Demon, working a late-summer sale at the farm store, is instantly captivated by Dori Spencer, Vester Spencer’s striking daughter. Donnamarie introduces them; Demon learns Dori has missed school to care for her chronically ill father and that they must travel to Tennessee for specialists. Demon, ashamed of being “still a kid” without a license and mindful of past mistakes, panics at the thought she will vanish from his life.

At home, Demon admits to Angus that he is “in love,” and Angus mocks him for another crush—until Demon keeps circling back to Dori, unable to let it go. As tenth grade starts, Demon thrives on the football team, feeling newly accepted and powerful even as he worries it could all be taken away.

Breaking Coach’s strict in-season rules, Demon rides out with Fast Forward to the drive-in, where drinking and weed are everywhere. While drifting between groups—including teammates Clay Colwell and Turp Trussell—Demon spots Dori glowing in the dark and approaches her. Dori confesses her father is worsening and she “shouldn’t be here”; Demon shares that both his parents are dead. Their connection sharpens when Dori recognizes Demon as a DSS ward and implies she knows the system; she teases that Demon is the kind of boy “girls will be writing to in prison,” then disappears, leaving Demon rattled but obsessed with the fact she knows his name.

Demon then reunites with Tommy Waddles, his foster-care friend from years earlier. Tommy, now eighteen and out of care, is living with friends and working at a newspaper; Demon tells him about his current stable home and gushes about Dori, finding relief in being understood.

Returning to Fast Forward’s truck, Demon witnesses Rose Dartell delivering alcohol after a long drive and being viciously insulted by Fast Forward, who also calls Car Wash “hideous.” Demon follows Rose into the woods to apologize and learns disturbing history: Rose says Fast Forward (Sterling Ford) was once adopted by her family but “unadopted” for other kids’ safety, alleging he tried to harm siblings and once injured her with a thrown claw hammer. Rose warns Demon that Fast Forward’s charm makes him blameless in others’ eyes and calls Demon his “new toy.”

Overwhelmed, Demon returns and drinks hard to bury Rose’s revelations, blacking out and making it only halfway up the stairs at home. Angus cleans him up, covers for him by claiming he has the flu, and warns that some “angels” around Demon are not protecting him. Demon, terrified of getting caught and benched, promises Angus he will avoid alcohol for the rest of the season—a vow he keeps at least with tequila.