Summary

Jamie is forced to finally speak to his mother. A strange silence descends over campus during the time that stretches in between the flurry of activity that surrounds a suspicious death and the long weeks of investigation. Reporters appear on campus; one in particular starts following Jamie around. He is English and always asking about Charlotte. Jamie recognizes him as the campus drug dealer. Eventually, Sherringford closes the campus to the press.

With morale low, the school goes on with its plans for homecoming. Jamie and Charlotte meanwhile spend all of their spare time together in the lab, and their friendship grows. They argue about nonsense and also about important matters, like Charlotte’s drug use. With their peculiar brand of friendship growing, Jamie finds it hard to participate in the real world, such as class and homecoming. The bulk of the school still...