A goes to Rhiannon’s school as Adam Cassidy. Unlike the previous chapters, A does not try to learn too much about Adam: “I know I should spend [time] getting to know Adam Cassidy, but he seems incidental to me right now” (173). A is focused on his/her own pressing needs—being able to see and talk to Rhiannon, and not just through email.

A drives to her school and quickly finds Rhiannon: “I let the universe tell me where to go” (174). When A sees her walking into a classroom, she seems to sense his presence and looks up. This is the first time A has ever been recognized by someone else.

They go to an empty classroom, just the two of them, for an honest conversation. A takes her hand, and she lets him/her. A wonders if things have changed, or if it’s easier for Rhiannon to hold A’s hand when A is a guy. A apologizes for his/her behavior as Ashley. As A talks, he feels unable to reach her. Rhiannon says she can’t “throw everything away for something uncertain” (176). She doesn’t want to make any big decisions about their relationship, but she also needs some time, so she asks that they limit their exchanges to email: no more face-to-face conversations for now.