‘Boring’ was a word she’d used; ‘isolating’ was one that she’d kept to herself but how else could you describe a Christmas with no friends...and no family? Leaving would inevitably hurt Carson’s feelings – but the reality was that she didn’t care. “S’bigger than that,” Carson continued, his giggle knocking Karen out of her thought bubble. “Much bigger.” “Not in my experience,” Karen muttered, helping to drag Carson to his feet. Tripping once again, Carson face-planted onto the grass with his. She didn’t know but just having her sitting beside me showing those amazing thighs was payment enough. Wow! Helen was looking so good. It was only a short journey and we chatted about Dan and both our tennis and gym with a little cheeky references like her asking me if I had worked on every muscle and me asking her about new balls etc. All harmless fun but she liked the attention when I told her how good she looked and that I thought her coach felt the same. We were soon at hers and she. " Yep." Okay. Two can play this game. I also know what you want."She just smiled."I think you want to get laid," I said, amazed at my own nerve. This was not my usual me speaking."No, you're wrong. I don't have sex with chicks..." You just kissed them, right? On the lips..."She gave a loud laugh, scratching her tattooed right cheek. Three dots forming an imaginary descending line had been drawn on her light-brown skin."Only the cute ones," she said. "I have to draw the line somewhere."II. The. I was learning how to use the spectrum analyzer. Solar UV is a small fraction of what it was on Earth. Sun screen lotion might be a thing of the past.”Emily smiled. “That’s good. I never liked the stuff anyway.”Hannah looked at Mark curiously. “But we got what we want. Why are you still going through the motions of studying astronomy?”Mark grinned. “Yeah, I know. It’s a little difficult to explain. Somehow I’d be embarrassed if I were too flagrant about my ulterior motives. I know this sounds.