years later, benny and christopher are attending the university of akron. they meet while playing on opposing teams during a friendly game of football. benny and christopher have an immediate attraction to each other, and exchange phone numbers. they later go on a date, and become boyfriends. benny and christopher go to a nightclub with friends, and end up spending the night together. as spring break draws near, they decide to spend the week in florida at christopher's mother's home. both families are accepting and supportive of benny and christopher dating, but over time christopher begins putting the pieces together that christopher's mother is the one who accidentally killed benny's brother. christopher realizes this history between the two families just before leaving with benny on a trip to florida to celebrate spring break. despite his hesitations, they continue their journey with a short overnight at a campgrounds where they consummate their love with all the tenderness of young love. matters become complicated, however, when christopher's mother carol discovers who benny is while the couple visit her home in jacksonville. against christopher's wishes, she makes a heartfelt confession regarding her involvement in davey's death, causing a distraught benny to insist on going home to ohio. benny briefly breaks up with christopher twice, while quarreling with his family over his relationship. the young couple finally reconcile for good, and attend a local stage production of arsenic and old lace, in which benny's sister becca has a starring role. when benny's parents, lenora and david, see him arrive with christopher, they become hurt and angry. meanwhile, christopher's mother arrives in akron, with plans for three things; pay her respects at davey's gravesite, ask benny's mother for forgiveness, and that she give her blessing for benny and christopher to see each other. carol's plans have mixed results.