On route to Augustus house Hazel comments on the
jolting quality of Augustus driving. Augustus tells her that he
failed the driving test three times, revealing that he is an amputee,
having lost a leg to cancer. He speculates he only passed the test as
a “cancer perk”, the special favours cancer kids get. Hazel
recounts the details of her cancer story, she tells that her parents
pulled her out of school at thirteen, when she was diagnosed with
terminal stage 4 thyroid cancer.
At fourteen Hazel developed pneumonia in her lungs
and probably would have died if not one of the doctors, Dr. Maria, were able to
drain the fluid from her lungs. Since that Hazel has stayed alive.
When Hazel meets Augustus parents she notes him as
“Gus”. Hazel likes the idea of a single person having two names.
Augustus shows Hazel his basement bedroom, which is full with
basketball trophies. Hazel and Augustus agree to read one another’s
favourite books. Augustus lends Hazel a copy of “The Price of
Dawn”, a book based on his favourite video game. Hazel describes
her strong feelings for “An Imperial Affliction”. After the movie
Augustus drives Hazel home and she agrees to call him once she
finished his book.
