Peppi starts school at Berrybrook Middle School. On her first day, she trips, sending her things flying. A boy that the other students call “nerder”—who is revealed to be named Jaime in Chapter 2—starts to help Peppi pick up her things. Other students start teasing her and calling her “nerder girlfriend” (6). The animations depict Peppi red with embarrassment. She shoves Jaime away and runs. Even weeks later, Peppi is wracked by guilt about the shove, but can’t muster the courage to apologize. 

Peppi’s art club teacher Mr. Ramirez says that their club has been denied a table at the Annual School Club Fair, where clubs compete to have the best table display. Their enemies, the science club, have been given a table. Maribella, a “confident, talented, problem-solver” (14) promises them all that they’ll find a solution. Peppi wishes she could be a “force of nature” (15) like Maribella, but she can’t even get up the courage to apologize to Jaime.

The next morning, she copies a friend’s science homework in homeroom, fearful that her teacher Miss Tobins will fail her for not completing her work. After science class, Miss Tobins calls Peppi over to talk.