Parallel

driveway. “Looks like Astronomy Boy is Ty’s neighbor,” she says. I glance out the side window. We’re stopped in one of the newly developed cul-de-sacs near the new back entrance of Tyler’s subdivision. There was a party back here junior year, a few streets over, before the asphalt was poured on Poplar Drive. The “Poplar Party,” which was quickly renamed the “Popular Party.” There were rumors of a guest list, but none materialized.
    “Wait, don’t pull in yet.” I yank down the visor and survey my reflection. I look exactly the same as I did fifteen minutes ago. A little wild-eyed, but otherwise fine.
    Tyler is busy humming the theme song to Mister Rogers . “So what’s the new guy’s story?” he asks between bars.
    “Dunno,” I say. “He’s in my astronomy class. I think maybe he’s on the crew team?”
    “We have a crew team?”
    “It’s new, I think.”
    “Can I pull into the driveway now?” Caitlin asks. We’re still idling in the middle of the street.
    “Yes. Ready.” Caitlin pulls forward. “Wait!” She hits the brakes. I turn to Tyler. “No mention of how little Cate and I like Ilana. Or how much we hate her parties.”
    Tyler looks at Caitlin. “She realizes how weird this is, right?”
    “Yes,” I mutter. “Now shut it. And give me some gum”
    Caitlin pulls into the driveway and parks. “Are you going to the door?” she asks me. “Or do you want me to just honk?”
    “You can’t honk,” Tyler says. “What kind of signal does that send? His parents will think you’re some sort of parent-fearing freak.”
    His parents. I didn’t even think about the fact that I might have to talk to parents. Yikes. Thankfully, two seconds into my internal parents love me! pep talk, the front door opens and Josh emerges. Wait, should I be offended that he didn’t want me to come to the door?
    Tyler leans forward to get a better look. “He’s got kind of an accountant-on-vacation vibe to him, doesn’t he?”
    I shoot him a look. “Be nice.”
    “I’m always nice.” He opens the door for Josh, then slides over to make room for him in the backseat. “Hey, man,” he says as Josh gets in. “I’m Tyler.”
    We cover introductions and then lapse into moderately awkward silence. I chew nervously on my gum, willing Tyler to say something. He can make conversation with a fire hydrant.
    “So, Josh . . . ,” Tyler says finally, “what brought you to Atlanta?”
    “My stepdad was offered tenure at Emory,” Josh replies
    “What does he teach?” I ask, turning around in my seat.
    “Astrophysics.” Aha. So that explains his astronomy savvy.
    Caitlin perks up. “I wonder if I know him,” she says. “What’s his name?” Josh just laughs.
    “Oh, she’s serious,” I tell him. “Physics professors are to Caitlin what celebrities are to normal people. She started salivating when she heard Dr. Mann was at Brookside.”
    “Well, in that case, my stepdad’s name is Martin Wagner,” Josh tells Caitlin. “He specializes in—”
    “Dark matter,” Caitlin says, finishing his sentence. “I read his book.” Josh looks impressed. I remember the stupid comment I made in class today and cringe.
    “You got all the way through it?” Josh asks her.
    She smiles. “Twice.”
    “Wow. No offense to my stepdad, but you should get some sort of prize for that.”
    Caitlin laughs. “Well, I did have ulterior motives. He’s on the Yale alumni committee,” she explains. “Since he’s the only committee member with a hard sciences degree, I requested him as my interviewer.” She smiles. “I figured if all else fails, I’d tell him how brilliant I think his book is.”
    “A solid strategy. A cute girl with an affinity for astrophysics? He’ll beg the admissions committee to let you in.”
    It’s objectively true—Caitlin is, in fact, a cute girl with an affinity for astrophysics—so it shouldn’t be a big deal for the guy I like to point it out. Still, I bristle.
    Caitlin laughs again. “Let’s hope so. Remind me, where’d he teach before this? In Massachusetts somewhere, right? But not Harvard or MIT . . . Brandeis?”
    “Clark,” Josh replies. “In Worcester.”
    “So, Massachusetts,” Tyler says. “What’s it like up there?” Before Josh can respond, Tyler adds, “This is my attempt to steer the conversation into nonboring territory.”
    Josh laughs. “Nicely done. Massachusetts is great. It’s the only place I’ve ever lived, so I don’t have a