Part 2, Chapter 11 Summary

Jeff still doesn't feel fine after the encounter with Melody, but he continues to pretend he is. The school year begins, and Phil tells Jeff that he met Jeff's mother when she came into town, and imagines how great it must be to have a beautiful mother like Melody. Jeff realizes he was scared and acted cruelly to Melody, and although he doesn't regret it, he can't forget what he did. He feels like he did the same thing to Melody that she did to him - she thought he loved her, and he told her he didn't. He doesn't tell anyone how he feels because he doesn't think he deserves comfort or sympathy. He even avoids the Tillermans, until one day in September he sees Sammy riding his bike in the icy rain and picks him up in his car...