Even with the time spent waiting for Louisa to finish her appointment, we’re still done and back outside within an hour. Much of the time has been taken up with administration and the endless confirmation of our agreement to undergo the procedure.

We have been through most of the reasons for this in school, as concern for our health and well-being is always paramount, but it is a little different when you are agreeing to something that might potentially scramble your brain.

Okay, I’m exaggerating a little, but there can be serious side effects in the incredibly rare instances of an adverse reaction. The truth is, there has never been such a reaction on Sevrin in the whole life of the colony and there is probably a slight genetic bias here now that makes it even more unlikely in the future.

It's too early for lunch and Louisa and I wander around the main shopping district for a while before heading towards one of our favourite cafés on the eastern promenade. Chara is now clear of the horizon and the blue-green of the sky is laced with a few high clouds that veil the faint glow of Artan and her rings.

We don’t have coffee on Sevrin, although there have been many attempts at substitutes. There’s just nowhere on the surface that has quite the right climate and altitude for it to grow very well and, so far, we’ve not needed to expand our activities into any of the mountain ranges for anything more than mining and prospecting. There are, however, a range of teas, there are fruit juices and, if you prefer the taste of alcohol, there are wines and beers. We’re not really a culture of high-alcohol spirits, but there is a growing following for small artisanal distilleries as our colony matures.

Not that I’m really a drinker. Dad and I will have a glass of wine occasionally when we eat together – I know he likes it more than I do – but I’m quite content to do without and I’ve never felt the need to get drunk.

It is still a little early to eat, so we both order a tea and sit to watch the world go by. There is a steady stream of people on the promenade, but many are either working or at school. We are the small minority with neither of those things to call us away from leisure.

“So,” Louisa asks me once we are comfortable. “Are you still going to the end-of-year party now you are single again?”

“Oh, yes, I suppose so. It’s pretty much expected isn’t it. I know I’m not much of a party person, but we might not see some of our friends for months or years afterwards.”

“Yes, it will be strange to go our separate ways.”

“How about you? Going on your own?”

“Well, actually, Gavin Kneale has asked me to go with him.”

“Oh… Now he’s cute. I hope you said yes.”

“Well, I did say yes. I also agree that he’s cute, but that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say so about a boy.”

“What? I’m not allowed to find a guy attractive now?”

“Hey, relax. Of course, you are. Did you have a crush on him or something?”

“Maybe, years ago. He really is very attractive, but he’s always made it very clear that he is totally, permanently, unbreakably straight. I could have been interested, but not to the point of wanting to embarrass myself.”

“You don’t mind if I go with him then?”

“Why would I ever mind about such a thing? If you think you want to go with Gavin, then I hope you have a good time. Funny that he’s waited until we are actually leaving school before asking you out though.”

“Yes, but I just think he felt a bit intimidated by my attitude to everyone. He seemed very nervous when he asked me to go with him. It makes him even more cute.”

“You could have asked him out at any time, you know?”

“Yes, but I’m always too busy pretending to be above all that hormonal shit.”

“Really?”

“No, you know that’s not the case. I just genuinely wanted to concentrate on getting the best possible grades. Now school is out, though, I can let myself have a bit of fun. I probably have fair bit of catching up to do compared to most of our friends.”

“True. Well, I have to assume it is true. Locker-room chat is always a thing and it’s hard to avoid hearing about other guy’s experiences. There’s nothing wrong with my team-mates having sex lives, but I’ve never been entirely comfortable with them telling me all about it. I don’t really have any interest in what they’ve done and with whom.”

“Honestly, girls are just as bad – actually, maybe even worse. They talk about size and everything, not just whether they’ve done a thing or not.”

“What? You’re kidding, right?”

“No, Aidan, I’m totally serious. I can tell you how well endowed – or otherwise – most of your team-mates are just from listening to conversations in the girl’s locker room.”

“Bloody hell. I don’t even know that about them and I’ve showered with these guys for years. At least I can be grateful that I’m not included in those sorts of conversations.”

“No, you’re better off well out of the whole thing. Now we’re out of school it’s not something you’ll have to worry about in the future.”

“Well, I can only be relieved about that.”

“So, you’re okay coming to the party on your own? You don’t want to go with Gavin and I?”

“No, I’m sure I can make my own way there. Just one thing though?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Don’t spend the whole evening trying to get me hooked up with someone. If I get a string of ‘Oh, he’s hot!’ Nexima messages, I’m leaving.”

“Fair enough. Spend the evening on your own if you want.”

“That’s probably exactly what I want, actually.”

“I promise. Can we order lunch now? I’m famished.”