Walking to the locker room, Johnny thinks of how he is in love with Shannon. He admits that he knows that she is “too sweet and pure to be dragged into [his] limelight” and that she is too young, and their future uncertain, but he can no longer deny how he feels about her (545). He plans to tell her everything that night when he takes her home.

Royce delays the game for over two hours trying to prevent Johnny from playing, but they are unsuccessful. Tommen wins easily, with Johnny the star of the game. However, in the last play of the game, Johnny is tackled and lies on the ground for several minutes. Shannon looks on, panicked and afraid. However, he finally sits up, ignoring the offer of a stretcher, and is instead taken from the field by Hughie and Gibsie.

Gibsie gets Johnny to the emergency wing where he is stitched up. The doctor tells them that Johnny will need surgery immediately, as the wound from his previous surgery—which should have healed by now—was reopened and came dangerously close to doing more damage.

Gibsie yells at Johnny, telling him that he needs to stop. He reprimands him for never letting the injury heal and for lying about it to everyone.