In the late afternoon, Vincent sat with Lydia on the couch, trying to act normal while seething over Danny’s insinuation that the man who escorts a girl to an abortion is usually the father. Vincent admitted he had been on edge for two weeks, lashing out at Poppy and their parents, and could barely look at Lydia.

Poppy burst into the house, dumped her backpack, and ignored their mother’s halfhearted reprimand. Their mother, drinking wine while playing solitaire, complained about Poppy hitchhiking and reacted when Vincent revealed Poppy had lost her camera the previous day. Margot arrived breathless, asked for Poppy, and urged her to attend Mr. Stewart’s end-of-year party; Poppy refused.

Lydia carefully asked if Vincent would attend the party; he claimed he needed to rewrite a history paper and asked if she would go. Lydia said she might stop by because Mr. Stewart had been training her, and Vincent curtly told her she did not have to. As evening fell and the party next door grew louder, Lydia prepared to leave, but Vincent avoided her hug and urged her to go home, prompting her to leave hurt and confused.

Vincent’s father arrived home, greeted Lydia politely, and mentioned the busy party next door. After Lydia left, Vincent mentally replayed a scene of Lydia going to an abortion clinic with Paul Stewart, convinced the pregnancy began after they started dating and interpreting health-class timelines to support his suspicion. He observed the crowded party at Mr. Stewart’s house—music, smoking, and open windows—while feeling excluded and angry.

Inside, Vincent’s father suggested a family movie night in Ventura on Friday to avoid the carnival’s opening night. Vincent retreated to his room, brooding over how Danny and Poppy had rushed in the previous day and whispered urgently behind closed doors, and how Poppy avoided his gaze afterward. He stared at his notebook, imagining Lydia returning to the party and sharing a closer bond with Mr. Stewart.