Chapter 3

Landon is anxious about the upcoming dance. He is worried that Jamie might wear her usual clothes and be teased by everyone else. Eric, who is dating Margaret Hays, suggests that they double-date but Landon refuses. He is aware of Eric’s tendency to tease people, especially when he is drunk.

On the day of the dance, Landon decorates the gym and then picks up a corsage for Jamie and drives to her house, where he meets Hegbert. Hegbert wants to protect his daughter and ensure that Landon is not playing a prank. Landon is surprised to see that Jamie has put on a nice blouse and skirt for the dance. Her hair, however, is still tied in a bun.

Jamie and Landon spend the first hour dancing and talking. Things change after Angela, Landon’s ex-girlfriend, and Lew arrive. Lew spikes the punch bowl and Angela gets drunk. Landon can’t help but stare at Angela, which angers Lew. Lew tries to pick a fight with Landon, but Jamie intervenes and prevents the fight from happening. Later, Angela throws up in the bathroom and Lew abandons her. Jamie finds her, calls Landon, and they help her clean up. Then, they drive Angela home. Jamie thanks Landon for a wonderful night. Landon finds this odd considering they had spent most of their time cleaning up Angela’s mess.

This chapter highlights Jamie’s innocence and kindness. She shows her maturity in dealing with a very difficult situation. First, she intervenes to stop the fight between Landon and Lew. Later, when she finds Angela in the bathroom, she informs Landon and helps him clean the mess. Despite this, she thanks Landon for the dance. Landon, on the other hand, comes across as self-centred and arrogant in the chapter. He is initially concerned about Jamie’s appearance. When they arrive at the dance, he moves away from his friends because of Jamie. He’s unable to understand why Jamie thanked him for a night where they spent their time cleaning Angela.