That title makes me thing of the first line of an ABBA song, but that's not why I chose it.
Click here for Chapter 9 of A Bed, A Desk and My Unfortunate Soulmate.
It wasn't until the last minute before submitting Chapter 9 that I even decided to do a post. I felt I didn't have anything really to say. But with, yes, another long chapter, it seemed like I should offer some sort of insights on what happened.
Sex
Of all the chapters in the book, this one is probably the most sexually charged. Book Seven (Mitch's story) is heavier on the steamier stuff, but with the college boys, I didn't have the grand desire to make it as prevalent in A Bed, A Desk and My Unfortunate Soulmate as much as my other work. This was a love story of friendship.
I don't like to talk about sex that much. At 19, Aiden is becoming very sexually active while Corey is not. Right or wrong, I felt that a college campus should reflect at least some sexual activity, as well as offer different perspectives and, quite frankly, just where people happen to be in their lives. It is also the nature of this genre of writing. I have strong feelings for both of these characters. The fact that they have very different feelings about sex and the morality involved, the resistance to judge and the acceptance of the other's decision is what makes Corey and Aiden truly strong friends.
Aiden and Donny seemed to have found their groove. While they are getting better at sex, they are also better at accepting each other. That's important.
Parties
Far be it from me to be an expert on college (or adult) parties. Friends of mine tell me some of the ones they attend, and I am astonished at what all is out there. I don't want to talk about how I feel about them. To each his own.
The party in Chapter 9, however, was a pivotal plot development. When I sketched the bare outline of the chapters before I started this book, I knew this was the chapter that Aiden would get drunk and severely threaten the friendship with a sexual advance. At the time, I didn't know it would be the result of a gay college party. That scene just started writing itself.
Alcohol
The timing of this chapter with the recent posting of Chapter 14 of Say Goodbye to Sparkleland is a bit unfortunate. Both of them involve drunken encounters. I don't want anyone to feel I'm getting all preachy or anything. I don't like to talk about what people should or shouldn't do, but I do know that alcohol can lead to mistakes. But I'm not on a soapbox here. I can enjoy creating these chapters with a glass of wine as comfortably as anyone else.
Clarification
Corey and Aiden really define their friendship in this chapter. (But there is one chapter left.) I don't want to talk about or defend who they are. From the beginning, the story was about best friends — one gay, one straight. Yep, there was sexual tension from time to time, usually from Aiden's end, but I don't feel I've misled anyone. I've just told a story about two friends who love each other.
More than anything, I try to portray people as imperfect. We're all flawed. Anyone who wants to point out the issues of the characters — that's kind of the point. If we love or hate a character, it is because we believe them. The authenticity of their character is my goal.
For those waiting for a big sex scene between them, I'm sorry. (You did get a brief fantasy from Aiden this time.) Love them for who they are — please! They are great guys.
One Chapter Left
And, nope, not gonna talk about everything that happened on the last page. All will be wrapped up shortly.
Besides, there's so much to digest with this chapter, right? Forrest attending a Prism event; an out-of-control party; Ace opening up his true feelings; Aiden conquering his fears; and the big revelation among the circle of friends.
It's overall very good, a little more engaging than the Spring Break chapter. I really don't care what A & C do or don't do. What's made it gripping is how the others got sucked (and I mean that in a good way) into the extended family, seeing the good and the not so good. For that this chapter seems to be a climax, but will see with the last one.
ReplyDeleteSurely you are not going to kill off those two? See you next month.
ReplyDeleteYour stories fill me with hope and remind me that most people aren't strictly good or bad, they're somewhere in between. As Alexander Pope wrote, "To err is human; to forgive, divine," and many chapters in this book demonstrate how to deal with others' mistakes and forge a deeper bond with them than existed before they made the mistake. Nowadays, more and more people are inclined to shun those that have wronged them, and I'll admit that I have done so too, but your stories show a different approach to conflict resolution, where both sides come together and try to make amends.
ReplyDeleteA.
I thought this one was the best of the chapters so far and not because of the sex. The sex was fun for sure. But I think the overall pacing of this chapter was spot on. And the tension was great. I like that Donny questioned Aiden on how he fit in Aiden's life with Corey taking up so much room.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say one chapter left, does that mean this story will end at that point or will there be a continuation into the summer and year 2 of college?
ReplyDeleteWhat a cliffhanger ending! I have come to care for all these people so much, I do hope everything comes out all right in the end.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter was GREAT. Just like all the previous ones. Your dialogue amazes me. I am not sure what age you are nor how you relate to approx 20 year olds, but everything they say to each other sounds like you are one of them. And consistent to character. I am impressed.
ReplyDeletejg
I'm with the other poster, I hope C & F live but that's the priority of the author. I liked this chapter, much better than the other, I don't care for the characters, certainly don't love them and Lance's response was really lame. But the writing, the honesty of Corey, the lessons the characters learned in the chapter were engaging. Best chapter yet.
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to read the latest about your two protagonists and their circle of friends at ND! But now you left "us" with that cruel cliff-hanger, and to boot, announced the impending completion of the story. All of this strikes a very ominous note, but perhaps I am misreading something. To date, you have always come up with a positive resolution of conflictual situations. Again, I admired your handling of the at times painful process of growing up into adulthood, and your drawing a broad canvas of problems they have to deal
ReplyDeletewith.
- G
He's going to have a riot if he kills those two or even one of them.
DeleteI'd like to think he won't but can't stop it if he does. It will be very disappointing if it happens.
DeleteEnjoyed the latest Sparkleland best chapter, but I wish it would conclude. I love Mitchell.
ReplyDeleteFunny I feel the same, but I think it's a better story. More intellectual, less action. But if Corey is only one last story, hopefully won't be killed off, same with Mitchell. It's been great to explore both their life paths but please move on it's getting stale.
DeleteGreat chapters of both Soulmate and Sparkleland. Looking forward to continuing Mitchell's story, especially now LB might have made his first appearance.
ReplyDeleteOnce again I'm playing catch-up, with the fringe benefit that there are so many interesting comments. I'll disagree with one, though: about Lance's handling of Aiden's reach-out to him, which I thought was terrific -- first, the fact that Aiden had the sense and courage to make the call, and then, that Lance was there for him, drawing on his hard-won no-BS honesty and compassion. More than anything, I think Aiden needed to not feel alone his the predicament he created for himself.
ReplyDeleteTimothy, I think all the topics you single out in the blogpost were both important and really well handled. I'd just also second the point made by another commenter, about Donny voicing to Aiden his totally understandable concern about Aiden's intimacy with Corey. A fine chapter, I thought.