Violet has a counseling session with Mrs. Kresney, who is happily surprised when the young woman announces that she now rides in a car, sleeps without experiencing nightmares, and is beginning to write again. 

Violet is supportive when her former boyfriend, Ryan Cross, announces that he is dating Suze, a former friend of Violet’s. He also advises her that Roamer attacked Finch in the gym locker room and that Finch “didn’t even try to defend himself” (212). This assault ends Violet’s relationship Violet with the “popular” group. At lunchtime, she avoids their table and asks to sit with Brenda Shank-Kravitz and her companions, who are all friends and supporters of Finch.

Violet’s “wandering” journal is now more a recording of her evolving relationship with Finch than a documentary of sites in Indiana. The pair are increasingly attracted to each other, and she writes, “the wandering is really an excuse to drive somewhere and make out” (214). Finch surprises her by leaving a pair of swimming goggles on her doorstep one morning as a present. He writes that they will use them on “the first warm day” (217).