Boy Window Chapter 9: Bowling and Bad Behavior

Last time in Boy Window...Liam tells Jake he has a girlfriend but doesn't say who. Kate figures it out because she is the only person with enough sense to do so. Also, they are going bowling. That's probably what this chapter is about.

Chapter 9

“Jake sighed. He obviously didn't want to come, maybe Liam was making him.”

Jake seemed fine with going bowling in chapter 8. What was exactly said was “Jake nodded somewhat reluctantly. 'Yeah, OK. I like bowling, I guess.'” He went from silent reluctance to

Okay, not this powerfully, but who else can emote like this.

Jake soldiers on though, leaving the group to bring the car around. What a brave lad.

“As soon as we were alone, Liam grabbed me and kissed me, pushing me against the wall gently. I wrapped my arms around his neck, gripping my fingers in his hair. 'Mmm, I've missed you,' he murmured against my lips.”

Does Liam want to get caught? Jake just went to get the car and Kate her purse, but what is stopping Jake from walking back inside because he forgot something or got impatient? And missed you? You haven't spent more than an hour apart in three days. Or does he mean “I miss kissing you” cause it's been since that morning since he got any action. Maybe Jake and Amber were right, maybe he is sex-crazed.

“A loud throat clearing had us jumping apart quickly.”

 “'You two look hot together,' [Kate] gushed, sighing happily.”

First the pillow, then fondling Jake's junk, and now happily sighing while saying your friends making out is hot. Kate may have problems. Call them cute? Sure. Say that they look good together, or that they match, but hot? That has such a skeezy connotation to it.

“'Angel looks hot whoever she's with'”

Ugh, Amber and I are over Liam's compliments, but Kate swoons enough for everyone. They leave. Amber gives Liam her keys to lock up.

“As he handed me back my keys, his fingers brushed mine on purpose, making me moan a little in the back of my throat.”

Your fingers touched. Get over it. This wasn't even some big epic hand reach scene. If she is like this when he is just handing her the keys, what would happen if he passed her the potatoes at the dinner table.

Kids, go ask your parents what “When Harry Met Sally” is.

Kate asks Liam if he will sit in the back with Amber. Jake shakes his head “adamantly” asking Liam for help, but alas Liam says sure.

“I loved my best friend, bless her, she was giving me time with him.”

Jake is still in the car so it's not like you can do anything sitting next to each other that you can't do sitting behind him. No, I don't think this was Kate being helpful. I think Kate wants to look at them in the mirror so she can plan her masturbatory fantasies for later.

“As soon as I'd clipped in my belt, his hand closed over mine, putting it onto the seat between us and moving his leg so our hands were shielded from view.”

What is with Liam tempting fate? All it would take for Jake to look over his shoulder to change lanes and he would see them holding hands. There is no way that he could cover that with his leg.

“Liam's casual touch was sending sparks of electricity shooting up my arm. I bit my lip and looked out of the window, fighting the desire to grab him and kiss him until I couldn't breathe.”

And that was Kate's plan all along. Make sure your blinds are closed when you and Liam go to sleep.

They arrive. All the Scooby gang is there plus an extra. Don't worry it isn't Scrappy, it's Terri's brother Mark down from college.

“Liam seemed to have an instant disliking to Mark for some reason.”

How can one have a “disliking to” someone. “For” sure, but “to”? That just sounds awkward. By the way, he better not be another attacker. Is there some rapist quota that I don't know about? Like, there must be an attempted rape every 10 pages or we might realize there isn't a plot or a conflict? If so, you're too late.

Amber sucks at bowling but she is happily staring at Liam's butt. Okay, I think it official. Moseley has the butts disease. Someone call Pintsize, he knows how to fix this, though it may be mental scaring.

Strip 2255 "Butts Disease"

Mark starts chatting up Amber offering to teach her how to bowl.

“'It's all about the positioning,' he purred suggestively.”

You know what would be hilarious? If he was actually just trying to teach her to bowl. Like, he is really enthusiastic about bowling and eager to talk to anyone about how to improve their game but does not know how to talk to people so it comes off as suggestive. I'm just saying it would change things up. Play with our expectations. It would be like a pinch of cardamom or cayenne.

Amber is uncomfortable but for some reason decides to flirt a little back. Make no mistake, she is not doing this so she doesn't end up on a milk carton. Her exact words are

“I smiled, a little uncomfortable, but to be honest I didn't mind partaking in a little flirting, just as long as the guy on the other end of it didn't get the wrong idea and start trying to touch me.”

WHEN HAS THE GUY ON THE OTHER END NOT TRIED TO TOUCH YOU! Literally every straight guy who gets more than two lines of dialogue, except for Jake, have tried to force themselves on Amber. Considering even our love interest has, I'm not ruling out Jake as a possibility. It is not Amber's fault for this happening, but given her history, it makes no sense for her character to make this choice.

Anyway...

Mark gives advice that could actually be helpful, she laughs at his flirting. She takes her turn, does not do well, and flirting resumes. She makes a comment about him being cocky. He makes the obvious innuendo. She asks him to turn around because the butts disease has reached her brain meaning we are at the level of the “Ass” song now. He obliges, asking if she likes what she sees.

“'No, I don't, actually. You just don't do it for me, but thanks for the offer'”

Well, that was needlessly bitchy. What was the point in all of this? Why have her flirt when it didn't make sense and then reject him in such a way that could cause retaliation? I know I keep bring up the fact that she is a rape survivor but I only do it because Moseley doesn't seem to remember if it is not immediately effecting the plot. But here is the problem with this.

If Amber was abused and conditioned for eight years to the point where she has nightmares, panic attacks, and a general fear of physical contact, then why would she do something that would obviously piss off this guy? In her experience, all men do not understand the meaning of “no” and “personal space”. I feel like this was done to make her seem like a strong, independent woman but it is just confusing and contradictory.

Anyway...

Her friends give her high fives for being catty, I guess, and Liam looks on with an expression of both hurt and anger.

“I gulped. Oh crap! What did I do? I was just flirting, I wouldn't have done anything!”

This upsets me because Amber keeps telling Liam that he is going to cheat but she is flirting with a guy she has no interest in. Yeah, he should trust her, but from his perspective she only talks about how she thinks their relationship will fall apart and has yet to say how she feels about him. To him, she could just enjoy the no PTSD aspect of their relationship and be willing to put up with being his girlfriend to get it. That doesn't make much sense, but it makes more sense than Amber does generally. She constantly calls Jake and Liam (and everyone else) sluts for flirting but she does it herself. I know I've said it before, but I don't understand Amber.

One more thing then I promise we'll move on. I think Liam has future sight. Think about it, he always knows when Amber is in trouble, he knows when Jake is going to walk in so he can avoid getting caught with Amber, and he knows when a guy is going to be a sexual predator. Okay, that last one isn't fair. All the guys in this are sexual predators.

Amber asks Liam if he is talking to her or giving her the silent treatment for flirting with Mark.

“The thought of him saying no was actually scaring me.”

So the whole reason Amber acted in a way that didn't make sense was so that we can have conflict and see that she cares for Liam. I think there is a better way to do this without the poor characterization.

Amber drags Liam into the lady's bathroom. It's okay, Jake was busy flirting with a waitress so he didn't see. Sure, everyone else in the bowling ally did. And 4 of the 5 people you came with don't know that you wouldn't want Jake knowing that. And there is a guy you needlessly antagonized who may throw a fit to be a asshole drawing attention to you taking Liam into the bathroom. And an employee would see a girl bringing a boy into the bathroom and assume that sex is happening thereby giving them a reason to call security because that is illegal.

Of course none of that is an actual problem. They are even lucky enough to have single stall bathrooms so they just lock the door and don't have to worry about someone walking in. They just talk it out. Amber said she didn't mean anything by the flirting. Liam says he was hurt as he

“...gripped my hips and pulled me against him.”

Krishna damn it, Liam. Not now. You are trying to have a serious conversation that does not involve your pelvis.

“'People don't know we're together so I could hardly say 'Mark, stop flirting with me, my boyfriend's sitting right there'”

No, but you could say “Sorry, I have a boyfriend” or “I'm not interested” or if you wanted someone else to get involved you could tell Jake and he would be the scary big brother, or you know what? I know this is going to sound really crazy. I mean this idea is a little out there, like Voyager out there in the Delta quadrant. But what she could have done was NOT FLIRT WITH HIM! I hate this phrase, but that is leading him on. No, Amber would not be obligated to do anything with him, but she wasn't interested, so why not just tell him that instead of giving the impression she was.

“'I guess not'”

 Don't encourage her Liam.

“'You need to trust me though. I would never do anything to hurt you on purpose.'”

This isn't a matter of trust. If she was just talking to Mark, then it would be. But she was playfully flirting with the guy. She was giving everyone the impression that she wanted to pet his snake. So you don't get to be upset when people make that assumption, Amber.

Make outs happen. Make up make outs? That sounds weird.

“'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be all possessive.'”

Amber says he doesn't need to apologize because they are both new to this relationship thing, but before this goes any farther I want to illustrate the point I've yelling about this chapter.

This is possessive.

This is being human.

See that middle frame? The one with Tae Kyung looking on with shock and discomfort? That is normal. Slightly different circumstances, and I still hate Tae Kyung's character. But this reaction is reasonable.

“'I think we need to go back out now before people realise we're missing.”

Now you think of that. No wonder she does so well in school.

Page break. They all go to Amber's house to watch Avatar. Mark continues his courtship, asking what Amber likes to do. She says

“'Lots of stuff. I like to dance and go to movies. You know, normal high school stuff'”

And before I type what Mark says, I have to emphasize that I am not making this up. Keep that in mind.

“'Wow, you really are a feisty one, aren't you?'”

Feisty? Feisty? Is he being sarcastic? I would like to know if he is because otherwise he is an idiot.

What I believe was intended to be “witty” banter ensues. Amber says he is too old for her. He says

“'I could make you change your mind'”

Cause I guess nothing is sexier than rape. Then Amber says this.

“'You know what, I bet you twenty bucks that you've got nothing of interest for me'”

I'm not sure how this bet would work out. I mean, she said she wasn't interested so doesn't she already win? That would be like saying “I bet you a million dollars I hate spicy stuff. Ha! Jokes on you, I DO hate spicy stuff. Where's my money?”

I know this is going to come up later, but if Moseley really wanted a bet to take place she could have had Matt say “I bet you 20 that I can change your mind.” It would slightly more playful and slightly less rapey and it would make a little more sense.

Anyway...

Amber asks how he will convince her. Matt says he will kiss her and she will like it. She says she will knee him in the balls if he does. And guess what happens? Exactly that. He kisses her. She's all panicky but manages to knee him. He forks over a 20. 

I have nothing to complain about this exchange (outside of how the bet is set up) but again, it doesn't make sense for Amber's character.

Thus far she has been assaulted half a dozen times and this is the only time she stands up to her attacker herself. This is not a bad thing, but it is confusing. Why is this time different? What changed? It's okay, great even, if her character did change but the audience needs to know the hows and whys. The mouth rape isn't written any differently than before, and there is no internal monologue to explain were she gathered the courage to knee him. He kisses her. She feels a little panicky. She knees him.

Anyway...

It's bedtime.

“I winked at Liam as I went to bed and decided to put on my smallest pyjamas tonight so I could feel his skin on mine.”

Apparently, she owns pink silk and lace sleeping clothes and Kate convinces Amber to go show them off by getting water. Amber thinks

“Actually, that isn't a bad idea; otherwise he won't get to see until morning.”

Unless they will sleep in absolute darkness, when you go out to snuggle him on the couch, he will see you. And not going out there would have the added bonus of your brother, who pitched a fit when you wore shorts, not seeing you in your lingerie. But she does anyways.

“The way our house was set out, you had to walk through the lounge to get to the kitchen.”

The more I find out the layout of her house the more confused I get. I hope the description stops here.

Liam undress Amber with his eyes. Amber loves the effect. Jake is all “bro, that's my sister and you have a girlfriend”. Amber goes back to her room until she hears Jake go to bed. Kate tells Amber not to do anything that she wouldn't, and this wouldn't be Boy Window if Amber didn't mentally reply with

“Kate had a few boyfriends in her past; I knew she wasn't a virgin. There probably wasn't much that she wouldn't do.”

Just because someone has had sex does not mean that they are okay with all types of sex. She could be all about missionary, or into scat, or be asexual but not a virgin. All of this is possible. Given Kate's hypersexuality, I assume that she is not ace, but that doesn't mean she is down for everything.

Liam and Amber snuggle. He says how it was unfair of her to pranced around in her sexy bed clothes with her brother there.

“'You think I have a sexy ass'”

Amber, he has said as much half a dozen times already. I think he admires your assets. But of course he tells her so.

“Jeez, what's happening to me? I actually want him to touch me.”

I wish I knew. Yes, she has said that Liam has been the exception, and yes rape survivors do still feel lust, but this feels very sudden. She goes from no one can touch her to Liam is a special snow flake and his touch doesn't bother her. Lust is a more complicated feeling than people think, add trauma to that and it gets even more complicated. I'm worried because this a 100 pages in, we still have 160-ish pages to go, and I feel like Amber will be “over” this big emotional hurdle relatively soon. I wish that over coming sexual trauma was just a matter of finding the right partner, but it doesn't work like that.

Liam familiarizes his mouth with her bum. As that does not squeak my duckie, I wasn't into the scene. But hey

Liam, understandably, backs off when he thinks Amber may have an episode, but she assures him that she is having a good time. Make outs happen.

“As his hand slipped under my top, heading up towards my chest, my breathing started to speed.

Oh God, yep, this is way too fast!”

And that was way too casual. This doesn't sound like she is having an episode, this just sounds like someone who has only been in their first relationship for 24 hrs. This is not to criticize when someone has sex so soon, but for crying out loud, all I want is some tension. There is a built-in internal conflict that could easily carry a narrative and it is being relegated to plot convenience. Moseley, you were doing better. What happened?

Amber apologizes for hitting the e-break, Liam says there is no need. He then calls her beautiful.

“I winced. 'How many girls have you said that to, Liam?'”

Yeah, Liam. You can't have thought that other women were attractive! How is Amber supposed to know that you are sincere if you find someone other than herself pretty?

“He sighed dejectedly. 'I can't change my past, Angel; trust me, I wish I could. I've never felt anything for anyone else, I swear. I've never told anyone they were beautiful before, only ever you.'”

So, are first loves the only ones that count? Cause I've been in a number of relationships, and I have said I love you to a fair percentage of them. At the time, I meant it, but does that mean that all other romantic relationships are invalid because of that? Cause that is what I am getting out of this. Otherwise, why reassure her that he has only ever had feelings for her? He can't change his past, but his past doesn't matter. Is he schupting other people now? Is he telling them how much he cares about them now? No? Then it doesn't matter. Although, I will grant that this is a some what real conversation, about a very real concern a lot of people have. It's just not one that has ever made any sense to me.

The chapter closes out with them falling asleep (again), Amber hoping that Liam won't break her heart (again), and Amber convincing herself that Liam didn't whisper I love you.

You know that Bonnie Tyler song “I need a hero”? Well, I need a villain. I just want a bad guy that isn't a one chapter character who assaults Amber and disappears into the air. I don't think that is too much to ask.