Date: 02/26/15 09:15 am Title: Chapter Twelve
Damn. Well, that was about the most explosive chapter possible, and with the most dire consequences so far. I really appreciated how raw and spontaneous Nick's and Brian's reactions both were, as it really conveyed their hearbreak and shock, on both sides. I have the feeling that it's going to take a lot more than a punch to mend this... if it can be mended at all.
I suspect that Nick is currently somewhere he'd rather not be, or that's unhealthy for him to be, and I hope Brian pulls out all the stops to find him, because it's his only chance to get Nick back. I hope you give Brian the chance to say that Nick gave him hope not to quit. Or to actually change his decision, and do so publicly.
It's intriging that Nick persists in thinking that Brian's life with Leighanne, without Nick, is perfect. Whereas from the indications we've had so far, the opposite is true: the über happy Skype call early on, the fact that (as far as we know) there's no regular, casual communication like Nick has with Lauren, and the leak of Brian's decision to the media. In this story, Leighanne seems to have the most to gain and the least to lose, and I wonder if when no decision was made public, she worried that Brian might back out and decided to give things a little nudge. That's my conspiracy theory so far. ;)
Please keep up the great writing and update soon!
Author's Response: I think we're dealing with a situation where Brian has come into this from the angle that Nick is the problem, that Nick distancing himself from Brian is why they haven't been close recently and that Nick's anger about Brian's so-called perfect life is where the disconnect is at. I think Brian's about to learn some stuff about himself that might help turn it around and maybe, just maybe, the so-called perfect life will be part of what comes to question, like you've started to wonder here as well. Maybe. ;)
Date: 02/26/15 08:15 am Title: Chapter Twelve
Uh oh I knew the peace was too good to be true lol. Really hope they find Nick before anything happens and the two of them can talk things out.
Date: 02/24/15 09:05 pm Title: Chapter Eleven
Loved this story! So good! :)
Date: 02/22/15 05:15 pm Title: Chapter Eleven
Uh oh, something tells me Nick's not going to be happy!
I hope Brian gets better soon.
Date: 02/22/15 05:06 pm Title: Chapter Ten
OMG that poor fan! I'a m really surprised those two didn't laugh lmao.
Date: 02/22/15 04:52 pm Title: Chapter Nine
I'm glad they are talking and hope they stick by the new rule of not bottling things up. Loved the singalong and I was singing Wham in my head too lol. Nick's mum really is 'lovely'!
Date: 02/21/15 08:51 am Title: Chapter Eleven
Wow, such a range of moments in this chapter... fulfilling and then so frustrating! It was so great to see both Nick and Brian at first actively working at getting along--and then ending up enjoying each other's company so effortlessly. The 'going to hell' part was good for closure, and the basketball game was fun, but the best part is for sure when Nick takes care of sick Brian. It's a good reminder that Nick has a gentle side, and I bet it'll be awhile before we see it again.
I just hope that Brian somehow manages to express that he doesn't *want* to quit; that it's a last resort, and that Nick is the one who gave him some hope that it didn't have to be that way.
Well, I'm optimistic. ;)
Really looking forward to the next chapter!
Author's Response: I feel like Nick taking care of sick Brian was a role reversal that doesn't happen often in stories. It's always Brian taking care of Nick. So it was kind of awkward/different writing Nick taking care of Brian. I literally looked up a scene in another story I'd written a while back where Brian was taking care of sick Nick and I had Nick mimic the stuff Brian did then, almost like he did what Brian always used to do for him. I wish I'd included a line like that in the story now to point that out that, like, the only reason Nick knew what to do to help was because it was what Brian had always done to help him in the past. Nick's learned a lot of who he is from Brian in this story and I feel like that is most evident in that scene.
Date: 02/21/15 05:47 am Title: Chapter Ten
wow, this was a good chapter! I love how even when Brian and Nick are getting along, they're still bugging each other--either intentionally, with some good-natured ribbing, or just because of their personalities, with the bed sharing. Brian took the cake with his phobia that Nick might "feel him up".. it's also sort of sad, since they used to be so comfortable physically.
The vocal therapy was great, and I think a very important moment for both of them, especially at the end, when Nick could have made fun or avoided the question, and instead chose to be positive about it.
I seriously wonder what's going to happen the next night. More heart-to-hearts.. I kind of hope so. :)
Keep up the great work!
Date: 02/21/15 03:05 am Title: Chapter Eleven
Oh fuck. They shouldn't have frigin' emailed it, until they had Brian's consent to send it. People can and do change their minds. I had a sinking feeling that is why Kevin was calling him. Fuck fuckity fuck fuck. I really hope Nick doesn't flip out on him for it - Brian should've told him, but damn. They should have waited until Brian had told them he had talked to Nick because frigin' emailing the guys. Sometimes I feel their people are such assholes.
UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!
~Lenni~
Date: 02/19/15 12:34 am Title: Chapter Nine
This chapter began so positively, and ended so ominously...that was a bit of a letdown, but I enjoyed everything in between! It was so great to see Brian and Nick showing goodwill toward one another again, and the singing parts were a lot of fun! It's just too bad that Brian didn't seize that moment to speak to Nick about his previous plans... it's all to easy to anticipate that now his suggestion to share everything from now on will eventually be seen as manipulative. :( I wonder how long we have before the foreshadowed fateful moment.. and I hope there's a way back.
Otherwise, I wonder if we'll get to see more of the collaborative voice therapy.. and maybe an update on Nick's poor face? ;)
Keep up the great writing!
Date: 02/18/15 08:56 pm Title: Chapter Ten
I'm sitting here trying not to burst out laughing as I don't want my Mom asking what's so funny - lol. I feel for that poor girl, as that has almost happened to me a few times - luckily I manage to keep it in - lol. I'm glad they're getting along so well & hope it stays this way, though I've a feeling it won't.
UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~Lenni~
P.S. Well the idiots in the story like to keep my pointy sticks busy - lol.
Author's Response: I'm sure it's happened a lot more than any of the fans that it's happened to are willing to admit. I doubt the Boys would've been able to keep quiet in real life. lol... Personally, I've never had that happen but I've had other embarrassing things happen in front of them. They don't seem to check their reactions much for the sake of the fan, LOL. I'm sure they get a lot of laughs out of the stupid crap we do!
Date: 02/18/15 04:36 am Title: Chapter Nine
Oye vey in a half shell Brian. You just told him you guys would not have any secrets and you don't tell him you were about to quit!?!?! I bet Jen tells him or he overhears it or something & then y'all have a big blowout & hate each other again. Damn.
UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!
~Lenni~
P.S. Nick's mother is now my pointy sticks target.
Author's Response: Your pointy sticks are quite busy.
Date: 02/17/15 08:54 pm Title: Chapter Nine
Sorry for the lack of reviews. I'm still reading this and enjoying it tremendously. I often read on the go whenever the baby is napping and forget to review. Ooooops!! Anyways, I love how the tension keeps building up between Brian and Nick and then almost resolving itself. It's exactly how I picture their real life relationship to be at the moment. The cliffhanger at the end of this chapter has definitely left me wanting more. Looking forward to the next update!
Author's Response: Thanks for the review! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the story. I feel like there's a lot of seesaw moments in their relationship, too. I think they've grown a lot closer since Nick got engaged/married like now that he's there, too, Nick understands what made Brian pull away, what that felt like. I think he maybe respects what happened more in retrospect and that's why they're getting along better now than they used to. That's my observation now. Like real life Nick and Brian, not just mine. lol Obvs in my story they're still fighting until that talk last chapter, LOL.
Date: 02/14/15 01:19 am Title: Chapter Eight
I hope Nick is able to help Brian and that his voice comes back and sounds the way it used to. We can dream, right?
UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~Lenni~
P.S. My pointy sticks are aimed for nasty Lou Pearlman now!
Date: 02/13/15 10:29 am Title: Chapter Eight
If the last chapter was emotional... well, I think you topped it in this one. :) I like that it's not maudlin or overwrought--it's more about being honest with theselves about their feelings and the genuine impacts of their respective experiences.
It's so interesting how since the altercation in the bar, Brian's and Nick's behavour toward one another has become one of offering something, rather than expecting or taking. It's like they both wanted to get past their, well, past, but could not find the way forward.
Nowhere is this more poignant than in Brian's reaction to Nick's offer to help him with his vocal issues. It's clear how much he wants this help and how much he wants to believe that Nick can help him, and that they can return to their previous dynamic. It's a complete 180 from his earlier decision to quit, and speaks to how deeply he yearns to regain his voice and ability to perform within the group.
In fact, the fireceness of Brian's hope is almost scary, and I can see how easily he could come to expect this second chance to materialize. But I prefer this state infinitely to his defeated attitude before.
Okay, this was way too long. You can tell I had a long gap between reading and reviewing, for lack of time.
But please keep up the great writing and I hope you post more soon! I'm so curious about how this 'help with therapy' thing will work, not to mention how it will, at the same time, affect Nick and Brian's friendship.
Author's Response: I was nervous about writing this chapter because of the emotional/heavy content that it presents. I tried not to linger too long on the Lou Pearlman stuff. I knew I wanted it to be the crux of their disconnect, but it was a really delicate topic to tread - especially since I didn't want to actually say it happened, only that it was suggested to him. It was hard making sure that much was clear in the way Nick confesses what happened. Brian's change from defeat to hope was important too. A second chance, an opportunity to get back what he's lost. Brian's vocals are almost like a metaphor for his relationship with Nick at this point: it's broken, he's trying but it's hard to go alone, and now Nick's in to help, too...
