The novel begins with, “Simon Glass was easy to hate. I never knew why, there was too much to pick from. I guess, really, we each hated him for a different reason, but we didn’t realize it until the day we killed him” (1). The narrator describes Simon as a “textbook geek”; Simon wears unpopular clothing, eats lunch alone, and is overweight.

The narrator is letting his friend, Coop, copy his English notes. It’s clear that Coop isn’t a scholar, but he is the school’s star linebacker and therefore popular. Bobster, also known as Bob, is standing by the table. He’s described as a lady’s man, handsome, and fun to be around. Rob Haynes is also nearby. Haynes “transferred to B’Vale from out of state. Within minutes, every girl in school was tongue-hung in lust, and within days, he had snatched the popularity crown off Lance Ansley’s head” (2). Rob is the leader of the group of friends, and the narrator describes him as having an indescribable magnetism.

The four friends watch as Lance, the former most popular guy in school, yells at Simon Glass, the most unpopular guy in school.