Demon feels like the uninvited kid at Aunt June’s Knoxville apartment, a shame that clings despite showers and decent treatment. June quietly feeds him well and takes the kids to places Demon loves, like the skateboard park, letting him feel briefly thrilled and seen.

At night, Emmy repeatedly joins Demon and Maggot near the Christmas tree and talks with Demon in the dark. Demon shares fears and loneliness, while Emmy admits she is scared to move to Lee County and has missed out on the outdoors Demon describes. Their conversations turn serious as Emmy explains her father Humvee died in a drunken turkey-hunting “accident,” and that her troubled birth mother still sometimes threatened to take her back until recently agreeing to sign Emmy over to June.

The closeness grows into romance: Demon realizes he is in love with Emmy, tries to impress her, and dreams about walking in the woods with her once she moves back. Emmy initiates their physical intimacy by asking about “second base” and guiding Demon’s hand, which leaves Demon overwhelmed but hopeful about a safer future with her.

On Christmas morning, Mrs. Gummidge joins them for breakfast and brings gloomy talk that the kids privately struggle not to laugh at. Demon is surprised to receive presents too, and Aunt June gives him high-quality comic markers and a comic-panel book, reigniting Demon’s desire to draw after Louise’s death. On the last night, Emmy breaks down over the months until May when June’s contract ends, and she asks Demon to wait for her.

Back at the Peggots’ before school resumes, Demon finally asks Mrs. Peggot if they can keep him permanently. Mrs. Peggot tells Demon she and Mr. Peg already discussed foster placement with Miss Barks but decided they cannot take him officially because of their age, health, and the practical difficulty of raising teenage boys; they expect Maggot’s mother Mariah to reclaim Maggot when released. Demon tries bargaining and promises good behavior, but Mrs. Peggot refuses, and Demon breaks down crying, feeling his hope—and his belief in people being “different”—collapse.