A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, is a book featuring the coming of age of a student named Gene Forrester at Devon School, New Hampshire, in 1942. The other main character is Phineas, Gene's best friend, and room-mate. They go through many experiences together, and strangely affect each other's life.

Gene was insecure. He was a bright student, and if he studied, would be a possible candidate for the top student of his class. Phineas was the best athlete in the school, and had a demanding command over people, which made him a born leader, but not a born honor student. Although being very smart, Gene was insecure because he was not as good at sports as Phineas, and could not express himself as freely. Gene considered Phineas his best friend, but subconsciously felt disdain for him. Phineas had such confidence and popularity, that it aggravated Gene so much subconsciously, that he did something he doesn't totally understand for the rest of his life. Gene pushed Phineas off a tree, resulting in Phineas having a broken leg.

Phineas, being the main sports figure in the school, and winning in everything physical, was shocked when he broke his leg. At the time of the incident he and Gene were on a branch, of a very tall tree, about to jump into a lake. This was the opening ritual of a small clan they started together, which Gene secretly did not enjoy. One minute they were both there, motionless, and the next Phineas was lying on the ground twitching. It wasn't clear to anyone what happened; even to Phineas or Gene.

Gene didn't openly think he pushed Phineas, but subconsciously he knew he had, and that is why he went to the doctors to make sure Phineas was all right. Gene was a mess at this point. He was totally confused about how he identifies as a person, and whether he pushed Phineas or not. He came to thinking about the things that annoyed him about Phineas, and came to the conclusion, secretly, that he did in fact push Phineas off the branch, and meant to.

None of this was clear to Phineas, who had a suspicion that it might have been Gene, but had such loyalty in the idea of friendships, and trust, that he wiped that out of his mind at the first thought of it. Phineas really cared about Gene, and didn't think there was any possibility of Gene wronging him. Phineas just avoided the facts, and made himself believe that Gene would do nothing to hurt him, and was his best friend. Phineas lived under this illusion for nearly a year, including when Gene admitted to him that he had pushed him, but Phineas just didn't believe it, and took Gene to be crazy at the time. Later, on Phineas' death bed, it was made clear that it was Gene who pushed him.

While Phineas was on his bed, after falling on his leg again, Gene and Phineas talked and resolved any issues they had. They felt each other as how they used to feel each other, long ago, before this whole mess. This was their last moment together, before there was a complication in surgery the morning after. Phineas died in such a feeble way after having such strong character and motivation to be his best, but the most important thing was that Gene and Phineas had reached understanding, and forgiveness.