This story is a continuation of the story of Karl and Lucy, a backstory with a taboo theme. In this tale though, Karl moves adrift from Lucy, and his boldness lands him in in a place he did not expect.
**
First there was Sarah. A few years older than Karl, Sarah was a pretty brunette with dark eyes and a neat bob haircut. She had been a workmate at the office and had shown Karl the ropes, being a helpful mentor. There had been a definite chemistry, between them and Sarah had asked Karl out for a drink once or twice after work. He had enjoyed her company, she was sophisticated, well read and clever with a good wit. One evening, over a drink in a pub close to their workplace, Karl had told Sarah he found her very attractive. To his dismay, she gave a polite smile in response and told him that it would do them no good professionally to progress things any further.
Then there was Alison. A little later, when she was seeing the much worshipped Mike, Sarah had mentioned to Karl that her younger sister, Alison, was looking for some help with her geology course as she needed it to be eligible for her environmental studies course at university. As Karl had done well in geology, Sarah suggested that he could do a few private lessons at their house. Karl had found over a few lessons, that Alison, was also very attractive in her own way, and, it seemed that she was very interested in him.
It was just before one of those geology lessons that Karl had unexpectedly come across Alison in a tryst with Mike on a kitchen table. She was there in her navy blue uniform, skirt hitched up to her waist and Mike was over her. He was angered by this and had surreptitiously taken a few photos, but had done nothing about it. Alison had not continued with his lessons and he had confided all this with Lucy, who helped keep his mind off Alison.
So although nothing had been said of Alison and her kitchen table sex with her sister's boyfriend, Karl had wondered what this meant for Sarah, and whether Alison was just having Mike as a fling. He never discovered anything further on that matter, but was about to discover considerably more about Alison, and himself.
Having made the decision to leave well alone, and having not heard from Lucy, or Alison, for weeks, Karl deleted the photos and let the matter rest. A few days later, on a warm June day, he was sitting in the garden when Alison phoned him. She told him she was anxious about the imminent exam, and need some help, as she could barely cope. Seeing as she was obviously distressed, Karl agreed for some last lessons.
His thoughts returned to Alison. She was a voluptuous blonde, more outgoing than her sister. She often had her hair tied up, and had a predilection of tight fitting tops, which Karl appreciated, even if this was just part of Alison's flirtatious behaviour. She looked hot even in that navy blue school uniform as clearly Mike had found so too. All in all, he knew that Alison took what she wanted, and was unlikely to hang around for deep personal questions. That sounded ok, he reasoned, so long as one did not get emotionally involved. Lucy wouldn't have approved, but until he found himself with a choice, none was to be made!
The next day after her call, he found himself walking along the tree lined avenue where Alison and Sarah lived. It was late afternoon, and he had finished work early to find time for the lesson. He rang at the front door and saw Alison's figure through the door's patterned glass.
"Afternoon! All set for your latest update on folds and faults?"
"Sounds like my love life," replied Alison as she let him in and led him through to the lounge.
"Don't I know it," thought Karl. He sat down with her at a large dining table and opened up the text book and Alison opened her file.
Part way through, Alison, chewing on a pen, said to Karl, "You know what? I'm getting the hang of this!"
"Good, so what have you learned about the Pennine faults?"
"I know now, that in the Pennines, you get all those minerals around the fault line which have been injected in, following the fractures in the rock."
"Ummhumm, excellent."
"I've got the hang of it now. Hey, look, if I pass this, I am so going to have a party to celebrate. I mean, I would anyway, as it'll be my birthday, but if I pass, I will really be celebrating!"
"Something to work towards then, yeah."
"Yeah, 'cause I want to get to uni, this autumn and I need a decent grade."
"You'll get it."
She nodded. "I'll work on it".
Karl was surprised to see some enthusiasm from Alison, despite her talkative nature, he had felt that she had not shown a great keenness in regard to her studies. He liked seeing her animated, it made her more attractive, even if she may still be messing around with Mike.
After another lesson, little was to be heard from her; he knew that the exam was imminent and that the results were not due until August.
***
In early August, Karl had been enjoying a break from work, and was in occasional communication with Lucy. Lucy was settled in Nottingham and had not indicated she was visiting, or had thought about Karl staying over again. Everything was fine, if a little dull. Karl wondered if he should head off to Scotland to visit the Highlands and was just checking journey planners when he got a text from Alison.
"I passed Geology. I got a 'B'! Woo-hoo!!"
"Great! Well done!"
"I am sooo going to party."
"So you should."
"Party @ mine 15 Aug 8pm."
"Cool, thanks!"
The day came, and so Karl chose a few bottles of Czech beer and made his way to Alison's house. Alison answered the door, and beckoned him inside. As she did so, the doorbell rang again, and two more friends appeared. He recognised them.
"Phoebe, Alex! Yeaaah -- you're here!" Alison gleefully greeted them.
"Hi Karl," grinned Phoebe. She turned to Alison. "Alison!! Great to see you, Happy Birthday and well done on your exams too!
"Aww."
"Here, it's for you," Alex handed over a shiny wrapped parcel. Karl instantly realised he had forgotten it was Alison's birthday and he had not brought a present.
"I... err," he began.
Alison turned to him, tilting her head, as if to be slightly coy. "Yes...?"
"I...er, I will give you your present later, a bit of surprise," said Karl hurriedly.
