I really love the thought-out and not overlooked exploration of pre-Kurt Blaine, and of course Niff. Plus, to top it all off, it's really well-written. Ace! I hope there's going to be more. Keep writing! - A

Okay so i am really late but i love this fic. i hope you will get the next chapter out soon.

This was such an intense chapter and it just took me by surprise all the way through!

I really liked how you introduced Nick's and Jeff's feelings for each other while they were on stage. The party was awesome and I got a huge kick out of Blaine singing those songs, especially the part about "mouth is alive." Jeff and Nick's kisses were just really hot and it was so sweet how they were lying cuddled up together.

I also got a kick out of the Shane Hardy cameo since I'm reading "A New Reality In Direction." I'm definitely intrigued about Shane and Duncan's after-hours activities. LOL, and the part about 'tipping the babysitter' was cute, funny, and hot all at once.

I'm really loving the parallel structure you have going in the story with each chapter starting with "Nick/Jeff was having a _ day." As well as the engraved benches and how they relate in some way to the events of the chapter. Really impressive! I just love little details like that.

Unfortunately one piece of parallel structure that I hadn't seen coming was the whole gay bashing of a different character in each chapter thing. Nick's attack completely and totally took me by surprise; although, of course it nicely matches with Jeff's from the first chapter and Blaine's story from the second. Very sad though, I kept hoping Blaine and Jeff would show up earlier. I'm really glad Jeff got some good licks in on that guy.

The whole thing with Nick not being ready to talk about what happened with Jeff and telling him it didn't mean anything was so frustrating and sad. It fit perfectly with the scene at the end with Jeff holding his hand and telling him that it DID mean something. I really can't wait until Jeff and Nick do have a proper talk about everything. Amazing chapter! I'm eagerly looking forward to the next one!

Excellent chapter! I was delighted to see that we would also get to see things from Jeff's POV and even some of Blaine's at the end! This was certainly a great look into Jeff's head and I really enjoyed it.

I got a huge kick out of the way he came out to Blaine by hanging up the Jamie Bamber poster and how he confidently challenged Blaine about whether or not they were going to have a problem. I'm glad that Blaine at least felt comfortable enough to come out to Jeff. It's interesting to think that perhaps some of Blaine's on screen confidence might have come from Jeff. Very cool take on it.

I also like some of the other parallels between Blaine's and Jeff's pasts. Although of course Blaine's experiences were even worse. I'm impressed that Jeff was able to essentially piece everything together before Blaine gave him the full scoop. Really shows how perceptive he is. The pond scene was really touching and sweet too and I was so happy when Nick took Jeff's hand and reassured him.

I confess I did originally think for a bit that perhaps this wouldn't be a romantic Niff story after all and that maybe it would just be friendship Niff with Blaine and Jeff being the couple. I'm really glad that as of the end of the chapter it doesn't look like that's what's going to happen! Friendship only Niff woulda been cool too and I think Blaine and Jeff woulda made a hot couple, but I'm definitely more for romantic Niff!

On a sidenote, I can certainly relate to Nick on the Harry Potter thing. I often feel like the only person in the US between 10-30 who hasn't read the Harry Potter books or seen all the movies, lol. I'm enjoying Nick's scifi-ness a lot in general too.

I'm really excited to see what happens next and I can't wait to read the third chapter. Awesome job!

Wow! This was so good. I absolutely loved it!

You did an amazing job drawing me into Nick's life and making me quickly and easily connect and invest with his character. I also got a kick out of his sarcastic thoughts at receiving the mail and I got a great mental image of the campus in general with the chandeliers and engraved benches. Excellent details! Speaking of details, I love the address that you made up for Nick, and I really liked the fact that the Sterlings' address was for an actual town in Pennsylvania. I have a tendency to look up addresses when I read them in stories or see them on TV, so I got a kick out of it when Fox Chapel turned out to be real.

Great job with the scene with Nick's Dalton friends too. They were all original characters but I felt like we got a nice little glimpse of each one. I also felt like the tone, dialogue, and general way they all interacted felt really genuine and well portrayed.

LOL, and oh my gosh, the story got so many bonus points when Nick mentally pointed out how annoying it is on Star Trek when they call the captain and he asks what's going on and they're just like, "You better come see for yourself." LOL, loved that, so true!

You also did a really nice job characterizing both Nick's and Jeff's families in a quick, efficient way. I got a good sense of Nick's dynamic with his mother from the phone conversation, and a hint at Nick and his father's relationship from Nick's concern that something had happened to him, also the way Nick's dad helped Jeff get into Dalton was an excellent touch. As far as Jeff's family goes I was delighted that Nick indicated they were supportive of his sexuality and I feel like through Nick's thoughts and Janey's letter the reader got a good overall picture of how Jeff must relate to his parents and Jen and Jill. Then there's Janey who seems absolutely adorable and I can't wait to see Nick and Jeff interacting with her 'live' in the story!

Janey's letter was so touching in general, especially the picture. Really nice job building anticipation for the letter and still surprising us with the contents. I originally assumed it was going to be a letter from Jeff informing Nick that he was gay (well actually based on the story description it didn't sound like Jeff himself sent the letter, only that Nick originally assumed he did, so actually I was thinking it would be a convoluted plot with someone else pretending to be him and outing him, lol). When Nick already knew that he was gay, I shifted gears into thinking perhaps the letter was declaring Jeff's romantic feelings for Nick, but of course I was wrong again, and the letter ended up being completely different and completely moving.

I also got such a great sense of Nick and Jeff's friendship from Nick's flashbacks (great use of them!) and Nick's emotional reaction to the letter. I already very much on board with their friendship and feel like I have a great sense of it and it's only still the first chapter. The parts toward the end when Nick actually talked to Jeff at the hospital and interacted with him later at Dalton felt almost like pure bonus. Fantastic job with their whole dynamic too. Once again it feels really genuine and completely sweet. I can't wait to watch things develop further between them and I'm looking forward to Jeff feeling safer and happier at Dalton.

Regarding the song/story title, I didn't originally realize it was a Bon Jovi song, and I kept trying to think of the "I Am" in terms of Jeff saying "I am gay" or "I am in love with you, Nick" or something like that. So that was a nice surprise too, and the way it felt beautifully into the hospital scene with Nick singing about the ways he would be there for Jeff while he held his hand...awww, easily the most emotional part of the chapter and totally made me tear up a bit. I've never heard the song, but I'll have to check it out. As a final comment though, yay, for referencing and including a few lyrics from "It's My Life" in chapter! That's my favorite Bon Jovi song and the song that made me give them a look in the first place.

I absolutely can't wait to read on and I'm thoroughly excited about this story!

Just read the first three chapters! Awesome story! I really like the characters you've created for Niff. Can't wait to see what happens next. Please post again as soon as possible!

Drunk Nick and Jeff. Life can't he any better than this and all snuggled together! EEEEEEE! But poor Jeffy and bad Nicky for making him feel that way. But who could ever hurt poor little defenseless, nerdy, geeky, innocent, Doctor Who loving Nicky. Then a replay of the hospital scene in the first chapter but reversed! Awwwww!

Little blainykins! Yay! But it made me sad what Blaine went through. When ever I picture him all I see is little kid about 4 feet tall and that has completely materes the puppy dog eyes. So adorable. Love the line are end. Nicky and Jeffy are so getting together!

NICKY...! Damn, go Jeff.

Awesome job. You put in details, like the stone benches all around Dalton, that make this more than just a play by play of emotions and scenes; it lives and breathes like a true tale. Which gives a lot more authenticity to the action, when it does occur. And does it ever.
Niff are clearly dancing around their attraction (well, more Nick than Jeff); I like it that Blaine is Jeff's sympathetic shoulder to cry on here. Nick seems bewildered; not wanting to hurt Jeff, but also not wanting to declare for his team (at the same time conscious of just what kind of thoughts are constantly battering away at his brain, and body).
It seems logical that all is not easy, and then Blaine and Jeff do decide to join Nick at the mall. And awfulness ensues. God, I hope Ohio isn't really as bad as we're always depicting it! (I do like the light moments before, when Nick realizes that the comic book store isn't any fun without Jeff there too).
Of course, it's horrible, when happens to Nick (now all three of them have a shared experience), but great that the Dalton boys get there in time to save Nick from it being even worse.
I'm looking forward to more ... this is awesome, and it is addictive.

This was perfect. Jeff unknowingly pushing Blaine to the brink, after he thought everything was fine with his very talented roommate (I love it that Blaine totally killed his audition, and that they sang backup for him). Everything was all fine, until it wasn't.
I'm glad Blaine was spunky enough to push Jeff back and refuse. The running away part was certainly understandable, and also gave Blaine enough time to be able to talk to Jeff and Nick once they finally found him.
I love it that the guys opted to stay with Blaine instead of going to the dance (and you do a great job with little details, like Blaine's tee, and the fun fact of Nick being a Potter virgin ... that won't last long, not if he's besties with Blainers!).
Then, the well done POV switch at the end, when Blaine's gaydar blips crazily out of control ;-)

Love this!
You depict a young Nick so well, and we get to love him from the start. Then, we get the backstory as we see flashbacks, showing his friendship with Jeff through the years (backstory! yay!), which is so sweet, and very believable. I love it how their friendship does come off as a friendship of equals (that seed is planted as Jeff is the one defending Nick from a young bully), and Nick's response to Jeff coming out is pure gold: we see that he's sincere, and really it doesn't matter to him.
The letter from Jeff's little sis is heartbreaking, and even more so as Nick reads it, knowing that Jeff is hurt but not much more.
Inevitably, Jeff does get to go to Dalton, not a moment too soon. I love his bravado, and coolness, and that his mentor is the delightful Wes - perfect.

Poor guys can't catch a break in this story! It's fantastic though, really enjoyed these three chapters. Also so glad that it's not just a friendship!niff fic! You're a great writer, keep going with this story :)

Great song choices for the Regionals competition. Have I mentioned how honored I am that you created a character and named him after me. That is just the coolest thing and I really appreciate it. It totally changes reading the story ESPECIALLY since I really like the Shane Hardy character. He sounds a lot like me actually LOL. Except I'm totally not a heart throb ;) I love that he started the show. then the way we got to read Jeff and Nick's thoughts while they were singing I loved that.

I'd like to think that a character based off me would have a very nurturing side and I like that he seems to really care about the freshmen guys. The fact that he sees what we as readers see is a great trick for you to use as a writer. "Nah, it's been a long time coming." that is what we think as readers, but you gave us a voice in the character that is pretty cool.

And I get to kiss Blaine Anderson? How great of a friend or you?! Oh, really great because you give me a boyfriend like Duncan (and I know who that's based on so I'm very happy!)

What an angst-filled sunday morning for the boys. I so felt what Jeff was feeling during the "blame it on the alcohol" conversation, and then him sitting near the lake trying to work things out. Even when Blaine tried to help him sort things out (after gushing about his first kiss) he just didn't know what to say or think. Great angsty moment.

Nick sitting on the bench thinking about Jeff as he went through the pictures on his phone was genius. It gave us a lot of understanding without it being to obvious, just like it's not obvious to Nick. I love the Jeff beat the crap out of the guy hurting Nick. I couldn't have seen him doing that in anyone else's story but your but you make it work.

I really enjoyed it. I guess since my character is a senior I'm gone before the next chapter and the boys' sophomore year. Regardless, thanks for giving me this chapter that was really sweet. It meant a lot!

OMG! This is a really awesome story! You're doing a great job with the characters so far, I love them all! Please please please update soon?