The Astronomy Series

So I'm playing around with formatting to make my stories easier to access.  While I love using Blogger, the way it formats means that sometimes stories are read out of order.  I want to try and fix this.  I'll begin with my most recent works.


Part 1:  Intergalactic   (6 chapters)

1     2     3     4     5     6

Part 2:  Interplanetary (1 chapter)


Part 3:  Interstellar      (2 chapters)

1     2

Interstellar (2/2)

Previous

A half-hour later found them back in Jupiter’s den.  Renzo was on the couch, flipping through Netflix’s lineup with Jupiter came in with some blankets, towels and pillows.  Renzo looked at her.

“Let’s lie on the floor,” she said, putting the blankets, towels and pillows on the end of the table.  “My carpet’s soft and so are these blankets.  Can you push the table to one side?”

Renzo got up immediately and did what she asked.  Jupiter smiled.  “Spread out the blankets and pillows.  Put the towels on the couch.  I’m going to lock up the house.”

“So early, sweet girl? It’s just after five.”

“When I get down on that floor with you, I’m not getting up again unless I have to pee.  Which I’ve done.  You’d better do likewise.  And besides, it starts getting dark out here around 5 or 6.”

Interstellar

A/N:  I’m gonna ride this train until the wheels fall off.  I’m not sure where this story is going to lead; I’m just glad to be writing again.  This, the third entry in the Astronomy series, takes us back to literal star-crossed lovers Renzo and Jupiter, one week after the events of “Intergalactic” and “Interplanetary.”

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Jupiter’s Friday morning meeting with Renzo was scheduled for 10:00.  She got to campus at 9:30, checked her mail cubby and dropped her bag off at her cubicle.  Oliver Kinsley, her office neighbor and Dr. Hu’s TA, was sitting at his desk when she arrived.

“Hi Jupiter,” he said, smiling at her.  Oliver was a handsome ginger with bright blue eyes, a good sense of humor and was an easy-going sort.  He always made sure to say hello whenever he saw her.

“Morning, Oliver.  How’s it going?”

“Would you believe Dr. Hu has finally given me positive feedback on my Chapter Three?  We’ve been dancing around it for nearly four months.  I’ve written and re-written it at least three times and every time, he butchers it and gouges out my soul.  I should be ready to submit my prospectus to my committee and schedule my first defense by the end of this month.”

“Congrats, Oliver!  Believe me, I know how stressful that can be.  Dr. Candreva and I went head up for nearly an entire year before he was satisfied with my prospectus.”

“A whole year?”

“He would not allow me to begin data collection until I had the first three chapters written and approved by him before sending it to my committee.  Getting his approval is akin to being a masochist.”

“Oh that blows,” Oliver said, staring at her.  “Dr. Hu at least let me start collecting some data while working on my prospectus.”

Jupiter shrugged.  “Well, they’re different in their methods and it is what it is.”

Oliver leaned over her cubicle wall.  “So Jupiter…what are you doing tonight?”