Adam narrates the first section of this chapter. He’s in his Government class. Charlie arrives to the class complaining that his Chemistry teacher is "'being a bitch'" and telling Adam that he (Charlie) broke another one of his phones, and he is also starving (54). Adam offers Charlie some food, but Charlie is disgusted when he finds only a bag of carrots in Adam's backpack.

The teacher announces that the class will work in groups, and Adam immediately pulls his desk next to Emerald's because "if you're going to do an assignment with anyone, it should be her," (55). Adam asks Emerald how her college boyfriend, Brett, is doing. Emerald says he's doing all right, and Camila, Emerald's friend sitting in the group, reports that Brett is taking Emerald up in an airplane next weekend on a date. Adam jokes, saying he wants to be Brett's girlfriend.

Julian narrates the second part of this chapter from Dr. Whitlock's office. Adam is in the office, and he asks Julian if the reason he hasn't been to school is because he’s been sick, and Julian nods yes. Adam asks Julian if he likes to draw, and Julian lies, saying yes, but Julian soon regrets the lie because afterwards Adam says he "'sucked'" at art, and they "could have had sucking at art in common" (57).