Chapter 2 Summary: Arrival and Belonging
⚠️ 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
Imogen arrives at Lili's college campus for a visit. Lili gives her a tour, mentioning the underground tunnels and the queer-centered Rainbow Manor. Imogen watches Lili interact easily with acquaintances and feels a pang of distance. She reflects on their childhood friendship and worries she has become a relic of Lili's past. Meeting Lili's friends Declan, Mika, and Kayla intensifies Imogen's self-consciousness. She contrasts her own preppy, reserved style with Gretchen's bolder look. A brief memory of her father's shyness normalizes her own anxiety. As the group plans dinner, Imogen realizes Lili has been treating her visit as if she is moving in permanently, a thought she does not entirely reject.
Key Events
- Lili shows Imogen the central quad, performing arts center, and registrar's office, comparing the latter to a fairy-tale cottage.
- Imogen recalls childhood mornings at Lili's house, watching nineties rom-coms with Lili's mom.
- Lili points out the network of underground tunnels connecting campus buildings and mentions exploring them with Tessa's brother.
- They pass Rainbow Manor, described as the "queer frat house."
- Imogen internally criticizes her own appearance—cardigan, skirt, ponytail—and contrasts herself with Gretchen's punk style.
- Declan approaches and greets Imogen by name, surprising her.
- Mika and Kayla join, recognizing Imogen from Lili's stories; Kayla asks if Imogen is officially coming to the college in the fall.
- Imogen stumbles through conversation, aware of her "Resting Bunny Face" and people-pleasing tendencies.
- Lili's friends decide to head to dinner; Tessa is not yet present.
- Imogen notes Lili's assumption that she will be living in the dorm, and feels this might not be entirely wrong.
Character Development
Imogen. She reveals her deep insecurity, viewing herself as a "relic" of Lili's heteronormative past. Her people-pleasing nature is on full display, as she apologizes repeatedly and tries to read social cues. Yet she also shows openness to change when she does not outright reject the idea of living on campus.
Lili. She appears fully at ease at college, gregarious and warm. She reassures Imogen, but Imogen interprets her ease as evidence that Lili has outgrown their friendship. Lili's gentle needling about Imogen's apologizing underscores their long history.
Declan, Mika, and Kayla. Each is introduced through Imogen's awed perspective. Declan is confident and flirtatious. Mika is nonbinary with a distinctive style, known from TikTok. Kayla is tall and anime-enthusiastic. All three treat Imogen as a known entity, which both flatters and unnerves her.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Belonging and Impostor Syndrome. Imogen feels like an outsider amid Lili's new life. She internally labels her own clothes and demeanor as "hometown preppy," contrasting with Gretchen's rebellious look and Lili's friends' effortless cool.
Friendship and Change. The chapter explores how close friends can grow apart even without conflict. Lili's new "pack of queers" represents the life Imogen has missed.
Shyness and Self-Perception. Imogen analyzes her shyness through her father's traits—a quietness that masks itself with movie-going. She uses the term "Imogenericisms" to describe her bland conversation, highlighting a struggle to express her authentic self.
Queer Identity and Community. Rainbow Manor and Lili's friend group reinforce the theme of queer found family. The underground tunnels, described as a cool-creepy time capsule, symbolize hidden layers of the campus environment that Imogen has yet to discover.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 2 establishes the central tension of Imogen's arc: her desire to belong versus her fear of being outgrown. It deepens her characterization through internal monologue and family backstory. The introduction of Lili's college friends sets up the social landscape Imogen will have to navigate. The chapter also plants seeds for future relationship dynamics, particularly the ambiguous role of Tessa. Imogen's final thought—that Lili's assumption of permanent residency might be accurate—signals the beginning of her own self-reflection.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Imogen feel like a "relic" of Lili's heteronormative small-town childhood?
Imogen equates her own appearance and demeanor with the past Lili has left behind. She sees Lili's new queer friends and the vibrant campus community as evidence that Lili's life clicked into place after moving away, making Imogen seem like a leftover from an earlier, less authentic era.
2. How do the underground tunnels function as a symbol in this chapter?
The tunnels represent hidden knowledge and insider access—things Imogen lacks. Lili speaks of them with ease, having explored them with Tessa's brother. Imogen is on the outside of this secret, just as she feels on the outside of Lili's college life.
3. Compare Imogen's response to meeting new people with Gretchen's likely approach based on Chapter 1.
Imogen becomes hyperaware of her body language and speech, worrying about "Resting Bunny Face." Gretchen, by contrast, was direct and even confrontational in Chapter 1. Imogen's internal monologue shows she envies Gretchen's boldness, which she equates with confidence.
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