Chase, Aaron, and Bear are sitting outside the principal’s office. Chase cannot believe the others have played this prank and tried to blame him for it. Aaron tells him to be quiet and follow his lead so they will not be blamed. When the principal confronts them, Aaron calmly says they were walking down the hall and discovered that the video club had started an electrical fire in the music room, which they extinguished in the nick of time. The principal replies that the video club kids told a different story, then asks Chase to verify which is true. Chase has the distinct feeling that the principal wants him to side with Aaron and Bear. He realizes that telling the truth will have many negative repercussions, especially for them as football players. He confirms Aaron’s version of events and, as Chase anticipated, the principal is relieved. Dr. Fitzwallace lectures the boys and calls their parents to pick them up.

Aaron and Bear are ecstatic about their “amazing escape” (171). They praise Chase for backing them up instead of refuting their story. Chase is filled with remorse and begins to realize fully what sort of person he was before his accident.