of him can’t help but wonder if his interest is wholly pure. Tim is engaged (to a woman).
He is best friends with the (gay) son of Mrs. Hickman, who is Max and Liam’s Honors Language Arts teacher. She is the oldest teacher at Olympia and most students groan when they discover they are in her class. She’s tough, strict, even imposing — and doesn’t put up with anything. Her pupils are intimidated, but she is heavily invested in their success and some eventually come to appreciate her. Mrs. Hickman recognized early in the year that Max has a gift for writing and encouraged him to enter a story writing contest. She is in close contact with Mr. Tim and has Max’s back more than he’ll ever know (you should have seen her go off on Bach after the dance, it was glorious and made her cry).
Lastly, there is Chad Marlowe, a.k.a. “That Mother Fucker!” After Mexico, Max found himself at a very low point. Cam had dumped him because of what happened with Craig, and Craig was furious at Max for telling Cam after Max repeatedly swore he would keep it a secret. Desperate for affection and sex-starved, Max found solace in chatting with men on Grindr.
One of these men was Chad, who appealed to Max’s submissive side. Max foolishly met him at a nearby convenience store, expecting a thrilling sexual encounter where he would role play being Chad’s submissive fuck toy. It all sounded so arousing.
Chad didn’t bat an eye at Max’s size or age and eagerly took him to a nearby motel where he essentially ravaged Max’s mouth and ass with his thick, 8”+ cock. Max enjoyed the beginning of the encounter, but things quickly turned and his literal cries fell on deaf ears. Chad was mean and taught Max that sex is not always fun. To add insult to injury, afterwards, Chad suggested Max “break in” his own son, Brett, so he could use him for his own pleasure, and noted that he was starting sixth grade at Max’s school.
Things became even more convoluted when Max saw Chad at a pizza parlor and realized Chad is Ashley’s uncle. Chad also tried blackmailing Noah (with a clip of him camming), while Noah was helping Ashley babysit the younger kids at a party at her parent’s house.
Eventually, Chad was dealt with. Bob and Craig made sure of that, hiring a private investigator who dug up dirt on him (he’s truly a scumbag in about every way imaginable). With a mountain of evidence, they essentially extorted Chad into staying away from Max, his friends, and his own damn son… as well as contribute annually to a college fund for Max.
By Family
The Peters: Craig and Kim, grown daughters Rachel and Emma
The Reeds: (next door neighbors to Craig and Kim; so close they are almost family) Adam and Lisa, sons Jackson (16.75) and Noah (14)
The Colemans: Lisa and Max (14.25); ex-husband and father Rick away in prison
The Rices: Bob and Jeanine, son Cam (13.75)
Olympia Middle School
Friends —
The boys: Noah, Liam, Jamie, Seb, Paxton, Reese, Austin
The girls: Ashley, Mariah, Monica. Ashley has a whole hive, but Max isn’t close to any of them
Douches —
Brady Jacobs: Brady was the class bully throughout elementary school, but Max put him in his place in fourth grade — and Brady never forgot. When Max was dancing with Cam at the Spartan Night Out, directly following their reconciliation, Brady saw his chance to finally get even. He ended up being fiercely shamed by Ashley and put on his ass by Noah (with a very stupid assist from Spence). He’s laid low since, as have his friends, including Aidan, who used to be one of Noah’s better friends before he started smoking weed.
Dominic (“Dom”) Romero: Dom printed off photos Max posted of himself with Cam, defaced them with derogatory comments, and affixed them to Max’s locker. He also leveled Max with a forearm during a flag-football game, causing a severe nosebleed and facial brushing. Dom is very macho and couldn’t handle that a ‘fag’ like Max juked him. He was initially placed on a long-term suspension for assault and bullying, but has since returned to school after Max assented. His engaged, loving parents are at a loss as to why their son has become so angry and malicious.
The way Max conducted himself at their forced mediation/apology earned Max some respect from Dominic. Hopefully, it keeps him from doing further hateful shit.
The Grownups —
Mr. Tim, the affable and approachable eighth grade SSO who Max clings to (and secretly wishes he could snuggle with, or at least hug). Tim believes in Max and encourages him to lean into his intangible strengths.
Mrs. Hickman, the old-school and master English teacher who sees great promise in Max.
Mr. Johnson, the slick principal who rubs Craig the wrong way but has been generally fair to Max. He trusts Mr. Tim implicitly and has worked quietly behind the scenes to protect Max from hassle.
Mrs. Bach, the former eighth grade assistant principal who came hard at Max and Noah after the Spartan Night. She made homophobic remarks and alluded to Max’s father’s crimes, and has since been “reassigned” away from Olympia.
Dr. B(renner), Bach’s replacement as assistant principal. He is strict but likable and is impressed with how well Max has handled what has been thrown at him.
Other teachers with meaningful dialogue on occasion include Mr. Beckham (geometry) and Coach B(remerton) in PE.
***
We hope that was a fun, interesting read that wasn’t too all over the place. Our aim was to provide context for our story and characters, hopefully giving some insight into what makes them tick and making them more relatable.
Do you feel like you know them better? Wish there was another detail we included?
Or, do we screw up how you envisioned things? (If you had mental images of the characters that we’ve ruined, by all means imagine them however you wish!)
Do you appreciate the change of pace, or would you have preferred we stuck to working on the next chapter (which is also actively underway, despite this diversion)?
Let us know by emailing - craigpwriter888@tutanota.com