One Month After
Diana Leven had been reviewing the details of the case for days now. She had a list that lay in front of her of the victims of Sterling High. As she scanned through the list again her eyes were drawn to Josie Cormier's name. Beside this was her mother's signature, Alex Cormier. Diana was astonished because she knew that Alex was initially supposed to be the judge on this case. Diana wondered how could Alex fairly judge when her daughter was a victim. She knew she couldn't ask Judge Cormier to be recused, but she was certain that Josie's mother would recuse herself.
On her way home from the courthouse, Alex passed the makeshift memorial that had been erected for the victims of Sterling High. There were ten white wooden crosses that were nowhere near the school. In the days after the shooting, there was a great number of mourners standing by the crosses, adding to the individual piles of photos, Beanie Babies, and bouquets. Alex had remembered when Courtney and Maddy, Josie's best friends, came over for sleepovers and now she stood above their graves. After the ten crosses had been erected, Alex noticed one with Peter Houghton's name on it. It had been taken down and vandalized night after night, and editorials were written about it in the paper.
Lacy goes to visit Peter at the jail and learns that Lewis has not been coming to visit their son. This is news to Lacy and she is now concerned what he has been up to.
Jordan had been just as shocked to see Cormier's name on the docket board as the prosecutor had been, but he enjoyed seeing Diana Leven in a panic. Diana spoke to Judge Cormier and asked her to resign from the case as it wouldn't be fair since Peter had asked about Josie's welfare, Josie was present during the shooting and Josie's yearbook photo in Peter's room was the only one that had been marked with the words "Let Live"(259). Judge Cormier assured Diana that it was completely legal and appropriate so she would proceed.
Judge Cormier begins the court hearing by listing off the charges and victims of the case. When Alex gets to Grace Murtaugh's name, a lady in the back of the courtroom causes a scene. She cries and yells at Peter by telling him, "You'll burn in hell for this"(268). Alex calls a recess and cannot proceed back in the courtroom. She tells her assistant to clear her afternoon. Alex thought she could take the intensity of the case but soon realizes her emotions are too sensitive due to her daughter's involvement. Alex drives to the elementary school where the high school students are being temporarily kept. She picks up Josie and takes her for a drive. Alex tells Josie she quit the case and now she is available for her daughter to come to for advice.
Peter was delivered a letter from one of the guards, it read:

Peter,

I feel like I already know you, because I've been following what happened at the high school. I'm in college now, but I think I know what it was like for you...... because it was like that for me. In fact, I'm writing my thesis now on the effects of being bullied at school. I know it's presumptuous to think that you'd want to talk to someone like me... but I think if I'd known someone like you when I was in high school, my life would have been different, and maybe it's never too late????

Sincerely,
Elena Battista

(pg. 270)

Peter was excited that a college girl wanted to get to know him even though Jordan told him no contact with anyone other than his lawyer and parents.
Jordan had requested to visit with Dr. King Wah. He specialized in battered woman syndrome, a medical issue that was triggered from abuse by a wife's husband. It caused the woman to act crazy and even kill their husbands because they were bullied. Jordan took notes from Dr. King Wah's presentation as he realized how similiar it was to Peter's situation.
Jordan and Selena visit Derek, Peter's only friend and understand how mean kids really were to Peter. Derek claims if he was in Peter's shoes, he would have done the same.
Lacy now knows where her husband really goes when he says he is visiting Peter. Lewis Houghton visits the cemetery to not forget of the kids his son had shot, and to pay respect. He also visits Joey's grave.
Alex is stressed out at this time and schedules a dinner to meet up with her former boss for advice. When Alex enters the Chinese restaurant she finds Patrick sipping coffee, waiting for his take out order. The two get talking and chemistry builds, but the moment is over when Alex's boss interupts.
Alex and Josie visit Jordan early on a Saturday morning to plead Josie won't have to appear in court for the trial. Jordan is hesitant but feels guilty so he informs Josie she will not be called on to defend.
The chapter ends with Patrick and Alex going on a date and sharing their first kiss.