The cliff wall is sheer, and Gus and Rossi are perched about 20 feet above the desert floor. Realizing that the drop might be dangerous, and nervous about their chances in the open desert, Gus and Rossi decide to stay put.

It’s still too dark out to make sense of the paper, so Gus and Rossi talk. When Gus wonders why Rossi hopes to travel to Baja, she mentions the Baja One Thousand, a 1,000-mile road race through the Baja peninsula. There’s no entry fee, and Rossi appreciates its pure focus on racing; the objective is not to win but to prove that you’re tough enough to survive Baja.

Rossi argues that people are fundamentally capable of free will. She dreams of leaving Nowhere, with just her bike for company. Gus is skeptical, but he nevertheless encourages her ambition.

Changing the subject, Gus asks Rossi how she first befriended Jessie. By way of explanation, Rossi mentions that her dad works two jobs. During the day, he works at the Center for Youth, counseling and rehabilitating troubled young boys. Though noble, the work is low paying, so Rossi’s dad supplements his income with a job at a gas station. With her dad constantly working, Rossi often feels lonely.