Rebuilding Trust After Betrayal and Harassment in Dating and Dragons

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In Dating and Dragons, Kristy Boyce explores how trust, once shattered by betrayal and harassment, can be rebuilt through a supportive community, honest confession, and the willingness to be vulnerable. The novel’s central claim is that trust is not a fixed state but a process—one that requires confronting past wounds, accepting that others may fail you, and choosing to risk connection again. Quinn Norton’s journey from a toxic friendship and online trolling to a place of belonging demonstrates that healing happens not in isolation but in the presence of people who see your flaws and still choose to stand beside you.

The Original Betrayal: Losing Friends and Faith

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Quinn’s distrust begins long before she arrives at Laurelburg High. In her previous school, she was part of a D&D group where she dated the dungeon master, Caden. When she realized they were better as friends and ended the relationship, Caden turned the entire group against her, including her best friend Paige. As Quinn later tells Kashvi, “He showed his true colors and I was glad to be done with him. Even losing the D&D group wasn’t the worst part of it. It was losing Paige.” This betrayal cuts deeper than the romantic rejection because it involves the collapse of a friendship Quinn believed was unshakable. Paige’s quick judgment and cutting sarcasm had always been aimed at others, never at Quinn—until Quinn became the target. The experience teaches Quinn that trust can be weaponized, and she carries that lesson into her new school, where she is initially lonely and guarded.

The betrayal also leaves her with a sense of shame. She blames herself for not seeing the signs, for trusting too easily, and for being the reason the group fell apart. This shame becomes a hidden burden, one she tries to bury by focusing on making new friends. When she meets Kashvi and joins the new D&D group, she is careful not to reveal her past, fearing that the same pattern will repeat. The no-dating rule the group enforces—designed to prevent the kind of drama that broke up other groups—feels like a safe boundary, but it also reinforces Quinn’s belief that romance and trust are inherently risky.

The Trolling Incident: Harassment and the Fear of Exposure

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Quinn’s past catches up with her in the form of online harassment. During a livestreamed session, trolls flood the chat with comments targeting her role-playing, calling her “the weakest link” and warning the group to “BEWARE of your dwarf.” Quinn quickly recognizes the usernames: Caden, Paige, and two others from her old group. The harassment is not random; it is a deliberate attempt to shame her publicly and to poison her new community. Quinn’s immediate reaction is to pull away, to protect the group from her “toxic” history. She whispers to Logan, “They aren’t trolls,” and refuses his hand, afraid that the others will see her as a “group killer.”

The group’s response is crucial. Instead of blaming Quinn, they rally around her. Sloane dismisses the comments as coming from “an impotent, bitter ex and his lackeys.” Kashvi’s eyes shine with rage, and Mark and Sanjiv offer reassurance. Logan, who has been distant, becomes protective. The group’s solidarity does not erase the sting of the harassment, but it begins to rebuild Quinn’s trust in others. She sees that her new friends are not like Caden and Paige—they do not abandon her at the first sign of trouble. This moment marks a turning point: Quinn realizes that trust can be offered even when she feels unworthy of it.

Yet the incident also exposes a deeper fear: that her past will define her. Quinn’s shame is so strong that she initially wants to hide the truth from the group, even after they defend her. She apologizes for “bringing all this to the group,” as if her history is a contamination. The group’s insistence that she has nothing to apologize for challenges her self-perception. Sanjiv’s comment that “this is exactly why we have our group set up the way we do—so none of this becomes an issue” points to the group’s deliberate design as a safe space. Trust, the novel suggests, is not just about individual relationships but about the structures and norms a community creates to protect its members.

The Public Confession: Vulnerability and Acceptance

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The theme reaches its climax in Chapter Thirty-One, when Quinn’s confession to Logan—that she kissed him and broke the no-dating rule—is accidentally broadcast to five hundred viewers. This is the ultimate exposure: not only her secret romance but also her earlier comment about Caden being a horrible kisser. Quinn’s worst fear—being publicly shamed—comes true. But the outcome is the opposite of what she expected. The chat is mostly positive, with Stephanie’s account defending her, and even her grandmother comments, demanding they kiss. The group leaves them alone, and Quinn and Logan share a kiss, followed by pancakes and a plan to bring orange sherbet to Quinn’s grandmother.

This scene inverts the earlier trolling incident. Instead of harassment, Quinn receives support. Instead of being cast out, she is embraced. The public nature of the confession forces Quinn to stop hiding. She can no longer pretend that her feelings for Logan don’t exist or that her past doesn’t matter. By accepting the exposure and choosing to move forward, she demonstrates that trust can survive even the most embarrassing revelations. The group’s reaction—Andrew watching, Stephanie supporting, and the chat’s positivity—shows that a community can be a source of strength rather than judgment.

The epilogue, set three months later, confirms that trust has been rebuilt. Quinn and Logan run a D&D campaign for Quinn’s grandmother and her friends, with the whole group showing up to support them. The image of Quinn and Logan sharing a brief kiss before starting the session suggests that their relationship has become stable and that Quinn has found a place where she belongs. The orange sherbet, a treat for her grandmother, symbolizes the sweetness of reconciliation and the small rituals that bind a family and community together.

Character and Symbol Connections

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The theme of rebuilding trust is embodied in several characters. Quinn Norton is the central figure, moving from guardedness to openness. Logan Weber initially seems aloof, but his declaration that he would trust Quinn with his life—made in character as Adris—becomes a touchstone for their relationship. Kashvi Anand is the friend who listens without judgment, offering Quinn a safe space to share her story. Sloane, as the dungeon master, enforces the no-dating rule but also defends Quinn against trolls, showing that rules can protect trust rather than restrict it. Andrew, Quinn’s brother, initially abandons her but later watches the livestream and supports her, indicating that even family bonds can be repaired. Grandma Barbara provides unconditional love, her chat comment demanding a kiss a playful reminder that trust can be lighthearted.

Symbols reinforce the theme. The dice represent chance and risk—every roll is a gamble, just as every act of trust is a leap of faith. Quinn’s dice bracelets, which she plays with when nervous, become a physical anchor for her anxiety. The crocheted hats that Sloane makes suggest comfort and care, a quiet counterpoint to the harshness of online harassment. The orange sherbet in the final chapter is a treat for Grandma Barbara, symbolizing the sweetness of reconciliation and the small joys that follow trust restored.

Complexity and Contradiction

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The novel does not present trust as a simple solution. The no-dating rule, designed to protect the group, becomes a source of conflict when Quinn and Logan break it. Quinn’s secrecy about her feelings and her past undermines the very trust she seeks to build. She lies to Kashvi by omission, and when she finally confesses, she fears losing her friend. The public broadcast of her confession is both a violation and a liberation—it forces her to be honest, but it also exposes her to potential judgment. The novel acknowledges that trust is fragile and that rebuilding it requires not just support from others but also personal accountability. Quinn must own her mistakes, apologize to Kashvi, and accept that trust is earned over time, not granted instantly.

The contradiction lies in the fact that the group’s rules, meant to prevent drama, cannot prevent the human feelings that arise. Trust cannot be legislated; it must be practiced. The novel suggests that a community can provide a framework for trust, but individuals must still choose to be vulnerable. Quinn’s journey is not about finding a perfect group but about learning to trust imperfect people—including herself.

Study Questions and Answers

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How does Quinn’s past betrayal by Caden and Paige shape her initial behavior in the new D&D group?

Quinn’s past makes her guarded and secretive. She hides her history from the group, fearing that they will see her as a “group killer” and reject her. She is also wary of dating, as her experience with Caden taught her that romance can lead to betrayal. Her initial reluctance to share personal details stems from a desire to protect herself and her new friendships.

What role does the online trolling incident play in Quinn’s process of rebuilding trust?

The trolling incident forces Quinn’s past into the open. Instead of isolating her, the group’s supportive response shows Quinn that she can be accepted despite her history. The incident also demonstrates that harassment can be overcome when a community stands together, challenging Quinn’s belief that she is inherently toxic.

How does the no-dating rule both help and hinder trust within the group?

The rule helps by creating a clear boundary that prevents romantic entanglements from disrupting the group’s dynamic, as seen in the Wyatt incident. However, it also hinders trust by making Quinn and Logan hide their feelings, leading to secrecy and guilt. The rule’s rigidity forces them to break it, which then requires them to rebuild trust through confession and forgiveness.

In what ways do symbols like dice and crocheted hats reflect the theme of trust?

Dice represent the risk and chance inherent in trusting others—every roll is uncertain, just as every relationship involves vulnerability. Crocheted hats, made by Sloane, symbolize comfort and care, suggesting that trust is built through small, consistent acts of kindness. The orange sherbet in the epilogue represents the sweetness of reconciliation and the joy that follows trust restored.

What does Quinn learn about trust by the end of the novel?

Quinn learns that trust is not a one-time decision but an ongoing process. She discovers that being vulnerable—sharing her past, confessing her feelings, and accepting public exposure—can lead to deeper connections rather than rejection. She also learns that a supportive community can help her move past shame, and that trust requires both giving and receiving grace.