Date: 02/06/17 02:37 pm Title: Chapter 56
LOL at AJ's comment about Ava: "2.5 going on 23"! That is totally the situation in my house at the moment!!
Also, I can't believe that I didn't make the connection that it was Fifths disease. I was just handed an info sheet about it when I picked up my daughter from daycare last week as it's been going around in the Infant Room. (So far none of the kids in her room have gotten it though.) I really should start paying more attention, apparently.
The "group hung" bonding moment was sweet. I love the interaction between Nick and AJ; no sugar coating anything. AJ totally knows that Nick is potentially feeling a little something for Howie. Nick didn't recover quickly enough - I know it!! LOL
Author's Response: LOL My niece is also 2.5, so I get that! And what a coincidence... I'd heard of Fifth disease before, but didn't know much about it. I was trying to find something minor that had symptoms that could be signs of other complications and wouldn't be instantly recognizable, and it fit perfectly. Apparently it's most common in young children. Hope your daughter doesn't get it! I'm glad you liked the scene with the rest of the guys. It was fun writing them together after so long. Yeah, AJ might have his suspicions that the Howie/Nick situation is not completely one-sided after all. Thanks, Erika!
Date: 02/03/17 09:29 pm Title: Chapter 55
Yessss!! Hello Brian!! :D I'm very excited at the thought of all the boys being together again. And, I have to say that I'm a bit flattered that you worked out a way to reunite them faster simply because I asked about them. Like Brian said, I feel so "loved"! LOL
Also, in response to your last comment to my review, did you say that you don't like a Drake song?! *gasp* How can you say that!?! LOL Being from "The 6", EVERYBODY loves Drake! Seriously, it's scandalous not to like him!! :P
Anyways, great update and I'm super excited for the next installment!
Author's Response: You give good suggestions! :) LOL I don't think I like any Drake songs! I know I must be in the minority, for as much as they get played on the radio. =P Thanks for reviewing!
Date: 02/03/17 07:41 pm Title: Chapter 55
It's good to see Howie so positive and wanting to live now, he's got so much to live for!
I can understand that he's worried about it all going so well and his world will be turned upside down again. It will be just his luck. But he's got people around who love and will be there for him, even Nick won't be able to hide his feelings from everyone forever :)
Author's Response: I agree. It was hard writing suicidal Howie! I just don't see him that way. Thanks for the review, Steph!
Date: 01/31/17 07:37 pm Title: Chapter 54
I love that in a crisis the first person to call is Kevin, he is so calm and collected. I'm glad they are all coming, but I just hope Howie will be ok and they can all leave the hospital.
Can't wait for more!
Author's Response: Even if Kevin wasn't the "big brother," he seems like a good one to call in a crisis for exactly the reasons you said. Thanks for the review!
Date: 01/31/17 07:31 pm Title: Chapter 53
OMG poor Howie (I know I keep on saying that). Just when you think he can't have any more bad news he gets told he could have some new thing wrong with a high death rate percentage :(
But his love life is looking up at least. Maybe Nick is right too, he is immortal lol. He's certainly fought everything else he's been through.
Author's Response: LOL I think there's been a lot of "poor Howie" in the reviews for this story. If only I had a dollar for every time someone said it... Who knows, he could be immortal. I don't think he dies very often in fanfics, anyway. LOL Thanks, Steph!
Date: 01/31/17 04:33 pm Title: Chapter 54
So, as soon as I read that line about the Kevin hotline I started to sing "Hotline Bling" by Drake! LOL Now, it's stuck in my head and probably will be for the entire day ... So, thanks for that. HAHA :P
Yay for Nick FINALLY calling the other boys! Let's get some full group bromance going! Or, it actually just occurred to me that, all of them being together may lead to a fight? Damn! I wish I hadn't thought of that. It doesn't matter. I'm still excited that Brian is on his way. I've missed his presence (and the other guys too, of course)!
Author's Response: LOL Thanks for getting it stuck in my head too; I HATE that song!! I think it was actually you that inspired me to have Nick call the guys in this chapter because you commented (on a chapter last summer, which is when I wrote this one) something about wanting the other guys to come back, so I started thinking of how I could work them back in sooner than anticipated. So the boys will be back in town very soon! Thanks for the suggestion and the review!
Date: 01/30/17 02:05 pm Title: Chapter 54
Awww I love how caring Nick has been these last two chapters, especially that little pep talk before Howie went to get his tests done. It was sweet of him to turn his initial shock of seeing Howie's scar into a compliment.
Too bad they'll probably miss the next rocket launch, if there even was going to be one. At least the Boys will be there to share in Nick's distress. ^_^
Author's Response: Thanks! It was nice writing this side of Nick, although I like angry, angsty Nick too. I think this forced Nick to find his inner strength, man up, and be the support Howie needed. Thanks for the review!
Date: 01/27/17 07:49 pm Title: Chapter 53
I love how you keep torturing HIV Howie. They can't figure things out? NO! Because that's no fun and it's one of my favorite things about you LOL. I like how Nick can't abandon him but they're still in that weird place cause they can't talk about anything. It makes me so curious about where you plan for this to go and I can't wait to see. Awesome, as usual.
Author's Response: Thanks! Poor Howie... #RedRibbonForHowie He and Nick are definitely still in a weird place. I do have a pretty good idea of how the rest of the story is going to go at this point, so you will see. Thanks again, ZDR!
Date: 01/26/17 05:48 pm Title: Chapter 53
Seriously, woman, what does your Google history look like?? LOL If your computer was ever seized for an investigation, it would probably generate a lot of confusion and/or concern!!
Anyways, please don't kill Howie. I will be the first to admit that I often forget about him, but I would still feel a void if he wasn't around. Plus, I think that Howie dying would kill Nick ... and I like Nick. HAHA
I'm still confused as to where Nick's mind is in terms of him and Howie. You're doing an excellent job of keeping me guessing - totally frustrating btw!!
Looking forward to the next installment (as always)!
Author's Response: LOL! My Google history and bookmarks are scary, for sure. I think Nick is just as confused about how he feels about Howie. This latest health crisis isn't helping, that's for sure. Thanks for the review!
Date: 01/24/17 07:09 pm Title: Chapter 52
I caught up with the last four chapters. Poor Howie having to miss out on the amusement rides. That scene with Howie saying goodbye to James was heartbreaking. Nick can’t leave Howie all alone in that house.
Lol at Howie beating a dead panda. Give it a rest, Howard. XD
OMG, I wasn’t expecting Nick to be that forthcoming about his suppressed bisexuality to Howie. That lingering kiss though. I guess Nick needed to commit to that kiss or he’d keep on questioning his sexuality and haunted by flashbacks. Great use of Nick’s bullied past as the reason why he initially couldn’t admit this revelation to himself. I’m guessing a Howie and Nick relationship is not going to happen, so Howie probably shouldn’t get his hopes up too high.
Oh no, I was hoping that their health scares were over. Don't die on me now, Howie, lol.
Author's Response: Thanks so much for taking the time to catch up and review! The scene with Howie saying goodbye to James was so sad to write! I can't imagine how hard that would be. I think you're spot on with what you said about Nick needing to commit to the kiss, in order to find out once and for all how he really felt. I'm glad the bullying in his childhood seemed like a believable excuse. I know he's said he really did get picked on as a kid, so it made sense to me. Thanks again for all your thoughts!
Date: 01/23/17 02:30 pm Title: Chapter 52
So, when this chapter started all I could focus on was the fact that Nick was FINALLY going to have a proper conversation with Howie annnnnd I totally forgot about Howie's rash from the previous chapter until Nick saw him in the kitchen!! So, Nick and I both did a double take in this chapter. Oooops! LOL Even when I'm not the author, I tend to forget about Howie apparently. *sigh*
All I can say, is that you better not have Howie die. As much as the whole Nick and Howie pairing still weirds me out, I don't want to see Nick any more upset than he already is. The poor thing.
One more comment - Cookie Crisp is so nasty! The thought of Nick eating it made me gag. I HATE surgery cereal of any kind. My poor kid is only going to get Cheerios and Shreddies. :P
I'm enjoying the regular updates. Keep them coming!!
Author's Response: LOL Glad you were able to experience the same reaction as Nick! ;) I LOVED Cookie Crisp as a kid. It's not quite the same as an adult, LOL. I'm a Special K kind of gal these days. I will definitely keep the updates coming! I finished two chapters over the weekend, so I may post another one mid-week. Thanks so much for the feedback!
Date: 01/20/17 04:22 pm Title: Chapter 51
Ugh! Nick Plague is most definitely a thing! That man has totally made me sick and not in a good way. LOL
So, it's a good thing that Howie kept his emotions in check and didn't do anything drastic. He should know Nick well enough by now; any sudden movements (re: too much too soon) is going to make him bolt. I am sticking to my notion that Nick is looking for comfort and not romance and that this whole thing is going to leave Howie with a broken heart.
Oh! And can you not cut Howie a break?! Like, seriously, the poor man! AIDS, divorce, lost custody, liver transplant, sh*t with Nick, and now a random rash ... I really don't see him making it to the end of the story at this rate!! HAHA
Author's Response: Nick Plague is absolutely real! I've had it a couple of times after meeting Nick, and the last time I didn't even touch his hands. It must be airborne. I think Howie knew better than to try to push Nick any further. Last time, that didn't work out so well for them. LOL And I know, poor Howie... he'll never catch a break as long as he's stuck with me as the writer. Although he should be honored - he's never been a leading man in one of my stories before, and I only torture the ones I love, so clearly he's grown on me. Thanks so much for the review. I always enjoy reading your thoughts!
Date: 01/20/17 01:54 pm Title: Chapter 51
Howie was doing the right thing by giving Nick space and not moving too fast as it's all so new to him having these feelings. I think he knows he's bi-sexual now, but is more worried about what other people will think of this.
Poor Howie though, just when things are looking up for him (he actually kissed Nick!) he gets ill again. Although I did laugh at Nick Plague lol.
Hopefully it's just a viral thing and he gets better soon. Looking forward to more :)
Author's Response: I think you're spot on with Nick being more worried about what other people will think. Poor Howie can't catch a break! (Probably because he's stuck with me as the writer.) Thanks for the review! :)
Date: 01/20/17 04:05 am Title: Chapter 51
Oh man. I like that you're doing first person POV for this story because I am happy to be able to see it from both sides. Nick is obviously scared and confused about his feelings (I know exactly what he's feeling based on what I told you the other day) and Howie is happy. Now I don't know what him being sick can mean but he just can't catch a break can he? Poor Howie. It's good to see them finally getting along though. Can't wait for the next chapter, I am loving this so much.
Author's Response: Thanks! I like writing it in first person for the same reason. It's interesting to show it from both sides. As much as I enjoyed writing all the angst and anger earlier in the story, it is nice to be able to write them getting along now. Thanks so much, Tracy!
Date: 01/17/17 04:41 pm Title: Chapter 50
Okay, just so you're aware, I read this on my break at work and that probably wasn't a good choice! LOL I'm pretty sure everyone I work with heard the gasp that came from my office when I got to the end of the chapter. :P Anyways, I am definitely NOT a slash fan. In fact, I would never purposefully read a slash fic as the idea of any of the guys being paired together romantically makes me a bit uncomfortable. It's strange as I am quite friendly with several same-sex couples and I have no problem with how other people choose to live their lives. I think it comes down to the fact that the boys aren't gay in real life and, because of that, I find it somewhat awkward when they are made to be gay in fiction. All of that being said, I'm so bloody invested in this damn story that there's no way that I can possible stop reading now! Damn you for being such a good writer and getting me hooked!! I also have to applaud you for getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new. I think that you're approaching the entire situation in a very realistic way, and that's making it easier for people (like me) who may be weird-ed out by slash to continue reading. So, where does all of this leave Nick? Is he indeed bi-sexual, or has he just developed some kind of an infatuation with Howie because the two of them have always been so close? It's obvious that Nick is lonely and that he's struggling to come to terms with his new reality, so it stands to reason that he would latch on to someone who has always been there for him in the past. At this point, I truly do believe that Nick is seeking out Howie's comfort more than anything (re: a romantic relationship). Of course, Nick's confusion is only going to mean more bad things for Howie as HE is likely the one who is going to get his feelings hurt once again. Also, I am super curious to see how the other boys are going to react to this "new" Nick and Howie relationship (?)!! Of course, I have my assumptions: AJ will just wave his hand and shrug it off like it's no big thing. Brian will secretly be okay with the entire situation, but he will probably become distant because of other "influences" in his life that will insist that he shouldn't be okay with it. Finally, Kevin will insist that the two of them seek counselling to resolve any lingering issues that may have a negative impact on the group as a whole. Hopefully, this is a better prediction as my Instagram theory from the previous chapter was apparently a bust. Okay, this review is super long. I'm done!
Author's Response: Wow, thanks for the long review!! Honestly, everything you said about BSB slash is exactly how I feel about it too. I don't have a problem with gay people in real life; I have gay friends too and am totally in support of same sex marriage and equal rights and all that. That said, my issue with slash in our fandom has always been the suspension of disbelief factor: I know none of the guys are actually gay, so when I read about them in romantic relationships with each other, it just seems silly, and I can't take it seriously. I even read some slash over the weekend for inspiration, and even though it was well-written, it still made me giggle. So that was the challenge I was trying to overcome with this story and the original short story: to see if I could write it in a way that was at least semi-believable and not too silly. For me, it really wasn't THAT much of a stretch to imagine Howie as a closeted gay man who got married and had kids because his Catholic upbringing made him think homosexuality was a sin. Nick has been much more of a struggle for me to figure out. I loved reading your speculation about where his head is because I've gone back and forth about that myself, too. I'm really glad to hear the situation is seeming realistic to you. I loved your thoughts on how the other guys might react. I haven't gotten that far yet, but they will be back in the story in a few chapters, I promise! Thanks so much for sticking with the story and for your feedback; I really appreciate it! :)
