Dear Readers: Writing a story is always a bit complex. There are going to be people who love what you write and relate to the characters as you are portraying them. There are also going to be those who find your story isn't their cup of tea and never come back. There will also be what I like to call review bullies. A review bully is someone who uses a review to belittle someone or their creative attempts. I am not talking about telling an author you're not going to read because the story isn't your cup of tea or expressing an opinion on how the story could be improved. I am talking about running the author into the ground for no reason. If you do not like what someone is writing just exit the story. There is no need to be hateful. I don't feel as though I have had too many review bullies on my stories but I have seen them on others. In fact, just the other day I had a friend express concern over something another friend had said to another writer. I was appalled by what I seen. Not just by the rude comment my friend left, but by some of the other reviews. One of which concerned me and this story. If you don't like what I write that is fine. If you think there are ways I can improve the story and want to take the time to suggest them, I am always appreciative. Just do NOT go onto another writers story talking about how ridiculous I am and how my story is the biggest piece of garbage you have ever read. Even if you feel that way have the guts to say it to me, on my story, don't do that to another author! If you don't like what I write don't read it. It won't hurt my feelings. I have plenty of people who do enjoy my writing. (I have several stories where the review count has reached over 400, and it wasn't because of drama) . The point of reviews is to encourage one another; to help one another grow as writers. It isn't meant to be a playground for bullies. There is a right and a wrong way to tell someone they need to polish up their story. Belittling their efforts and poking fun of them is definitely the wrong way. Especially if you are doing it on another writer's story. I will never understand why people feel the need to be negative in that manner. There is enough negativity in the world without adding to it. As for me and my writing, I am always open to suggestions. Even when I hear things that might sting a bit, I am grateful the person took the time to not only read but to give me their insight into how the story could be improved. Well, here it is. An improved version of what I believe will be a good story if it is given a chance. I would like to remind everyone I haven't written any of these characters in quite some time. Almost a year to be exact. There will be times I get them correct and there will be times where my long hiatus shows. I believe in being upfront with my readers as I look at each of you as part of my online writing family. This last year was a difficult one. My mother was diagnosed with cancer so I spent a lot of time praying, crying, or sitting in a waiting room. To say my writing mojo was scarce is an understatement. This is the first storyline I have been excited about in a long time. So...I am begging you...even if you don't like it please refrain from bashing it. Right now I bruise easily and want to dip my toes back in the writing pool at my own pace. Thanks to all who take the time to read, and especially thank you to those who take the time to leave a constructive review. Unlike last time, all reviews that don't pertain to THIS story will be removed. I am sorry if that seems small minded or petty but I just don't want the drama. XOXO-Darley
Title: The Ex-Factor
Author: Darley1101
Rating: M (language, sexual content, sexual innuendo)
Main Characters: Jo W., Alex K., Izzie S., Jackson A.
Minor Characters: Jason M., April K., Rebecca P., Addison M., Stephanie, and more
Pairings: (mentioned) Jo/Alex, Alex/Izzie (end game), Alex/Rebecca, Alex/Addison, Jo/Jason, Izzie/Denny, Jo/Jackson (end game)
Premise:In the after-math of Jackson's declaration of love, Jo finds herself wondering if Alex doesn't have lingering feelings for one of his exes. Determined to prove herself wrong Jo devises a plan to find out where her boyfriend stands with the women that meant something to him. Along the way she discovers it wasn't Alex she should have worried about...it was herself.
Author's Note: The idea for this story came while I was watching the movie "Little Black Book" starring Britney Murphy. The movie is about a girl who allows others to pressure her into digging into her boyfriend's romantic history. What she discovers is he is still in touch with some of his exes. Desperate to find out if he is actually cheating she starts looking them up and meeting them. There is one she really starts to like and becomes friends with. Unfortunately this is also the woman her boyfriend is still in love with. I won't go into any further details on the movie as it would ruin it for you. Definitely give it a watch. The ending is sad though. I can't do to Jo what they did to Britney's character. If you have seen the movie, I am only loosely following it. There won't be any of the ridiculous drama that goes down. If you think I am writing this just to put Alex and Izzie back together you are only half-right. I had a friend ask me to write a story with Jo, Alex, and Izzie that doesn't result in one of the women looking badly. This storyline was perfect as it allows me to explore the idea of Jo and Izzie being friends. Call me crazy but I think if Izzie were still on the show her and Jo would be friends. I would also like to be very clear on this one thing: THERE IS NO CHEATING IN THIS STORY. Yes, there will be sex scenes. (Both Jolex and Lexzie/Izzex fans will be happy or pissed off depending on which scene it happens to be) That doesn't automatically mean there is cheating. I am stepping off my soap box now so I can get this new version of chapter one posted and start working on the new version of chapter two.
Chapter One
6 months after April's wedding
Could love exist without trust? That was the big question running through Dr. Jo Wilson's head as she sat in on a corner stool at the Emerald City Bar. The wooden surface before her was slightly sticky from where the drunk who'd been sitting next to her had spilled his drink. Walter had attempted to clean it up only to get distracted by some frat boys at the other end needing more shots. Jo was only half aware of the mess. A beer puddle was nothing compared to the chaos that was currently her life. There was no sloppy man with a beard to blame for the mess going on in her personal life. She'd created that monster all on her own. It would be nice to have someone else to blame. Alex. Isobel. Jackson. Anyone but herself. She couldn't though. Not when she was the one who set it all in motion. A bitter laugh rumbled in her chest as she took a sip of her warm beer. It seemed so ridiculous now, but at the time she had thought she was doing the right thing. She hadn't wanted to be caught off guard the way Stephanie had been. She didn't want to one day be sitting there, thinking life was just about perfect, and then be hit with the fact that her boyfriend was still in love with his ex. It wasn't as though she hadn't tried to reason with herself. She had. How many times, while she was Googling Alex's exes, had she told herself she was being ridiculous, Alex wasn't going to pull a Jackson? At least a dozen. Not that reasoning with herself had done any good. She'd still looked up Rebecca Pope, Addison Montgomery, and, lastly, Isobel Stevens.
Biting back a sigh, she took another sip from the half-empty bottle in front of her. She couldn't stop thinking about what a mess she had made. Not just of her relationship with Alex, but with the two women she had come to think of as her best friends. A single tear formed in the corner of her eye and slowly trickled down her cheek. She didn't bother reaching up to wipe it away. If anyone seen and asked what was wrong she would tell them the truth: she had destroyed three of the most important relationships in her life. The real irony was that two of those relationships wouldn't have existed without the crazy actions she had taken after April's wedding. Could she really regret what she had done, when it had led to two friendships that meant so much to her? Another burst of laughter bubbled in her throat. It wasn't just her actions that were crazy. She was crazy. She had to be. One moment she regretted what she had done, and the next she was thinking about how if she hadn't done it she wouldn't have met Addison or Isobel. She also wouldn't have been forced to think about how she really felt about Alex. And that was where her real regret lay. She loved Alex. There was no doubt about that in her mind. Just as she knew he loved her. The question she kept coming back to, the one that wouldn't leave her alone, was whether or not they were in love.
"Hey."
Jo felt her body stiffen as a familiar voice interrupted the miserable thoughts that kept circling in her mind. As they asked if the seat next to her was taken, she thought about telling them yes, it was taken. Her tongue and her lips wouldn't cooperate. No matter how badly she wanted to put off talking to the person anxiously waiting for her answer, she knew she couldn't. The time had come for her to own up to the mess she had created and to try and explain why.