AN: Again, I hope you all don't get confused, but I'm replying to all my reviews in this story. That includes my poems, my Butterfly stories, and this one (and I guess anyoneelsewho reads Autumn's Beginning, which I doubt because it's way too long and I wouldn't have time to read it either). So, thanks for being patient with me. I'm writing two stories at once!
First of all, I think it's very entertaining to read the ongoing debate in my Inbox. Please no profanity, though, Proud Atheist. I do invite you to keep on expressing your opinions, though. Everyone's entitled to one, even one that is expressed through reviews... Lol, I really don't mind and I will read your views with an open mind, but I prefer not to read cuss words along with it and I think you can make your point very well wihtout using them.
The replies to the reviews in the paragraph following are ones that are older, so I'm very sorry to have taken so long! More recent responses are in teh paragraph below that one.
Firestorm (I agree with you all teh way on that. Thanks for reviewing! White people have anger and violence problems, too, and we have no right to judge anyone just because of their skin color. Right on! Thank you! It's nice to have people who share my opinion and agree with it so strongly. I praised God when I got your review) Pixie of the Pen (I love your penname, too. That's awesome. It took me a while to realize that I can spread the love and Word of God without being published. If there is one lesson God has taught this hard-headed writer, it's that I should be content in my circumstances. I still have a dream of being publishing, of being a famous Christian fiction author, but I'm not going to push it any longer. Publishing, I discovered, takes a lot more money and tiem adn is more complicated than I thought. But thanks for your compliments! I appreciate it!) werekat1 (You're very right. I actually wrote this a long time ago, even though I can now see both sides of it. It was whiny. Very whiny, actually. I only left it up because I felt that maybe kids that are liek I used to be could share that opinion, could know that they aren't teh only ones feeling that way. I think I also need to add a littel bit on why the opinion expressed in teh poem could be wrong. Thanks for pointing that out and taking the time to review! I know exactly where you're coming from... I just hadn't read through that poem in a while!)
Okay, now for the new thank-yous. Crystal (Lol, i see how it is. I tell you I would give you all my skittles, and you say I'm weird! You're such a good friend... jk! Lol thanks! Hehe, you'll be surprised at how Butterfly Wings ends. But I have a sequel to the sequel coming! I used goldfish because that's what I was craving right then, too!) WritingforJesus14 (Hey, thanks! I haven't seen anything by you. Are you new? If so, welcome! If not, then I need to look you up and see what you've written. God Bless) Forever in my Heart (Thanks a lot for your review. I don't mind all that much getting flames. Teh other reviews make up for those, like this one. Right back at ya!) Mische7 (Yes, I love my reviewers, too. They're mostly teh reason why I continue to write, because I am encouraged. Thanks for your views, I completely agree with them. I'm with you all teh way. It's nice to find someone who knows where I'm coming from! I agree. I could never say that God is not loving when tehre is so much evidence that He is. Look at teh mountains! The trees! Teh flowers! A reminder every day! God bless you, and thank you so much for reviewing and sharing your opinion.) Jess (Thanks for your advice. I appreciate it. I like how you can really tell someone what's missing in their story and be positive about it, even better than constructive criticism! Keep it up, it makes people feel a lot better about recieiving criticism on their work. Anyway, about your review. You're completely right and I couldn't agree more, but be patient! You'll hear more from Aaron's background in a little while. No, you explained that perfectly and I got your point loud and clear. And don't apologize at all. I could have included a little bit more background in teh first two chapters, but as a friend from fictionpress has pointed out many times, I tend to rush things a little bit. The mystery of Aaron's background is meant to make readers want to continue with teh story. Whether it works or not is one thign I do not know! So sorry if I'm stressing anybody otu with not telling them much about the characters' backgrounds, but I'm tryign to work on relaxing and not rushing things when I write.) Gi Xian (Lol, I know, I say again, when I get going, I reallyget going! My notes are normally not 'little') TrubySCS3 (You're right, the best fics make you smile. The greatest reviews make you smile, too! And I did smile when I read this one! Thank you so much! I think this takes top ten on the nicest reviews I've ever gotten) Emandley (Thanks for your review! I'd like to see where this one is going too...) Katana Blade (I heard great novelists write that way. Hmmmm...)
Chapter Two
Chris's jaw dropped in amazement. "Man! I've never had a better excuse to make my moves on a girl. I mean, you never know, this girl could be cool and funny but just too shy to show it. She could be the one for you, man."
Aaron shook his head, wanting to be amused at his friend's reaction but too troubled by his words to laugh. "For one, Chris, I don't even like her. Two, the point is to gain her friendship, not her affections, and I probably wouldn't want to think of her that way anyway. Three, I'm only a senior, probably with four years of college ahead of me. I don't plan on getting attached to Rebecca or any other girl. And if she's a girl that I could get emotionally involved with, all the worse."
Chris just smiled. "Why are you so serious about this?"
"Look, I don't know if this is an idea new to you, but I actually care for the people I'm around. If there's anything I feel for Rebecca, it's pity or protectiveness. I don't want anyone to hurt such a shy girl's feelings, and I definitely don't want to be the one to do it."
"It's going to happen sometime, bro."
"And I don't want to be the one to make it happen!" Aaron said, running a hand through his hair. "You know how girls are. You want to be their friend and they suddenly think that your 'friendly' advances are intended as otherwise, and then you're in a relationship you didn't even know you had."
Chris shook his head. "You're taking it way too seriously. I mean, surely Rebecca is an understanding girl. She'll identify with what you're going through after the fact. You want to complete the dare but you're not sure if you want to hurt or feelings, or if you even will."
"I'll hurt her feelings, Chris," Aaron said. He drove home thinking about how his friend's view on the subject was totally different.
"Hey, is, um, Rebecca there?" asked Aaron nervously as he called her family's number he'd seen in the church directory.
There was a pause on the other end. It was a woman's voice, luckily, so it probably wasn't her father. "Can I ask who it is?"
"Yeah, this is Aaron," he replied, then added as an afterthought, "Um, I'm from church."
A sigh. "Aaron, I'm sorry, but I don't think Beck would be very happy about me giving the phone to her. She's not too familiar with talking on the telephone, or talking period. Perhaps you've noticed. She's a bit shy." A pause. "I'm Ruth, Beck's sister. It's nice to meet you. Maybe you could talk to her on Sunday?"
Aaron summoned his courage and spoke up. "Nice to meet you, Ruth. Listen, I realized Rebecca would be a little uncomfortable, but I've been trying to include her in some of the church activities and maybe get her to hang out a little bit with my friends. I know she's a little shy, but I thought that maybe—"
"So you have something planned tonight or something?" Ruth interrupted, not impatiently, but he could identify considering he thought himself that he was rambling.
"A bowling trip. Some people from the youth group are coming, and anyone's allowed to bring friends. I doubt we'll be late, even though we're going to stop for pizza on the way back. I just thought that Rebecca would enjoy it, and I didn't really want to leave her out."
Ruth obviously loved to sigh. "That's really sweet of you to include her. I appreciate it. As you can see, I look out for my sister a lot."
"You could come if you think that would make her feel a little bit more at ease."
Ruth audibly brightened with her next sentence. "Oh, that would be great! Thanks, Aaron. Like I said before, I really appreciate it."
And so it was that the bowling trip was planned, and Rebecca would be going. Aaron didn't know whether to look forward to it or to dread it.