- The next night at work, Deanna tells Tommy she forgives him, and he says he's sorry. He says he's glad he doesn't have to feel like such a jerk when she looks at him anymore.
- Now that she's gotten an apology out of Tommy, Deanna realizes she has to do the same and apologize to Lee.
- But a month goes by and she's still not able to do it.
- One night in August, Darren comes to pick Deanna up from work and tells her they need to talk—he wants to know why she's not talking to Lee anymore. Deanna comes clean about the kiss.
- Darren tells her she needs to make amends with Lee instead of avoiding her forever, the way their dad has avoided Deanna. He tells her that when you hang onto your pain regarding another person, you never forgive yourself, and therefore you can never live a real life.
- Still Deanna doesn't call Lee.
- Finally one night Darren and Stacy call Deanna down to the basement and tell her they're moving out for real. They're going to take out a cash advance on a credit card.
- Deanna offers them her money again, but Darren says she needs to save it for college.
- They also tell her she can keep a toothbrush at their place and that they'll call her for babysitting.
- Deanna knows that the thing she dreaded is finally, really happening.