And that he had a girlfriend. Although as time passed, some stuff changed in the chemistry between us. We kept talking and, well, flirtation happened....Some risky pictures happend. And, well, suddenly, if my parents had asked me what my relationship with this guy was, I wouldnt quite have known what to answer. We were best friends, and knew everything about each other. We had amazing chemistry. He lived on the other side of the globe, he was seven years older than me. A year passed and we kept. In a galaxy of four hundred billion suns, we are, to the best of our knowledge, unique.That the Ten Tribes of Autumn did not wipe each other out, but learned to work together, fight together, and love each other, is a miracle unequaled in the heavens. Here is something to believe in. We are a beacon to show the other races the way forward.Our advance is the result of an unbroken chain stretching back to the creation of the universe. Our potential is limitless while we are united, and nothing. I know we're not supposed to stay here, but the light sucks too bad to go on. Let's just set up here. If the rangers don't like it, tough." Crystal, everybody, you did good," Al smiled. "I think it's time for some emergency supplies." He headed over to his raft, dug down into the drybox, and emerged with a big bottle of Johnny Walker."Oh, those emergency supplies," Crystal grinned."I don't drink much," Al said as the bottle was being passed around the party -- there were others there who had. .." We can eat food later."Sandra came closer. "I'm not lying on the outside again."Richard shook his head and moved to the edge. "Nah, you get in between us this time."She grinned as she slid her body over Richard's. "Now I really wish we had room service..."Putting clothes on to go to the cafeteria was as unappealing as the grub they would have to eat there, so Emily dug through her closet with hope. She found some soup and dry rice, left over from a less busy month when they still had time.