Finley asks his dad if he can skip school to be with Erin, and his grandfather gives him money for flowers. Russ shows up and says that they need to talk, but Finley explains that he’s not going to school. Russ leaves, looking lonely, but there’s nothing Finley “can do about that now” (198).

Finley buys flowers for Erin, but the nurse says she’s not seeing visitors that day. Finley gives the nurse the flowers and a note to take to Erin. Finley waits and his dad falls asleep. Mrs. Quinn comes to tell Finley that Erin doesn’t want to see him. She tries to make some excuses, then hands Finley a note from Erin that tells him not to come back to the hospital, because she can’t see him. Finley feels sick, hoping that the note is a joke.

His dad wakes up, and Finley explains the situation, but they decide to wait anyway. His father falls back asleep. The girls’ basketball team shows up, but Erin won’t see them either. Finley and his father eat dinner at the cafeteria, and his dad suggests that Erin is trying to protect Finley from the people who hurt her.