After Ever After

Although he is happy about his developing friendship with Lindsey, Jeff is worried about the prospect of having to explain his cancer history to her. He is also mortified when his parents ask him about Lindsey, whom they heard about from Tad’s mother. To Jeff’s dismay, Tad also keeps pushing his friend to get together with Lindsey. Tad confesses that he is worried that no girl will ever be interested in him, and Jeff unsuccessfully tries to reassure him.

Jeff begins working out with Tad, who can only do limited exercise at first. When he is done pedaling on the bike, Tad encourages Jeff to lift weights, arguing that it will make him look good for Lindsey. When Jeff complains, Tad unexpectedly storms out of the room angrily.

Later, Miss Palma gives her students two new journal assignments. The first is to write down a conversation they overheard, and Jeff picks an argument between his parents and his brother. When Steven announced that he was leaving, he expressed frustration at the pressure he felt to be a perfect son, brother, and boyfriend, which his parents did not fully understand. Miss Palma’s second journal prompt is for students to write a letter to someone they admire.