Contents
Partners
Overview
Ms. Rubin pairs Jack and August for the science fair, forcing a confrontation with Jack’s guilt and their fractured friendship. Julian provokes Jack to switch partners and insults August, triggering Jack to punch him. The moment exposes Jack’s loyalty and sets off new social and disciplinary fallout.
Summary
In science class, Ms. Rubin announces partners for the upcoming fair and pairs August Pullman with Jack Will. Jack is stunned, still reeling from realizing August overheard his Halloween remarks.
As the bell rings, August leaves quickly, and Julian Albans swoops in to taunt Jack about the pairing. Julian urges Jack to ask Ms. Rubin to switch partners, trying to undermine Jack’s connection to August.
Julian calls out to Ms. Rubin to arrange a switch, but Jack shuts it down and exits. Julian follows, presses Jack to abandon August, and insults August as a “freak.” Pushed past his limit, Jack punches Julian in the mouth.
Who Appears
- Jack WillStunned to be partnered with August; refuses to switch; punches Julian after he insults August.
- Julian AlbansTaunts Jack about being paired with August, tries to switch partners, calls August a freak, and gets punched.
- Ms. RubinScience teacher who assigns fair partners, pairing Jack with August and fielding Julian’s switch request.
- August PullmanAssigned as Jack’s science-fair partner; leaves class quickly, avoiding Jack after the Halloween fallout.