One Year Before
One year earlier, the Houghton family took their pet dog to the vet clinic. Their golden retriever dog was about to be put down, while Peter and Joey could care less about what was about to happen. The two boys argue until Lacy is fed up and wonders about Peter, "If only you could keep them that way: cast in amber, never growing up"(197).
Only twelve months before the shooting incident, Josie had inquired about her father. Like any curious kid, she'd asked her mother about this when she was growing up. Josie wanted to know why her parents weren't married anymore, she hadn't expected to hear that they were never married. As Josie works on a genetics paper for school, she hits a browser button by mistake and got a home page for The Boston Globe. Across the screen was election coverage of Logan Rourke, Josie's father. Startled Josie abruptly closes the computer, and finishes the rest of the day anxious to learn more about her father.
Peter and Josie, coincidentally are hired at the same job during the summer. They both applied to a photocopying company where Peter excelled as he enjoyed computer work. He was experienced and familiar with the machines and was assigned to train Josie. Since the two were forced to spend time with each other, Josie actually could stand Peter's presence. They both got a long at work and actually enjoyed each others company until Matt appeared to check up on his girlfriend. Peter, who is slightly eavesdropping, assesses Matt who vents, "Stop looking at me, homo"(204). Matt kisses Josie good bye and confirms their plans for the night, while Peter becomes invisible.
Josie uses Peter's talent to navigate her father once Matt leaves. Peter scrambles through codes and pages to find Logan Rourke's home address.
One afternoon at work, when Josie went out to the dumpster with a load of trash, Peter was already there. She didn't care Peter was in the garbage, so she carelessly through the trash onto her coworker. Almost immediately after, sparks flew and fire climbed up the cardboard stacked inside the dumpster. Josie grabbed Peter and pulled him out of the danger and quickly called 911. Mr. Cargrew, the manager of QuickCopy, rushed to the scene only to learn that Peter intentionally had lit the dumpster on fire to receive reassurance that Josie was still his friend. Mr. Cargrew fired Peter on the scene.
Through the use of flashbacks we learn how much bullying Peter endured in the earlier years. From being shoved in lockers to becoming the victim of monkey in the middle, Peter had been through it all. Josie had fallen under Matt's commands and no longer had a voice of her own. One day while Peter attempted to talk to Josie, Matt overheard and beat him up. Peter was excessively bleeding, but Josie pretend she didn't notice and continued on with her boyfriend.
Josie was nervous but very anxious for the day she would discover who her father was. A wide variety of images ran through her head. She didn't know what to expect. Matt had escorted her on the drive while giving her words of inspiration to help her through this significant moment. Josie reached the proper address and knocked on the door to Logan Rourke's house. As her fist raps on the last beat, Logan opens the door in surprise. He was taller than she'd imagined, and he looked just like he did on the internet ad- white hair, Roman nose, rangy build, but with the same eyes as Josie had, electric blue. Through the half opened door, Josie could hear another woman's voice question her appearance. Logan nervously wondered his daughter's name. Josie states it is Margaret. Satisfied with his actions, Logang gives Josie money and slams the door in his face. Josie allows the bills to slip through her fingers and fall to the ground. She leaves with Matt sobbing.
Peter gets a rare A on an essay wrote about the day he got fired from QuickCopy. He is so excited but quickly remembers he cannot brag to his parents about this as they still don't know he lost his job. Peter crumples up the essay and throws it in the first trash can that he passes.
Josie climbs into bed with her mother for the first storm of the year. Josie questions her mother about Logan again, Alex tries to beat around the bush and change the subject. Josie wonders how her life would be with a father figure in it, and gives Alex almost a hard time about not getting together with Logan. Alex is shocked to hear that Josie went to visit her father.
Peter takes a cab to a club, The Front Runner. He is pushed inside in his amazement without the bouncer even glancing at his fake id. Peter was surprised, but amazed with the scenery. Men were standing in groups of two or three, men in leather chaps, men kissing other men in the corners, and men passing joints. A bartender questions if Peter would like a drink. A man in his thirties pipes up before Peter can say anything, "Let's play a game and i'll buy you a drink"(232). The bartender reacts quickly and states, "Leave him alone Kurt, he's just a kid"(232). Kurt sets up a game of pool and Peter pulls out five dollars. Kurt informs Peter, "I don't bet for money. How about if I win, I get to take you home. And if you win you get to take me home"(233). Peter didn't really see how he could win either way, since he didn't want to go home with Kurt and he wasn't going to bring Kurt home with him. He put the cue down on the edge of the table and states, "I guess I really don't feel like playing after all"(233). Angrily, Kurt grabs Peter's arm and doesn't let him away until, Mr. McCabe his math teacher steps into the scene and tells Kurt to leave. Mr. McCabe takes Peter home in an awkward silence and drops him off at the front steps of his house. Mr. McCabe shares with Peter that he is always around to come and talk to. By this point Peter is disgusted and keeps stating, "I'm not gay!"(235).
In December, Peter got a job in the school library. He was in charge of the audiovisual equipment, which meant that for an hour after school each day, he'd rewind microfilm and organize DVDs alphabetically. He liked how nobody bothered him in the library. The cool kids wouldn't have been caught dead there after school. Although it had been months since she'd gotten him fired, Josie caught the elevator door with her crutch and hobbled inside with Peter and his equipment. The two press separate buttons, but the elevator gets stuck. The two have to spend hours and hours together. They play games and remember how much they enjoy each others company. Peter dares Josie to kiss him, and she does. Matt comes to the rescue and interrupts the moment the two were having. Josie never confesses to Matt what happened.
Peter goes home to find his parents hysterically upset. Peter believes and kind of hopes their emotions are due to his absence, but he later learns Joey was in a car accident and died from a collision with a drunk driver.