Chapter 7: Party, Harassment, and Honest Conversations

⚠️ 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

Chloe attends a house party with Smith and the football team, hoping to understand Shara’s world. She observes the upside-down margarita game, a physical stunt involving tequila or mixer. Encouraged by Ace and Smith, Chloe participates using only mixer, briefly feeling accepted. She overhears Dixon and others planning the senior prank: stealing the town’s Bucky the Buck statue. Later, Dixon sexually harasses Chloe by invoking the “Rachel Rule,” which objectifies girls based on chest size. Chloe delivers a sharp retort about his future and storms out. Smith follows, and they drive home in Chloe’s car. In conversation, Smith admits Shara feels like his best friend and reveals that he and Rory were close in middle school but drifted apart after Smith joined football. Chloe, in turn, confesses that she finds Shara surprising and attractive, clarifying she is bisexual. After Chloe returns Smith’s jacket—containing the latest clue card—the chapter closes with a “Burn Pile” excerpt from Georgia’s composition book. The excerpt describes a girl with brown eyes as “deliberate,” and Chloe’s annotation asks who it is about.

Key Events

Chloe arrives at the party and watches the upside-down margarita game; Ace and Smith convince her to try it with only mixer.
Chloe participates, is thrown across the yard, and is welcomed by the crowd; she spends time in the pool and wears Smith’s jacket.
Chloe overhears Dixon detailing the senior prank to steal a town statue, and she briefly comments that they could do better.
Dixon sexually objectifies Chloe under the “Rachel Rule”; she responds with a scathing prediction of his mediocre future and leaves.
Smith follows Chloe to her car, and they have an honest conversation while driving home.
Smith reveals that Shara is like a best friend to him and that he and Rory were best friends in middle school before drifting apart.
Chloe admits she finds Shara surprising and attractive, and confirms she is bisexual.
Chloe returns Smith’s jacket with the clue card; Smith laughs warmly before heading inside.
The chapter ends with a “Burn Pile” excerpt from Georgia’s creative writing assignment describing a girl with brown eyes as “deliberate,” and Chloe’s annotation questions its subject.

Character Development

Chloe shows vulnerability by allowing herself to be drawn into a social scene she normally avoids, but the harassment from Dixon shatters that moment of belonging, reinforcing her outsider status. Her sharp comeback demonstrates resilience and quick wit, though she still feels the sting of humiliation. In the car, Chloe opens up about her bisexuality and admits that Shara’s ability to surprise her matters, signaling emotional growth. Smith, too, develops beyond his football-star image. He reveals a deeper history with Rory and a genuine connection with Shara. His willingness to talk honestly about jealousy, past friendship, and his comfort with Chloe’s queerness suggests a more layered personality. The Burn Pile excerpt introduces Georgia as a potential voice, hinting at another connection to Shara.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Social hierarchy and belonging – Chloe’s brief acceptance at the party is undone by Dixon’s harassment, highlighting the precariousness of outsider status in the Willowgrove social order.
Misogyny and objectification – The “Rachel Rule” and Dixon’s comments demonstrate how girls are reduced to physical attributes; Chloe’s retaliation challenges that dynamic.
Identity and disclosure – Chloe coming out as bisexual and Smith sharing his past with Rory both involve trusting someone with a personal truth.
Secrets and hidden narratives – Smith’s revelation about his friendship with Rory adds depth to the love triangle, and the Burn Pile excerpt suggests there are still untold stories.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens the emotional stakes of the search for Shara. Chloe and Smith’s car conversation forges a genuine alliance between two rivals for Shara’s attention, moving the story beyond a simple competition. Smith’s backstory with Rory complicates the central mystery, while Chloe’s admission about her feelings allows the reader to see her vulnerability. The final Burn Pile excerpt introduces a new potential puzzle piece—Georgia’s composition—which may relate to Shara or another character, keeping the mystery alive and hinting at more connections to uncover.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Chloe agree to try the upside-down margarita game?
Chloe agrees because Ace and Smith convince her it can be done with only mixer, and she wants to experience what it feels like to belong to Shara’s world, even temporarily.
What is the “Rachel Rule,” and how does Chloe respond to Dixon’s harassment?
The “Rachel Rule” is a policy made by seniors that allows girls with large breasts to attend parties regardless of their behavior. Chloe responds by delivering a scathing prediction that Dixon’s life will peak in high school and that she still would not sleep with him, then walks away.
What does Smith reveal about his past relationship with Rory?
Smith reveals that he and Rory were best friends in middle school, but after Smith joined JV football, Rory became distant and they stopped talking. Rory has held a grudge ever since, especially after Smith started dating Shara.