Three years after the events of the Prologue, Sephy spends an afternoon on the beach with her best friend Callum. They share their first kiss. Callum confesses to Sephy about his desire to get away, but he understands that everywhere is the same. Sephy tells him she would go with him wherever he wants to go. Callum breaks the romantic tension by pushing Sephy to tutor him in preparation for his transfer to her school. Callum is nervous about doing well at the new school. Sephy wonders if Callum will be in her class. Even though she is younger than Callum, she reminds him that the school has said he is behind the other students his age. Callum bristles at the idea and reminds Sephy that noughts “were only allowed to be educated up to the age of fourteen—and in noughts only schools […]” (27). Callum walks Sephy back up to her family estate after refusing to let Sephy come to his house. He asks to hug her goodbye and leaves abruptly. Sephy reaches the house and is greeted by her angry mother, who orders her not to leave the house for the rest of the day.

Callum returns home from visiting Sephy, wishing his house looked like hers and wondering why no nought’s house looks like Sephy’s house.