Back at school, Jody Mueller begins to notice Eric. Her boyfriend, the religious zealot Mark Brittian, attempts to drop out of CAT class, citing it as a blasphemous course. Jody attempts to drop out with him, but Ms. Lemry doesn’t allow her. Mark then decides to remain since his girlfriend will not be leaving with him. 

In the midst of this conversation between Ms. Lemry and Mark, Eric seizes his moment and flirts with Jody, who then passes him a note asking for his phone number. Eric also has an unlikely conversation with Steve Ellerby, wherein Steve explains why his attitude towards religion is so irreverent, despite the fact that his father is a pastor. Ellerby confides in Eric that he and his parents wrestled intensely with their religious beliefs after Steve’s older brother died suddenly.Steve and his family got through their grief, and their view of faith was changed in order to accept powerlessness and the unknown. 

Abortion becomes a main topic in Ms. Lemry’s class. She cautions all the students to tread carefully and remain respectful, but the debates escalate quickly. Before long,