Chapter 5

After speaking to Miss Garber, Landon secures the role of Thornton. Landon begins three weeks of rehearsals with the rest of the cast. He must work hard to memorise his lines and perform well, and for this reason he resents Jamie. He begins to slack and does not learn his lines. His friends continue to tease him saying Jamie is his girlfriend. He denies it and says that he took up the role on Miss Garber’s insistence.

One night, when Landon is out with his friends, Jamie approaches him. Perhaps with the intention of motivating Landon, Jamie begins to brag about how Landon volunteered to participate in the play. The two discuss the play, and Eric mockingly suggests that the two of them should perform for the orphans. He says that Landon wants to do so. Jamie likes the idea, and speaks to the director of the orphanage she volunteers with. Landon spends all the next day memorizing his lines, since he did not want to embarrass himself in front of the kids.

In this short chapter, we see that Landon does not fully commit himself to the play. He is unable to practice his lines. He begins to resent Jamie for dragging him into the play. It is also unclear whether Jamie is trying to manipulate Landon when she approaches him in front of his friends. However, she is able to make Landon take his role seriously.