Chapter 5 Summary

Rusty-James goes home, where he meets Cassandra on the stairs. Cassandra is Motorcycle Boy's old girlfriend, and she used to be a student teacher at their school. Rusty-James has never liked Cassandra. She is college-educated and from a good family, but she moved into an old apartment nearby and goes barefoot and without makeup. Cassandra shows Rusty-James the track marks on her arms. She says she is not hooked; it was just to take the edge off when Motorcycle Boy was gone. Now Motorcycle Boy does not like her, because he hates drugs. He told Rusty-James he would break his arm if he ever did dope.

Inside the apartment, Motorcycle Boy is staring at the wall. Rusty-James finds some sardines and crackers to eat and checks his cut. Motorcycle Boy says it looks like Rusty-James is always messed up, one way or the...