Chapter 13 Summary: Bailey and Charlie Scheme to Get Rid of Scott
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
During a break at Planet Funnn's, Bailey reveals her anxiety about her mother's boyfriend Scott possibly moving in. Charlie and Nekesa immediately suggest childish sabotage tactics, such as finding out what Scott hates and doing that, or borrowing Charlie's shedding dog to trigger his allergies. The four coworkers spend the day training at the front desk, where Charlie tries to make Bailey laugh with terrible accents, and she gets scolded by the trainer. After work, Bailey learns that Scott is already at her apartment. Desperate to disrupt her mother's new relationship, she accepts Charlie's offer to go to Zio's pizza and brainstorm a plan. At the restaurant, Bailey demonstrates her unusual pizza-eating method (toppings first, then crust) and Charlie, after initial disgust, tries it and admits it's amazing. Their conversation turns to Bailey's inability to be confrontational. Charlie calls her a "people pleaser" and encourages her to find her inner assertiveness. Bailey convinces Charlie to come to her house to help stir up chaos. He agrees, calling himself the "master" and her his student, and they head out to execute their plan.
Key Events
- Bailey explains her Scott problem to Charlie, Nekesa, and Theo; they propose various ways to make Scott miserable.
- Charlie's attempts to make Bailey laugh during role-playing result in Bailey being reprimanded by the trainer.
- Bailey receives a text that Scott is already at her house for dinner, prompting her to take action.
- Bailey and Charlie go to Zio's pizza to devise a strategy for Scott.
- Bailey eats pizza in an unconventional way (toppings first, crust last); Charlie tries it and agrees it is amazing.
- Charlie challenges Bailey's people-pleasing personality; Bailey admits she wishes she were more like him.
- Bailey persuades Charlie to accompany her home to sabotage Scott; Charlie agrees, insisting they are just coworkers.
Character Development
- Bailey: Shows vulnerability about her changing family dynamic. She acknowledges her people-pleasing tendencies and expresses frustration with her own passivity. By asking Charlie for help, she takes a tentative step toward assertiveness, even if her method is childish.
- Charlie: Reveals a playful side through his goofy accents and teasing, yet maintains emotional distance by repeatedly refusing the label of "friend." His reaction to a phone notification—jaw clenching and setting the phone down—hints at personal stress he keeps hidden.
- Nekesa and Theo: Continue to flirt, confirming Charlie's earlier observation. Their dynamic provides contrast to the tense Bailey-Charlie interaction.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- People-pleasing vs. confrontation: Bailey's struggle to act on her desires because she fears conflict and letting her mother down.
- Sabotage as control: Bailey's plan to drive Scott away represents her attempt to regain control over her life after her parents' divorce.
- Friendship vs. coworker boundary: Charlie repeatedly corrects Bailey when she calls him a friend, underscoring his guardedness and setting up future relationship tension.
- Pizza as bonding: The shared pizza scene—Bailey's unique method and Charlie's willingness to try it—symbolizes a moment of genuine connection and mutual respect.
- Family change: Bailey's fear of losing the "fragment" of family she has left (the brownie parties) drives her desperation.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the relationship between Bailey and Charlie, moving them from antagonistic coworkers to a tentative alliance. Bailey's internal conflict between passivity and action is foregrounded, setting up her character growth. The "Operation Ditching Scott" plan will drive plot conflict in upcoming chapters. Charlie's guarded nature is revealed, hinting at personal issues that may be explored later. The pizza scene provides one of the first genuine moments of connection between the pair, suggesting a shift in their dynamic.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Bailey ask Charlie for help with Scott, and what does this reveal about her character?
Bailey asks Charlie because she sees him as bold and unafraid of confrontation, qualities she lacks. This shows her desperation to preserve the life she has with her mother and her recognition of her own passivity, setting the stage for her character arc.
2. How does the pizza-eating scene contribute to the development of Bailey and Charlie's relationship?
The scene allows them to share a vulnerable moment. Bailey explains her method, and Charlie tries it, admitting it's amazing. This breaks down previous hostility and creates a genuine connection, despite Charlie's insistence on keeping her at a "coworker" distance.
3. What does Charlie's reaction to his phone notification suggest about his personal life?
Charlie checks his phone, his jaw clenches, and he sets it down "not angrily, but like he was done with it." This hints at stress or unresolved issues outside of work, adding mystery to his character and foreshadowing future revelations about his family or personal history.