Chapters 17 and 18 Summary

Liam remembers a conversation with his guidance counselor in seventh grade. When the counselor asks him what he wants to be, Liam thinks a model, but then remembers his parents says he should pick something else. When Liam tells the counselor his aptitude is being popular, she tells him that doesn't require a skill, while a career does.

After looking around Pete's trailer, Liam realizes what his father has meant all of these years about compromising his life and ending up like Pete. He creates a plan to become unpopular. On Monday, he tells Pete he's going to ride the bus, he creates a cowlick in his hair and wears one of his uncle's t-shirts. When he gets on the bus, he tries to sit with Darleen, but she won't let him. A girl named Becky with red hair and purple...