At morning assembly, Elliot notices that students at Holminster High quiet down and show respect when the principal starts talking, unlike students at his old school. Despite this positive sign, Elliot still believes that trouble will find him soon enough. A boy approaches him with a friendly smile and asks Elliot his name. Elliot assumes that the boy wants to start a fight when he says “Elliot? Elliot as in Ellie? Isn’t that a girl’s name?” (26) and is surprised when the boy follows up with a smile and introduces himself as Oliver. Elliot’s fears resurface as he walks into the locker room for gym class; the smell brings back painful memories, and he waits for the taunting to begin. Again, he is surprised; no one picks on him, and he plays football well enough not to draw attention to himself.

He notices another kid, with acne and a “raw-nose,” getting targeted during the game. Elliot is just happy that it isn’t him, but dread floods back into him as his team captain, Stewart Masters, saunters into the locker room after the game, clearly looking for trouble. Stewart singles out the same kid, called Baker, and in front of a locker room full of silent, attentive students, begins to verbally abuse him.