Twelve summers earlier, on the first night of orientation at the University of Chicago, Poppy notices Alex because he is standing alone. Poppy, who is also alone after her roommate quickly abandons orientation events, approaches him with a joke about his University of Chicago T-shirt. The joke lands badly, and both of them are immediately embarrassed.

As they recover, Poppy and Alex both register how mismatched they seem. Alex looks neat, quiet, and conventional in khakis, while Poppy is loud and flamboyant in a bright vintage jumpsuit. Trying to fill the silence, Poppy asks where Alex is from and is shocked to learn he is from West Linfield, Ohio, while she is from neighboring East Linfield.

The hometown connection briefly gives them something to talk about, and they exchange basic facts about themselves. Poppy tells Alex she is the youngest of three and the only girl, while Alex says he is the oldest of four boys. They also reveal practical differences between them: Alex is attending on academic scholarships, while Poppy is relying on loans.

The conversation remains strained because their personalities and priorities seem completely opposite. Alex is interested in things like the gym and the library, while Poppy jokes about finding a rich husband, drinking punch, and escaping southern Ohio. Their awkward small talk never develops into real chemistry.

By the end of the conversation, Poppy is convinced Alex is too dull for them to become friends, and Alex seems to feel the same distance. Instead of making plans or exchanging numbers, Alex simply wishes Poppy luck with freshman year. They part expecting never to speak again, which makes their later importance to each other more striking.