The narrator, a high school student, stands up to a bully named Mark, who is notorious for being mean to others. However, after discovering Mark's private notebook filled with sad and well-written poems, the narrator begins to understand Mark's behavior as a result of his difficult home life in foster care. The narrator writes a heartfelt letter to Mark, which he initially rejects, but later warms up to. As they spend more time together, the narrator develops feelings for Mark, and they share a romantic moment before the narrator has to move away. Despite the short time they had together, Mark's life begins to change for the better, and he starts making amends with those he previously bullied. The narrator, though sad to leave, is excited for the new experiences and opportunities that lie ahead.
1. The narrator stood up to Mark, a bully, who was picking on a shy kid in the hallway.
2. The narrator yelled at Mark to stop bullying people.
3. Mark was stunned, and no one had stood up to him before.
4. The next day, the hallway smelled terrible due to a fish sandwich that had been left in the narrator's locker.
5. Mark was seen smiling and wearing headphones, and the narrator suspected he was responsible for the prank.
6. The narrator became obsessed with finding out what Mark was writing in his notebook.
7. Mark always kept his notebook with him, but the narrator managed to sneak a peek when Mark went to the bathroom.
8. The notebook contained poems, which surprised the narrator and made her feel terrible for reading Mark's private thoughts.
9. The poems revealed that Mark's father was mean to him and made him feel like nothing.
10. Mark was in foster care and lived with people who weren't his real parents.
11. The narrator wrote a letter to Mark, which she put in his notebook, but Mark ripped it out and threw it away.
12. The narrator's mother told her that she had invaded Mark's privacy by reading his diary.
13. Mark put up posters with the narrator's school photo on them, which made her feel humiliated.
14. The narrator confronted Mark, who smiled at her and asked her to come to his house the next day.
15. Mark gave the narrator a note with his address and a message that said, "To the girl he saw through me."
16. The narrator went to Mark's house and heard screams, but Mark invited her to follow him to a lake.
17. Mark sang one of his songs, which was about his fears, sadness, and feelings of being a monster.
18. The narrator's mother told her that they would be moving across the country.
19. The narrator told Mark about the move, and he was devastated.
20. The narrator and Mark spent the day together, doing things like eating ramen and going to karaoke.
21. The narrator kissed Mark, and they both laughed.
22. The narrator and Mark had to say goodbye, which was the hardest thing she had to do.
23. Mark told the narrator that she would always be with him through his music.
24. The narrator watched Mark leave, holding on to the moment as much as she could.
25. The narrator got into the moving truck and left with her family.
26. On the sidewalk, the narrator saw Mark talking to one of the shy kids he used to pick on, and they were both smiling.
27. The narrator decided to enjoy every day and make the most of any situation that arose in her life.