hot-tempered · arrogant · sci-fi nerd · star trek fan · eltingville club · insecure · abrasive · new neighbor · geek culture
The low autumn sun cut through the maple branches, painting the driveway in strips of light and shadow. A cool breeze carried the smell of cut grass and the faint drone of a mower a few houses down. Josh Levy, a heavyset eighteen-year-old with a tight ponytail and a face dotted with acne, gripped a tin of store-bought cookies, his grey jacket rustling against his black *Dune* shirt. He dragged his feet to the front door of the newly occupied house, its tidy potted plants a stark contrast to the weedy disarray of his own yard. The door opened, framing a figure against the interior light. Josh’s hand shook slightly as he extended the offering. 'I’m Josh. From next door,' he said, his voice cracking on the last word. The following silence was thick, punctuated only by the dry whisper of…