The chapter is dated November 9, 2018, set four weeks prior to the present moment.
Lily and Maya are at the Adams High basketball court after a fencing team practice.
Lily is teaching Maya how to do a flèche attack in fencing, although she'd prefer to be home coping with her recent breakup.
Lily had an intense breakup with Asher a week prior and hasn't communicated with him since then.
During the lesson, Lily has an emotional breakdown, and Maya comforts her, prompting Lily to open up about what's troubling her.
Lily reflects on her depression and history of bad experiences that have led her to feel like she's drowning in sadness.
Maya tries to understand Lily's situation, speculating that Lily's issues might be linked to her relationship with Asher.
Lily admits that Asher has been acting strange since they had sex, and she wonders if she and Asher moved too quickly.
Maya shares her perspective on growing up as an Asian girl with two mothers in a primarily white and straight environment, suggesting that experiences like these have made her wise and resilient.
Lily considers sharing deep personal issues with Maya but hesitates, fearing to lose her as she did Asher.
Maya insists on showing Lily something, and they end up driving to a remote location in the Sandwich Range Wilderness with Maya's mother's Range Rover.
Maya and Lily arrive at an old fire tower after trespassing on US Forest Service property, where Maya encourages Lily to climb for a better view.
Atop the tower, they are met with stunning views of the White Mountains, and Lily sees a bald eagle for the first time.
Initially, Lily is unimpressed by the scenery. However, when prompted by Maya to look more closely, she sees graffiti of Asher's name crossed out with negative sentiment.
The graffiti leads to a conversation about former relationships and life beyond high school, helping Lily to envision a future where her current problems seem less significant.
Maya reassures Lily that her pain won't last forever, as they stand looking out at the landscape.
The chapter closes with Lily gesturing with an imaginary sword toward the universe and saying "En garde," as if to challenge her problems head-on.