Bruiser

Brontë thinks of how many “impossible” and “mystical” things there are in the world—like airplanes, fireflies, and lightning—and how people have become “so good at taking it for granted” (184).

She compares these “impossible” things to Brewster’s ability, noting how she and Tennyson accepted it too quickly and did little to question. She compares his ability to a firefly that’s been caught in a jar—once you stop marveling at it, you forget about it and it gets stuck on the shelf, ignored.

At school, Brontë attempts to make Brewster more social. She holds his hand at lunch and does not hide their relationship. He initially insists that he does not want friends, but she convinces him that he should go out with her and her friends to at least meet new people.

The night Hoyt beats Cody, Brontë and Brewster go to the mall for dinner. Brontë brings four of her friends. Brewster has a good time and feels accepted.

At school, Brontë sees Brewster and realizes that he has a swollen face and is trying to hide a black eye. He admits that Hoyt is the one who did it to him.

Brontë tries to convince Brewster to go to the police, but he refuses.