I just discovered that story, I didn't realize it was about a triangle (which I really hate), before getting sucked into it! So great job, writer ;)! I liked the fact that there was the 3 different points of view. It helped understanding those characters's motivation.
I don't dislike Tyler and don't quite understand why people hated him so much. I thought that he was quite honest about what he felt for Alex from the beginning, aknowledging his issues. Yeah, he made mistakes by breaking with her twice just because he was insecure, and he was being a bit of a coward for not confronting seriously his issues. But I didn't like how Alex's family and friends constantly dissed him, pushing her to be with Lucas and all. It was bad, rude, disrespectful. I mean, it is not like Tyler cheated on her repeteadly or abused her. He sounded like a somehow decent guy, despite his commitment issues (which where quite serious, 1st his mother then his girlfirend). And it looks like they never really did give him a chance, to get to know him, apart for little Andre, who acted with more maturity than all the adults. The only thing that was really, really stupid was that spying on his girlfriend shit. For now, I really hope he is able to seek some professional help, with his rabbi AND a therapist, and not just in order to make up with Alex, but for his own good. Good that he is the one who decided to leave Alex. I hope he stick to it and there won't be any going back together, at least not before he has began to confront his demons.
About Alex, I was really upset reading the first chapter, when she decided to feed on the very insecurities that Tyler had told her repeatedly by 1) going to stay with Lucas 5 minutes after leaving Tyler, and getting back at Tyler by letting herself be photographed with Lucas. That was a very low move on her part. And then acting all innocent like she didn't understand why he was being jealous and accusing her of cheating on him. Really, girl? Also, the fact that she was so oblivious to Lucas' love is juts too hard to believe. For years everybody had been telling her that Lucas was in love with her and she just kept behaving as if it was nonsense. She was in denial. And it was bad 'cause she kept acting all besties with Lucas, telling him she "loved him", which was NOT cool at all. She totally led him on. And her so-called other friends should have told her to stop bullshitting herself and be honest with herself and with Tyler and Lucas. I get that she didn't want to lose his friendship, and I am with her for not agreeing to stop seeing him just 'cause Tyler told her so, but at some point, she should have confronted Lucas: asking him point blank if he was in love with her. But she didn't and that was wrong. So in a sense, Tyler was right: she was emotionally "cheating" on him with Lucas. And I also think that she kept going back with Tyler because it was the easy way: she knew that despite his issues, he did love her, so it was better to go back than to confront Lucas. That is why I hate triangle story: the girl (as it is often the girl who has 2 competing love interest) always comes out of it being selfish and annoying. I am glad that she aknowledged it in the last chapter. I hope she let Tyler go for good. She could hep him, as a friend, to get better, but she has to stop playing with him, especially now that Lucas had told her how he felt. She can't be like "oh my god I don't know what to do, I love them both". Please, not that! That won't be fair, to any of them. After all, seeing how those two guys hate each other, it is not like they would be willing to be in a ménage à trois. So now that she aknowledged her feelings, she should try and have a relationship with Lucas, and stop the unnecessary drama.
Author's Response: I want to start by saying that I had absolutely loved your review. I was thinking about many of the points that you have raised.
Tyler is not so bad. He has never got over the trauma of being abandoned by his mother. But he will deal with his issues. I can't allow him not to. It just wouldn't be right.
When I was finishing off chapter 14 I was thinking why Alex kept going back to him all the time. After all, why would you put yourself through such heartache and insecurity and at the same time deny your obvious feelings for Lucas. She did it only because Tyler was what she knew, what she was used to. She didn't want to take a chance on Lucas because she thought Tyler was the one and didn't want to see that unless she and Tyler worked proactively to solve their issues together, and him to solve his own as well, everything was only going to deteriotate. I wished she had realised this sooner. I don't know if things between them would have been different if they had acted differently.
I don't like triangle stories either, however, I ended up writing one and before I realised what was going on it was too late.
I don't know whether she needs to have a relationship with Lucas as of yet. I don't really see her ready for that, and I don't even know if Lucas is ready to be with her.
Thank you very much for reviewing. I'll post the next chapter in a few minutes. I'd love to know what you think about it.