Jack — Twelve

Jack departs for college with his parents, deciding to let them come along. The drive is awkward at first but warms into rare one-on-one time, with both parents pointedly avoiding talk of Finn. At the dorm, RA Josh removes Finn’s misspelled name from the door and explains a reassignment, underscoring Finn’s absence. Jack claims the bed farthest from the hall.

While settling in, Jack learns Mr. Smith bought Finn a TV as a move-in present and that Jack’s mom accepted it for him. The oversized TV feels like another reminder of Finn and his father’s grand gestures. Jack helps his dad set it up, then goes to dinner with his parents at their habitual Chinese restaurant, where the familiarity comforts him and they set a new record for not bickering.

After a firm but tender goodbye, Jack reflects on his newfound autonomy but chooses to return to his room. He finds a new name—Brett—on the door and walks in on Brett and his parents, whose mother is tearful about leaving her son. Feeling prickly about their display, Jack avoids engagement by taking a long shower and examining his own reaction, comparing their emotions to Angelina’s grief for Finn.

Later, Jack returns to a quieter hallway. Brett is reading the student manual and keeps to himself, which suits Jack. Jack gets into bed, listens to Finn’s Tom Petty CD, and falls asleep, ending his first night at college still anchored to Finn’s memory.