After class, Alison stops Tom and insists on speaking privately before he meets Daisy. In an empty classroom, Alison bluntly tells Tom to stay away from Daisy and break up with her. When Tom tries to leave, Alison reveals why she believes she has leverage: she saw Tom kissing Brandi Healey behind the school shortly before Brandi disappeared.

Alison identifies Tom as Brandi’s secret boyfriend and the person the police have been trying to find. Tom denies being Brandi’s boyfriend but admits to himself that he did kiss Brandi and had planned to meet her only to end things, because he loved Daisy. Alison does not believe Tom is harmless; she says Tom only seems respectable on the surface and accuses him of being dangerous, even pointing to his calm skill during biology dissections as evidence that something is wrong with him.

Tom protests that he would never hurt Daisy, but Alison argues that if Tom truly loves Daisy, he should leave her because her life is in danger while she is with him. Alison says she has not gone to the police yet, but she will tell Chief Driscoll within a few days if Tom does not end the relationship himself. Tom realizes Alison is frightened of him, yet he also understands that her threat could easily destroy his future with Daisy.

When Tom finally meets Daisy at her locker, he hides the confrontation and claims he was delayed cleaning up after lab. The two walk home together as usual, and Daisy comments on her father’s insistence that Tom escort her. Tom reassures Daisy that he does not mind, because being with her is the best part of his day, even while he privately fears that Alison’s threat may soon separate them.

During the walk, Daisy mentions college and suggests that she and Tom compare application lists when the time comes, which shows Tom how seriously she imagines their future together. Overwhelmed by the possibility that he may lose her soon, Tom suddenly tells Daisy that he loves her. After a brief pause, Daisy says she loves him too and kisses him, giving Tom a moment of happiness that he immediately believes cannot last.