Chapter 17: Thrift Store, Bi Vibes, and Lili's Sharp Tongue
⚠️ 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
On a rainy Sunday, Imogen, Lili, Kayla, Declan, and Mika visit Hand‑Me‑Down Closet, a thrift store about fifteen minutes off campus. Imogen shares the vision board she made that morning, which Kayla describes as “brooding white people.” Inside, the friends spread out to hunt for outfits. Lili hands Imogen a green shirtdress; Imogen gathers several more pieces and tries them on. While in the fitting room, Imogen receives a text from Tessa responding to the vision board. She takes a selfie in the shirtdress. Stepping out in a gray plaid pinafore she spotted on the rack, Imogen feels the outfit looks “kind of queer.” Kayla and Declan immediately comment that she is giving off “biggest bi energy” and “bi vibes through the roof.” Imogen is caught off guard because she identifies as straight. Back in the car, Kayla jokingly “summons” Imogen to a Friday party at Rainbow Manor. Lili makes a cutting remark about Imogen’s habit of avoiding campus for months, ending the scene on an awkward note.
Key Events
- The group arrives at the thrift store; Imogen shares her vision board.
- Lili holds up a bizarre lace‑up bodice; Mika asks about suspenders.
- Imogen amasses an armload of clothes and enters a fitting room.
- Tessa texts the group chat; Imogen takes a selfie in a shirtdress.
- Imogen tries on a plaid pinafore and feels it presents a queer aesthetic.
- Kayla and Declan spontaneously tell Imogen she radiates bi energy.
- Imogen feels confused because she is straight yet receives that perception.
- In the car, Kayla “decrees” Friday’s party; Lili’s remark about Imogen’s campus schedule creates tension.
Character Development
Imogen experiences a turning point in her self‑understanding. The “bi vibes” compliment troubles her because she has never questioned her straight identity. Her reaction shows that she is beginning to weigh how she is seen against how she sees herself. The pinafore becomes a lens for that gap: she loves the queer aesthetic but isn’t sure it belongs to her.
Lili reveals a protective or competitive edge. Her earlier teasing is playful, but her final comment — “you’re on the avoid‑campus‑for‑another‑six‑months visitation schedule” — carries a sharpness that suggests resentment about Imogen’s distance from her college life. The laughter in the car becomes forced, hinting that the friendship may have underlying fault lines.
Kayla and Declan act as casual allies. Their bi energy comment is intended as solidarity and acceptance, not malice. They model an open atmosphere where identity labels are handled lightly, which contrasts with Imogen’s internal seriousness.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Identity and Perception: The chapter foregrounds the mismatch between Imogen’s self‑identification and how others read her. Her straight identity is challenged not by attraction but by appearance and community assumption.
- The Pinafore as Symbol: The plaid pinafore represents a queer aesthetic that Imogen admires but treats as borrowed (“kind of queer”). It embodies the “low‑stakes transformation” she enjoys, yet carries high‑stakes implications for her real identity.
- Friendship Tension: Lili’s sharp comment reveals that Imogen’s absence from campus life bothers her. The dynamic shifts from easy teasing to awkward silence, suggesting unresolved issues about loyalty and belonging.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 17 is a quiet yet pivotal moment in Imogen’s identity arc. In a low‑pressure thrift‑store setting, external feedback forces her to confront the gap between what she believes about herself and what the world of the novel sees. The chapter also exposes cracks in her friendship with Lili, setting up future conflict. It moves the story from external comedic scenes to deeper personal and relational questions.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why is Imogen confused by Kayla and Declan’s “bi vibes” remark?
Imogen has always considered herself straight. The comment comes from trusted friends who are bisexual themselves, so it feels sincere but impossible to reconcile with her own self‑concept. She wonders if she is simply displaying a “straight girl” version of queerness, or if confirmation bias among her friends is at play.
2. What does the plaid pinafore represent for Imogen at this moment?
The pinafore allows Imogen to experiment with a look she describes as “queer” and “dark academia.” Wearing it feels like a transformation or recognition, but also raises the question of whether the aesthetic is genuine identity or just a costume. It becomes a symbol of the uncertainty about her own orientation.
3. How does Lili’s final remark affect the group dynamic?
Lili’s comment about Imogen’s “avoid‑campus‑for‑another‑six‑months visitation schedule” is meant as a joke but carries a sharp edge. The awkward forced laughter that follows indicates that the others sense the underlying tension. It hints at Lili’s frustration with Imogen’s separation from campus life and may signal a growing rift.