While teasing Pansy about being a buzzkill or trying to goad her into one final dance does occur to Adam, the impulse passes quickly. He knows what she means. And, anyway, the rest of what she has to say is far more significant to him than a school dance.

The prospect of a summer trip with his friends before they all go their separate ways, no matter how bittersweet, makes the young man's features light up. "Convincing Atticus to get his passport will probably be more of a challenge than whatever's behind that last door," he says, tone starting off light but sobering some as he concludes, "But...I have no doubt we'll manage both."