Callie, thankfully, doesn’t seem to notice. She seems to be in her element. “What’s even more fascinating is how the same molecules from then are not only still with us now, but they’re the same molecules we’re made of. So essentially we’re made of star stuff,” she says with a passion I haven’t seen in anyone our age before.
Instead of asking another follow-up question, I give Gavin a subtle nudge. It’s time he takes the lead.
After an awkward second, Gavin clears his throat. “So when people use the sayingthe universe is telling me…you can use it literally.”
“I guess.” Callie giggles, and I give Gavin a nod of approval. “I never thought of it like that. Except the universe never gives me the answers I’m looking for.”
“Yeah? Like what?” Gavin relaxes and inches closer to her.
“Like if I should apply for out-of-state colleges or follow in my parents’ footsteps and work in Blaire. Or if I should go to Florida to visit my grandparents instead of interning at the observatory over the summer.”
“Or maybe the universe did give you an answer, and you’re right where you should be.”
My eyes widen at the marked improvement. Didn’t think Gavin was a fast learner, but he’s proving me wrong.
“Maybe.” She blushes. Then, probably realizing they’re not alone,Callie quickly composes herself. “Then again, space exploration is one of the great unknowns. Even new discoveries often lead to more questions rather than answers.”
The smile on my face is less about the discoveries out there and more about the ones happening here. Gavin’s nerves are completely subdued by Callie’s passion for her work, and Callie seems responsive to Gavin’s advances, subtle as they are. Their conversation has relaxed into a natural back-and-forth cadence. Now that my work is done, I take a step back.
“So, have you discovered anything cool lately? Like UFOs or aliens?” I ask Brennan, trying to give Gavin and Callie some space.
“No,” Brennan says. “Not yet at least.”
I blink. Even though I was the one who asked about the possibility of extraterrestrials, I never expected to be taken seriously. And not by Brennan, of all people. “So, wait. You really think aliens are out there?”
He shrugs. “I mean, isn’t that what space exploration is? Discovering new and often unimaginable things in our universe?”
To me, people who believe in aliens come off as out of touch, eccentric, or even delusional. But Brennan is none of those things. The unlikely response from someone I least expect pulls me out of my head. Maybe I’ve been so focused on what this town doesn’t have that I can’t see what it does have.
“The only thing I know for sure is not to rule out the possibility of anything,” Brennan says.
“Yeah, I can agree with that.” I sigh, taking it all in. And I’m not just talking about the cloudless blue sky above the expansive satellite dish hovering over the lush treetop landscape. Listening to Callie and Brennan talk about their day-to-day, collecting data coming in from millions of miles away, puts into perspective howsmall and narrow my world is. There’s a whole universe out there full of unknowns, and it’s making me wonder…Maybe I’m limiting myself by wanting to go back to my old life. Maybe the universe has something bigger in store for me than even I can imagine.
“Looks like it’s time for our shift to start,” Brennan announces.
“Already?” Callie seems disappointed.
“Guess time flies…,” Gavin says to Callie, then forcefully moves his eyes to Brennan so it isn’t obvious he’s just talking to Callie. Although he doesn’t fool me. I know smitten when I see it.
“Guess so.” Callie hides a smile behind her fist.
I’m so happy with Gavin’s progress with Callie today that I’m willing to overlook that cheesy line that came out of his mouth.
As we climb down to the ground level, Gavin and Callie are in the middle of a conversation. So I thank Brennan for the tour.
“That was fun today,” I say.
“Why do you sound surprised?” Brennan’s brows furrow.
“Nothing against you or Callie,” I backtrack, realizing my faux pas, “but I’ve never been interested in anything science-y. It’s actually kinda my worst subject in school.”
“I can’t say I relate. I’ve always been good at science. Maybe you had the wrong teacher,” he says with a boyish grin.
“Maybe,” I say, matching his playful tone. Then, almost immediately, an unusual sensation creeps up my neck, making the temperature rise in my cheeks. What is happening? Am I…blushing?
I’m not the one who gets flustered. It’s usually the other way around. Then again, Brennan, I’m quickly discovering, isn’t like the “nice guys” I’m used to. The ones whose true intentions reveal they’re more interested in the things I can do for them (money/fame/status) rather than in me as a person. But with Brennan, I can tell his good looks and good nature go more than skin-deep. Every partabout him is as advertised. He likes science. He likes helping others. And I still can’t figure out if he likes me, per se, but it’s clear he likes spending time with us. Hopefully I’ll have more chances with him to find out. Between encouraging Gavin to initiate conversation and making sure he and Callie had space, I barely had time to banter with Brennan today. But somehow, as Gavin and Callie rejoin us, all smiles, it doesn’t feel like I missed out on anything.
“What were you two talking about quietly?” I ask Gavin as soon as we leave the building to walk back home. I’ve been dying to know.
