Landon Carter sat at the lunch table with his friends, enjoying a rare moment of peace. He had been dating Jamie Sullivan for a few months now, and he was happier than he had ever been. But he knew that their relationship wasn't without its challenges. Jamie's father, Reverend Sullivan, was a powerful and influential man in Beaufort, North Carolina. He didn't approve of Landon, and he had made it clear that he didn't want his daughter dating him. But Landon and Jamie were determined to be together, no matter what. One day, Landon was walking through the lunchroom when he saw a group of his friends picking on a younger student. Landon knew that he should step in, but he was hesitant. He didn't want to get into a fight with his friends, and he didn't wa...