Content Warning: The following summaries and analyses contain discussions of suicide and voyeurism.

Clay rides a city bus to Monet’s Garden Café & Coffeehouse as he listens to Hannah’s next tape. He imagines that other passengers think he looks guilty.

Before school starts, the then-guidance counselor, Ms. Antilly, introduces Hannah to another new student, Jessica Davis. Both girls initially resent being given “buddies” but end up talking and hanging out together at Monet’s. There, they meet Alex Standhall, another new student who the girls think likes one of them. Hannah mentions that Mr. Porter is the “unfortunate” replacement for Ms. Antilly, and Clay anxiously wonders what role Mr. Porter plays in the tapes. When Mr. Porter heard of Hannah’s death, he walked out of class and was gone for a week.

Hannah likes Jessica for her forthright personality. Hannah, Jessica, and Alex meet at the café at a regular table. If one has a hard day, they say “olly-olly-oxen-free,” and lay a hand on the table (62). The others lay their hands on top and listen. Eventually, they spend less time together. One day, Jessica meets Hannah at the café and confronts her about the “Who’s Hot / Who’s Not” list.