"him?" I couldn't have been more wrong...We had both finally hit 18, (I was a month and twelve days older) and by now she was the Hottest Brunette on ...he planet! We would still kiss, and i would still try and touch her, but i would always get the "She's not read," but still i accepted this. One day after College i received a text message from Emma asking if i was free tonight, as she needed help with "Studying," she put at the end that if i helped her she had a surprise waiting for me... I. Both to exchange niceties with the new ruler of the land, and also, to verify whether or not any of the stories were true. Information from the enemy land had been hard to come by during the war, but now, with rumors of such changes happening, information gathering was even more vital.The young scribe was breathing hard by the time he reached the expansive room at the top of the steps, a domed enclosure filled with crystals and runes that was normally visited only by the kingdom's most senior. I looked at Nicola, wondering if I shouldwhisper something.I didn't need to. She had her mouth open and was doing a good impressionof a fish out of water.Her mouth shut with an audible click of (her) teeth. She looked at me,horror on her face and was just about to whisper something when..."Right, attention class. My name is Mr Jackson; I am a temporary teacherand will be here until Miss Shaw comes back from maternity leave. Now,can you please open your text books and go to page 95..."The lesson. You aren't leaving this system until your repairs are complete. We cannot take any chances with our few remaining ships. We will have structural engineering inspectors onboard within the hour, and you will not be allowed to leave until they have certified your repairs. You don't have to declare Beerat your home if you don't want to, but you will have a certificate of spaceworthiness from us before you leave here, and you won't get that until we have ensured, to our satisfaction, that you are.