The protagonist wakes from a text from “McNightmare”—a morning ritual. The text tells her that in three hours, he, Neil McNair, will be crowned valedictorian of their high school class. Rowan’s rivalry with Neil dates back to their freshman year, when he won a school-wide essay contest. Rowan Roth has despised him since.

Rowan leaves her bedroom to greet her writer/illustrator parents, who have been working on a graphic novel all night. Her mom finds the unicorn-shaped backpack Rowan wore on her first day of kindergarten and snaps the traditional first-day-of-school photo with Rowan in the backpack.

Rowan showers and heads to school. Throughout the morning she texts McNair, who is confident that he will be named valedictorian. Rowan is determined to beat him herself.

The beginning of the chapter is an email Rowan receives from Delilah Park’s publicity team reminding subscribers that the bestselling author will be doing a signing at a bookstore in Seattle at 8:00 pm. Delilah is Rowan’s favorite author, and she plans to attend.

On her way to school, Rowan stops by Two Birds One Scone, where she works part time. She orders a latte from one of her coworkers and receives another email reminder about Park’s book signing.