Inspired by her visit with Ginny, Valerie sees Dr. Hieler and discusses the prospect of doing something at graduation, like a piece of writing representing the graduating class. He encourages her. She expresses doubt, arguing, “But aren’t you forgetting that I’m Sister Death, the Girl Who Hated Everyone? The one everyone loves to hate?” (374). To this, Dr. Hieler tells Valerie that she never was that girl, so it is probably time to give up that persona.

Valerie asks her mother to take her to the newspaper office to see Angela Dash, the author of the news articles she’s been reading. Although her mother has reservations, she offers her trust to her daughter, allowing Valerie to go into the office alone. There, Valerie meets Angela Dash, who knows exactly who Valerie is and comments on how difficult it is to get an exclusive with her. Thinking Valerie is there to talk about the shooting, Angela remarks, “I don’t think we’ll need you after all. This is a pretty overdone story already. Except for the suicide attempt and the moment of silence, there’s really nothing new here. We’re ready to move on. The shooting’s old news” (377). Since the shooting is anything but old news to Valerie and those affected by it, Valerie accuses Angela Dash of writing what Mr.