Chapter 13 Summary: Superior Colliculi and the Moment Everything Shifts
⚠️ 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
The chapter opens with Bee and Levi driving from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans for the HBI conference. Bee has been giving Levi the silent treatment since that morning, when she refused to say hello. She is angry about his unilateral decision to call a meeting about BLINK without her approval. The silence stretches for over an hour, but Levi eventually breaks it with a sincere apology. He admits he was overly controlling and bossy, and that he should have discussed the meeting with her first. Bee is taken aback by the quality of his apology, and the tension begins to thaw.
As they continue the drive, they talk about music. Bee teases Levi for having only male artists in his library, and he jokes that he was an angry white boy in his formative years. The conversation takes a sudden turn when Bee spots a dead possum on the side of the road and starts crying. She explains that she has a deep emotional reaction to roadkill, and this leads her to open up about her childhood. Bee reveals that her parents died in a car accident when she was four, and she and her twin sister, Reike, were raised by a series of relatives across many countries—Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Spain, France, Belgium, the UK, Japan, and finally the US. She describes the constant moving as exhausting and isolating, always being the new kid with an accent. Levi listens intently and offers a gentle observation: Bee craves stability and permanency, a sense of belonging. Bee deflects with humor but appreciates his insight.
Levi then shares his own family story. He is the only civilian in his extended military family, the sole cousin out of seven not in the armed forces. He describes being the official disappointment, even recounting a Thanksgiving when an uncle publicly asked him to change his name. Bee is sympathetic and offers to defend him at future family gatherings. The conversation shifts to their complicated dynamic—they acknowledge they are nemeses, but there is a growing warmth between them. Bee falls asleep to Thom Yorke's music, and the drive ends peacefully.
At the conference, they immediately run into acquaintances and spend time networking. Levi mentions that he thought he saw Annie Johansson, a former colleague who had once pursued him. Bee dismisses it, but then she spots Annie in the crowd—and Annie is with Tim, the man who caused Bee significant past romantic trauma. The sight triggers a full-blown panic attack. Bee's vision blurs, her heart races, and she feels like she's falling apart. Levi catches her, holds her, and grounds her with his voice and presence. The chapter ends with Bee feeling safe in his arms, a stark contrast to the chaos inside her.
Key Events
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Bee initiates a silent treatment after Levi calls a meeting without her approval.
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Levi apologizes sincerely, admitting he was controlling and overly invested in BLINK.
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Bee cries over a dead possum, leading her to reveal her parents' death and her nomadic childhood.
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Levi shares that he is the only civilian in his military family and feels like a disappointment.
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The two bond over their shared sense of not fitting in.
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At the HBI conference, Bee spots Annie Johansson with Tim, triggering a panic attack.
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Levi holds Bee and helps her through the panic attack, providing emotional grounding.
Character Development
Bee shows a new layer of vulnerability in this chapter. Her reaction to the possum and her subsequent confession about her parents' death reveal a deep well of grief and a longing for stability. She admits that she doesn't love travel like her sister Reike does, and that she values permanency. This backstory explains her fierce attachment to her work and her need for control—she has spent her life without a stable home. Her panic attack at the sight of Tim demonstrates that her past trauma is still raw, and that she hasn't fully processed it. Levi's presence becomes a source of safety, which is significant given her usual independence.
Levi also grows. His apology is genuine and self-aware; he acknowledges his controlling behavior without making excuses. He listens to Bee's story with empathy, offering a perceptive comment about her desire for belonging. His own confession about being the family disappointment humanizes him, showing that he, too, struggles with expectations and identity. His reaction to Bee's panic attack—immediately holding her and speaking in a grounding tone—reveals a protective, caring side that contrasts with his earlier aloofness.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Silence as communication: The chapter opens with Bee's deliberate silence, which is a form of emotional expression. Levi's apology breaks that silence, and the subsequent conversation becomes a bridge between them.
Music as mood: Levi's playlist reflects his emotional state, and Bee's choice to switch to shuffle signals a shift in their dynamic. Music serves as a backdrop for their growing intimacy.
Roadkill as a symbol of loss: Bee's tears over the possum are not just about the animal; they connect to her unresolved grief over her parents' death. The possum's imagined family mirrors Bee's own lost family.
Family and belonging: Both Bee and Levi discuss their complicated relationships with family. Bee's nomadic childhood left her without a sense of home, while Levi's military family makes him feel like an outsider. Their shared experience of not fitting in creates a bond.
Control vs. letting go: Levi's apology acknowledges his need for control, and Bee's panic attack shows her loss of control. Levi's support helps her regain a sense of safety.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in Bee and Levi's relationship. It moves them from adversarial colleagues to something more intimate. The long car ride provides a space for honest conversation, and both reveal personal histories that explain their behaviors. Levi's apology shows he is willing to change, and Bee's vulnerability allows him to see her beyond her tough exterior. The panic attack scene is crucial because it demonstrates that Levi can be a source of comfort for Bee, and that she trusts him enough to let him hold her. This emotional groundwork sets the stage for the romantic development that follows.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Bee cry over the dead possum, and what does this reveal about her character?
Bee's tears over the possum are a manifestation of her deep-seated grief over losing her parents at a young age. She projects a family narrative onto the animal, imagining it leaving behind children. This reveals her unresolved trauma and her tendency to empathize with vulnerable creatures. It also shows that she is more emotionally sensitive than she lets on, and that her tough, sarcastic exterior is a defense mechanism.
2. How does Levi's apology change the dynamic between him and Bee?
Levi's apology is sincere and specific—he admits he was controlling and that he should have discussed the meeting with her. This breaks the ice and allows Bee to lower her guard. It signals that Levi respects her as an equal partner in their work, and it opens the door for deeper personal conversation. The apology transforms their relationship from one of rivalry to one of mutual understanding.
3. What does Bee's panic attack at the sight of Tim reveal about her past, and how does Levi respond?
Bee's panic attack indicates that Tim caused her significant emotional trauma, likely related to a romantic betrayal. The sight of him with Annie Johansson triggers a visceral reaction, showing that she hasn't healed from that experience. Levi responds by holding her and speaking in a calm, grounding voice, which helps her feel safe. His response shows that he is attuned to her needs and willing to provide comfort, deepening their emotional connection.
Navigation
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Next Chapter: Chapter 14 Summary