San Diego/Houston, Christmas Vacation, Junior Year (pp. 182-186) Summary

Steve spends the remainder of Christmas break in San Diego. He tries to call Dub several times, but she is consistently dismissive or simply not home. He becomes frantic at her unresponsiveness and pleads with his mother until she relents to his wheedling and allows him to return to Houston a few days earlier than scheduled. Steve arrives in Houston at midnight and calls Dub's home only to be told that she is spending the night at a friend's house.

Steve drives to the friend's house only to discover that Dub is not there. Steve realizes from the friends' sorrowful look of pity that Dub has left him, and he immediately surmises that Doug and Dub have become an item. Steve furiously drives to Doug's house but...