The Prologue takes place a few days after the so-called “TOTAL ROMAN” incident. As Eric approaches Wolf’s locker, he reflects on the sticky note war. It’s not made clear that the locker belongs to Wolf or that the sticky notes are supportive, rather than hurtful.

Though the sticky notes were initially meant to be harmless, Eric knows they got out of hand. He reflects on the old saying about sticks and stones and how words can’t hurt people, realizing that words can hurt, and once they are said, “there really is no taking them back” (2). Eric tells the reader he’ll describe the events that led to this point but leave it to them to figure out where things went wrong.

Chapter 1 opens with Eric in his math class at Branton Middle School (BMS). Eric is one of the few who doesn’t have a cell phone, and while phones aren’t allowed at BMS, this doesn’t stop students from using them during class. Eric sits behind a student named Ruby Sandels, whom the teacher catches on her phone. Ruby was texting her friends about how her science teacher accused her of cheating and gave her a failing grade.