At the end of a Reflections meeting, Nate Bennett asks Addie to stay behind. Addie reflects that after several weeks with the poetry magazine, she is finally starting to feel included, even if she is still unsure whether Lotus truly likes her. Once they are alone, Nate tells Addie that there is a statewide poetry competition and that he wants to submit her poem, He Was There, for the school.

Addie is stunned because Nate teaches many students and works with several stronger, more experienced poets, including Lotus. Nate strongly praises the poem and tells Addie that she is amazing and talented, which deeply affects her because his approval makes her feel seen and valued. Their conversation shifts briefly to Eve Bennett's strictness in math class, and Nate contrasts himself and Addie as dreamers against his wife's more logical nature, further strengthening Addie's sense of personal connection with him.

Nate then offers Addie a ride home because it has gotten late. Addie immediately refuses because her past experience with Arthur Tuttle has made her wary of accepting rides from caring male teachers. Even after Nate accepts the refusal casually, Addie is left wondering whether she may be overreacting, since a ride could be innocent.

When Addie leaves the classroom, she finds Lotus waiting in the hall. After Addie explains that Nate chose her poem for the Massachusetts poetry contest, Lotus reacts angrily. Lotus argues that the contest matters too much for Nate to choose a beginner, insists that several students are better poets, and says Addie should go back and tell Nate to choose someone else.

Addie refuses, saying Nate must have chosen her poem because he believes it can win. Lotus then suggests a darker explanation, accusing Addie of being the teacher's pet and invoking Arthur Tuttle by saying it is not enough that Addie got him fired, now she is going after Nate Bennett too. Shaken, Addie walks away questioning whether Nate's choice was really about the poem or about favoritism, and she is disturbed to realize that the possibility of Nate's special interest also thrills her.