Chapter 6 (Chapter 5): The Fake Relationship Begins
Spoiler Warning: This chapter summary contains key plot details from Chapter 6 (Chapter 5) of Funny Story. If you haven't read the chapter, proceed with caution.
Summary
Daphne receives a call from her ex-fiancé Peter, who got her RSVP to his wedding with Petra. His condescending tone—offering that she doesn't have to attend, implying she'll be alone and pitiful—triggers an impulsive lie: she claims she is dating Miles, Petra's ex-boyfriend. After hanging up, Daphne rushes to Miles's room to confess. Instead of anger, Miles is amused and suggests they actually fake-date to spite their exes. He takes a selfie of them looking like a couple, and Daphne posts it on social media. The chapter ends with the two bonding over their shared bitterness, setting the stage for a fake relationship that will drive the rest of the story.
Key Events
- Peter calls Daphne after receiving her RSVP. He offers a condescending out, saying she doesn't have to attend and implying she would be alone without a date.
- Daphne, humiliated and defensive, impulsively claims she is dating Miles Nowak and that he also received an invitation.
- She hangs up and goes directly to Miles's room to confess the lie.
- Miles is not upset; instead he laughs and suggests they should actually date to make Petra jealous.
- They share breakfast sandwiches that Miles bought; he helps Daphne with her hangover.
- Miles takes a selfie of them grinning together, his arm draped around her, and Daphne posts it on Instagram without a caption.
- A flashback reveals that Daphne gave Miles a drunken pep talk the night before, telling him the pain would fade.
- Miles leaves for his odd jobs, telling Daphne to give his middle finger to Peter if she hears from him.
Character Development
Daphne shows a new willingness to lie under pressure, driven by pride and the desire to reclaim dignity after being jilted. Her internal dialogue—screaming “No” while her mouth says “Yes”—reveals a lack of control and a desperate need to appear unbroken. She also demonstrates vulnerability by immediately confessing to Miles, seeking his reaction.
Miles emerges as unexpectedly supportive and easygoing. His amusement at the lie and his suggestion to weaponize the fake relationship show he is not above petty revenge. He takes initiative by orchestrating the selfie, revealing a playful side. His lack of social media aligns with his earlier disdain for online performance.
Peter remains offstage but his phone call confirms his smug condescension. He still sees Daphne as a sad figure, which motivates her rebellion.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
The Performance of Happiness: The fake-couple selfie is a deliberate performance for Petra (and Peter) to witness. Social media becomes a tool for constructing a false narrative of moving on, reflecting how people curate images of recovery after heartbreak.
Bitterness as Bonding: Shared resentment toward their exes creates an immediate, if fragile, connection between Daphne and Miles. The chapter ends with them essentially agreeing to collaborate on a lie, turning pain into a shared project.
Impulse and Consequence: Daphne's lie is unplanned—her mouth acts before her brain can stop it. The chapter explores how a single impulsive decision can snowball into a complex scheme.
Why This Chapter Matters
This is the inciting incident for the central fake-relationship plot. All the major conflicts—Daphne and Miles pretending to be a couple, navigating their exes' wedding, and eventually developing genuine feelings—stem from this phone call. It also deepens the emotional stakes: Daphne must now sustain a lie while still processing her grief.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Daphne lie about dating Miles?
Daphne lies out of wounded pride. Peter's condescending pity makes her feel pathetic, so she invents a boyfriend to regain leverage and save face. She wants to prove she has moved on and is not the lonely figure he imagines.
2. How does Miles react to Daphne's confession, and what does it reveal about his character?
Miles laughs and suggests they actually fake-date. His reaction reveals that he is not easily offended, that he enjoys provoking his ex-girlfriend Petra, and that he sees humor in the mess. He is pragmatic and willing to escalate the situation for mutual benefit.
3. What purpose does the selfie and social media post serve for both Daphne and Miles?
For Daphne, posting the selfie publicly signals to Peter that she is in a new relationship, undercutting his pity. For Miles, it is aimed at Petra, to make her think he has moved on. The post functions as a weapon of symbolic revenge, using online performance to alter their exes' perceptions of them.