After arriving at Heights Country Day, Jameson disappears into the crowd, leaving Avery anxious in the car with Oren. Oren reminds Avery that the students are only kids, and Avery texts Max with her new number before forcing herself to enter the school alone.

Avery expects open staring, but the other students instead practice a pointed kind of not-looking. Their restrained attention makes Avery feel even more out of place among wealthy classmates who seem accustomed to a different world.

A poised student named Thea approaches Avery and offers to take her to the office. As Thea guides Avery through the school, Thea explains the headmaster, Dr. McGowan, the school’s traditions, and its complicated modular schedule, while making it clear that being seen with Thea changes how people look at Avery.

Thea warns Avery that favors at the school can come with strings and implies Avery will be safer with Thea’s guidance. Avery pushes back, insisting she will be fine regardless. Thea then probes Avery about living with the Hawthorne boys and says the Hawthorne family was already a twisted, broken mess before Avery arrived.

At the headmaster’s office, several bloodied but cheerful boys emerge, including Xander, who has apparently been involved in a robot fight. Xander notices Thea and pointedly identifies her as Thea Calligaris, whose uncle is married to his aunt Zara, then mentions that Zara and Thea’s uncle are looking for ways to challenge the will. Though Xander speaks to Thea, Avery understands the real message: she should not trust Thea.