With just a little over a month left of college, Trent has a lot to contend with. At the forefront is the aftermath of Chapter 8.
Chapter 9 of If It Weren't For the Two of Us picks up right after that.
Trent has a lot to process, but thankfully he has a support system to help him through it. For you, the reader, the question is how long does he keep it secret from Mike?
For young gay men, so often they do not have a support system. Those in high school are particularly vulnerable. Thank heavens the world has changed to where younger people today have greater opportunities to speak honestly and be more accepted.
Have any thoughts on this? Comment below or send a private email to timothylane414@gmail.com
Fabulous story with wonderful characters. So much truth in their relationships.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
I hope this isn't too much, but I found lots of points of interest in Trent's efforts to process the terrible encounter with Detrell, like the self-flagellation in his thought: "No wonder Mike wants to give us time. I need time to grow up!!" Or the way his beginning to rally on "the day after" is reflected in the sequence of classes: the 11:00 he blows off, the 1:00 he sits through in a stupor (while still recognizing that being there is better than not being there), and the 3:00 in which he manages to focus enough to take "good notes."
ReplyDeleteEven before I read Timothy's blog comment, I was thinking how great it was to see the people in Trent's inner circle at school showing up for him in his time of troubles, like roommate Kevin so pointedly wanting in on the dinner with roommate Paul and Lance. Nothing much is made of the dinner itself; I just found it a sweet touch that Kevin felt it so important to be there.
When Mike came clean with Trent about his encounter with Ethan since their breakup, it sent me back to Chapter 8 to reread Trent's eyewitness account. Ah, so that was Ethan!!! Somehow I hadn't pictured him as "smoking hot" -- it was interesting to be reminded how jealous Trent was. Also to notice on rereading how Trent's mind drfiting back to his first visit, with Mike, to the bar Indigo led him back there and set him up for the encounter with Detrell.
Ken,
DeleteNice observations. Having never gone through something so impactful, I had to think what would be going through one's head in such a situation. It was a key moment for Trent and Lance, too.
It will be interesting to see how readers' views of Lance evolve as his character develops. Much more to come.
Thanks for commenting.
Timothy