Elijah puts his arm around Anna. “Catch me up, girl. We haven’t talked in a minute. Is Demitri still a thing?”

She shhhhhs him. “New year, new me.”

“Well”—he looks down—“Charles broke up with me over the summer.”

“That sounds awful,” I say, ready to be in the conversation. I want to be friends with the Gushers guy.

Anna waves it off. “Charles was not worthy of sharing the same air as you.”

“I miss his air. But it’s time to move on. Maybe tonight,” he says, eyeing the room.

As they continue to catch up, I look for Yazmin. My curfew is midnight, and Aunt Lil was serious about not being late. Anna refills my drink. “Come on, Augustus, let’s go make ourselves seen.”

The three of us head into the living room and take over an L-shaped couch. Elijah tells a story about the fall musical when he was a junior that makes me laugh until my stomach hurts. Does being famous make him funnier? For sure.

“Out with it, Anna, what’s the fall musical this year?” Elijah asks.

“You did not hear this from me,” she says, then grabs his knee. “Grease! One of my favorites!”

Elijah raises his hands. “Stooooop,” he says. “It’s time for a Black Danny Zuko. I’m the one that I want, baby.”

“And I’m trying something different this year,” Anna brags.

“So not understudy?”

“I’m going to the other side of the table and assistant directing.”

“That’s so brave,” Elijah says. “What about you, August?”

“What’s the fall musical?” I ask. They both laugh like I should’ve heard about it in Pennsylvania.

“Only the biggest show of the year for SPA,” Anna says. “Three nights in Theater One, all sold out. The sets are huge, the band plays—it’s like one step away from Broadway.”

The thought of being on that stage in front of a thousand people overwhelms me. I have questions, but before I can ask, a guy sits down on the couch. He’s wearing a black turtleneck like Steve Jobs. His messy short hair is the “preoccupied with my art” look. “Hi, Elijah,” he says quietly. “Anna.”

“Duncan!” they both say.

“Duncan Stanford is the most talented cello player,” Anna explains to me loud enough for him to hear. “After graduation, he’ll probably just carry his cello down the street to Lincoln Center.”

“Wouldn’t that be grand,” he says with a British accent.

Anna and Elijah perk up like a celebrity joined us. This guy must be the real deal. “Nice to meet you,” I say.

“Same,” he says.

“How’s the orchestra life?” Anna asks Duncan.

“No complaints. Deciding on colleges. And dealing with freshmen acting like they’re the best things since Beethoven.”