Walt/Swing arrives at Noah’s house, wanting to stay for a short time while Noah’s parents are away. He explains that his house is overrun with relatives helping his mother plan her wedding to Walt/Swing’s soon-to-be stepfather. Noah shows him the rest of the letters from Corinthian. Walt/Swing believes it likely that Annemarie was discouraged from dating Corinthian because he was African American and she was not.

The next morning, Walt/Swing spots a piece of art that Noah began the night before. Walt praises it, insisting the two should go to a museum so that Noah can be inspired by professional art up close. On the way to school, they stop at Starbucks and Walt/Swing strikes up a conversation with a man playing a trumpet outside. They discuss the American flags appearing around town, hypothesizing their significance.

Later at school, Sam asks Noah to meet her for lunch, saying she needs to speak with him. Over pizza, she shows Noah a piece of art she has received, labeled, “To: Sam, From: X” (152). It is the collage that Noah made and showed to Walt/Swing.