“Smart ass. Go.”
I take a breath, and the words flow. “A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon. The Earth’s shadow falls across the lunar surface, and themoon goes dark—or rather, it turns this incredible reddish color.”
“Why red?”
“Because of Earth’s atmosphere.” I’m gesturing now, using my hands to demonstrate, completely forgetting to be self-conscious. “When sunlight passes through our atmosphere, it gets filtered. The blue light scatters—that’s why the sky is blue during the day—but the red light bends around the curve of the Earth and reaches the moon. So even though the moon is in Earth’s shadow, it’s being lit by all the sunrises and sunsets happening around the planet at that exact moment.”
Oliver’s eyes widen slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting in that asymmetrical way they do when he’s genuinely surprised. He leans forward, elbows on the table, gaze never leaving my face as I speak.
“The ancient Greeks called it a ‘blood moon.’ Some cultures thought it was an omen. But really, it’s just geometry and physics and the way light behaves when it travels through gas.”
“You make science sound romantic.”
I duck my head, feeling the flush creep up my neck and spread across my cheeks like spilled watercolor. “I—I find it fascinating. The idea that we can predict these things centuries in advance. That the same eclipse that terrified ancient civilizations is now something we can explain, can anticipate, can appreciate for what it actually is.”
“When exactly is it happening?”
“The twenty-seventh. Peak totality around two a.m. If the skies are clear, it’ll be visible for almost an hour.”
“We should watch it. I mean, if you want. You could explain what’s happening in real time. Make sure I don’t embarrass myself by asking stupid questions.”
“There are no stupid questions about astronomy.”
“Ryan, I once asked my high school physics teacher if the sun was hot.”
I choke on a laugh. “Okay, that’s a stupid question.”
“See? I need supervision.”
Across the table, Gerard’s voice cuts through our bubble. “Speaking of moons,” he announces loudly, “did you know that my buttocks have been compared to the moon? Multiple times. The Ice Queen even said it. That’s basically the same as a lunar eclipse, right? My butt blocking out the sun?”
“Gerard,” Elliot says flatly, “your butt does not cause astronomical phenomena.”
“It does too! People stop and stare! That’s a phenomenon!”
“It is categorically not the same thing.” Elliot’s voice drops into something dangerous. “And if you interrupt Ryan’s private conversation again, I’m going to make you regret it.”
Gerard’s eyes go wide. “Is that a threat or a promise?”
“It’s a guarantee that Principal Montgomery won’t be making an appearance later tonight if you don’t focus on your dinner.”
The effect is immediate. Gerard’s ears turn pink, his mouth snaps shut, and he suddenly becomes very interested in his blue-cheese-free burger. He takes an enormous bite and chews with exaggerated focus, not making eye contact with anyone.
Kyle stares at this display with undisguised horror. “I don’t want to know what that means.”
“You really don’t,” Elliot confirms.
Oliver leans close to my ear. “Principal Montgomery is apparently Elliot’s bedroom authority figure persona. Gerard has a thing for being disciplined.”
“I gathered.”
“It’s disturbing but also kind of impressive. Elliot has him trained well.”
I glance at Gerard, who is now eating his fries one by one, desperately trying to behave.
“So,” Oliver says, drawing my attention back. “The twenty-seventh. Two a.m. You, me, and a blood moon.”
“You’re serious?”
