Chapter Nine: The Swimming Carnival and a Confession That Fails
⚠️ 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
Chapter 9 takes place during the school’s annual swimming carnival at a lake. Jenna, still inhabiting Jessica’s body, is forced to compete because Jessica is a star swimmer. Despite her own fear of water and lack of skill, Jenna wins the first race, feeling exhilarated and briefly believing she could be as capable as Jessica. Afterward, Aaron approaches her, visibly worried about Jenna’s disappearance. He asks if she knows why Jenna left and whether she is angry at him. Overwhelmed by his sincerity and her own emotions, Jenna attempts to confess the truth: that she is not Jessica but Jenna. Aaron initially seems puzzled, then dismisses the confession as a cruel joke, especially because it involves Jenna. He walks away, leaving Jenna disappointed and furious at herself. The chapter then shifts into an extended flashback, recounting Jenna’s long history with Aaron—her jealousy, her growing feelings, and the pivotal rainy day when she tried to kiss him under an almond grove. Aaron turned away, saying they could not, and Jenna’s hurt quickly turned to rage. A week later, Aaron left, and Jenna has been haunted by that memory ever since.
Key Events
- The school swimming carnival takes place at a lakeside; Jenna participates as Jessica.
- Jenna wins the first race, feeling strong and athletic for the first time.
- Aaron finds Jenna and asks about the real Jenna’s disappearance.
- Jenna tries to tell Aaron she is actually Jenna, but he does not believe her.
- Aaron walks away, hurt that she would joke about Jenna.
- Jenna reflects on her past relationship with Aaron, starting with jealousy at age twelve.
- Flashback: the rainy day under almond trees, where Jenna attempted to kiss Aaron and he rejected her.
Character Development
Jenna
This chapter reveals Jenna’s deep insecurity and her longing to be seen for who she truly is. Winning the race gives her a momentary taste of confidence, but it evaporates when Aaron refuses to accept her truth. The flashback exposes the origin of her bitterness and her unresolved feelings for Aaron: she wanted him obsessively but was rejected, and she has spent a year trying to hate him. Her attempt to confess shows courage, but also naivety—she underestimates how unbelievable her story sounds.
Aaron
Aaron’s concern for Jenna is genuine; he has been searching for her and is clearly distressed. His refusal to believe Jenna’s confession stems from protectiveness—he does not want to entertain a joke about someone he cares for. The flashback shows that he was aware of Jenna’s feelings but held back, suggesting he had reasons (perhaps loyalty to Jessica or fear of consequences) that remain unexplored.
Jessica (offstage)
Though not present, Jessica’s reputation as a star swimmer and the echoes of “Jessica Chen” being chanted reinforce her role as the idealized figure Jenna can never fully replace.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Identity and disguise
Jenna’s body swap is literal, but the chapter also explores her internal disguise—hiding her feelings and her past. The swimming cap and goggles are physical masks that enhance the illusion.
Water as transformation
The lake is a site of both triumph and painful memory (the picnic with Aaron). Water is fluid and ever-changing, mirroring Jenna’s shifting identity. Winning the race momentarily washes away her self-doubt.
Memory and longing
The flashback is central to understanding Jenna’s emotional state. The rain, the almond blossoms, and Aaron’s sweater become symbols of a moment when everything could have changed—but did not. The motif of waiting (“perpetual state of waiting”) recurs throughout her reflections.
The cost of pretending
Jenna enjoys the glory of winning as Jessica, but it deepens her sense of emptiness. She wants to be seen as herself, yet when she tries, no one believes her.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 9 is a turning point in Jenna’s arc. She makes her first direct attempt to reveal her true identity to someone other than the reader. Though it fails, it signals that she can no longer bear the isolation of her secret. The extended flashback provides crucial backstory, explaining her hatred for Aaron as a defense mechanism against her still-strong feelings. This chapter sets up the central emotional conflict: will Jenna ever be able to reclaim her own life and love, or will she remain trapped in Jessica’s shadow?
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Jenna feel exhilarated when she wins the swimming race?
Jenna has always hated swimming because she was bad at it. Winning as Jessica gives her a taste of capability and admiration. She realizes that what she truly detested was not the activity itself but the experience of being incompetent. The victory allows her to briefly pretend she is someone worthy of praise.
2. Why does Aaron reject Jenna’s attempted kiss in the flashback?
Aaron says “We shouldn’t” and “We can’t,” suggesting he is aware of the consequences—perhaps their families are too close, or he knows Jenna’s feelings are not returned in the same way. His rejection is not born of cruelty but of a sense of restraint. He values their existing relationship too much to risk it.
3. How does the chapter’s flashback deepen the tension between Jenna and Aaron in the present?
The flashback reveals that Aaron has known about Jenna’s feelings for years and that his rejection was a major source of her hurt. In the present, when Jenna tries to tell him she is Jenna, he dismisses it—partly because he cannot imagine Jenna would ever joke about herself. The unresolved pain from the rainy day makes Jenna’s current struggle to be believed even more poignant, and it highlights the widening gap between who she was and who she appears to be.