Chapter 31 “The Letter X”: Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways

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Summary

The chapter opens with Georgia and Rooney sitting side by side on Georgia’s bed, still in the aftermath of a night out. Georgia has just sent a text to Jason asking if he wants to meet up again that weekend. She turns to Rooney for advice about dating etiquette, specifically whether she is expected to kiss Jason on their second date. Rooney’s response is blunt: “You don’t have to do anything.”

When Georgia presses further, Rooney reveals that she doesn’t go on dates at all. She prefers casual sex to relationships, explaining that she always falls for the wrong people, so she sees no point in pursuing anything serious. As she says this, Rooney glances at a framed photo of herself with a girl Georgia nicknames “Mermaid-hair Beth.” Georgia notices the look but doesn’t ask, though she wonders if Beth might be an ex-girlfriend or an old crush.

Rooney then remembers her neglected plant, Roderick, and jumps up to water it. The plant looks worse for wear, a sign that Rooney has been forgetting to care for it. After watering it, Rooney climbs into bed and falls asleep within minutes.

Georgia, however, stays awake, staring at the ceiling and scrolling through her phone. She is consumed by anxiety about whether she is supposed to kiss Jason. A thought surfaces: what if she really doesn’t like guys, and that’s why this whole dating thing feels so difficult?

Driven by this question, Georgia opens a browser tab and types “am I gay” into a search engine. She dismisses the usual internet quizzes as unhelpful, but one result catches her eye: the Kinsey Scale test. She reads about the scale, which rates sexuality from zero (exclusively heterosexual) to six (exclusively homosexual). Curious and frustrated, she takes the test, answering instinctively without overthinking.

When she submits her answers, the result is not a number but the letter X. The test tells her she did not indicate any sexual preference. Georgia immediately assumes she answered incorrectly. She reviews her answers, finds no mistakes, and concludes the test must be faulty. She exits the browser, leaving the question unresolved.

Key Events

Georgia texts Jason to arrange a second date.
Rooney advises Georgia that she doesn’t have to kiss anyone, and reveals she avoids relationships because she always falls for the wrong people.
Rooney glances at a photo of herself with Beth, hinting at a possible past romantic connection.
Rooney waters her neglected plant Roderick, then falls asleep quickly.
Georgia stays awake, worrying about kissing Jason and questioning whether she actually likes guys.
Georgia searches “am I gay” and discovers the Kinsey Scale.
She takes the test and receives an X instead of a number, indicating no sexual preference.
Georgia assumes she answered incorrectly, finds no errors, and dismisses the test as faulty.

Character Development

Georgia Warr – This chapter marks a significant internal shift for Georgia. She moves from passive anxiety about dating to active self-questioning. Her decision to search “am I gay” is a pivotal step, even though she immediately retreats from the answer. The X result is a moment of potential revelation, but Georgia’s refusal to accept it shows her denial and lack of awareness about asexuality. She is still trapped in the assumption that everyone must have a sexual orientation, and that a test result must be a number. Her inability to see the X as a valid outcome reflects her limited understanding of the spectrum of human sexuality.

Rooney – Rooney’s brief vulnerability is on display here. She admits that relationships never end well for her and that she always falls for the wrong people. Her glance at the photo of Beth suggests a past hurt that she doesn’t want to discuss. Her quick change of subject and her immediate fall into sleep indicate a desire to avoid deeper emotional conversation. Rooney’s casual attitude toward sex contrasts with Georgia’s confusion, but her underlying fear of intimacy is clear.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Questioning sexuality – The chapter centers on Georgia’s first serious attempt to understand her own orientation. Her search query and her engagement with the Kinsey Scale show her willingness to explore, but her reaction to the X reveals her resistance to an answer that doesn’t fit her expectations.

The X as a marker of asexuality – The Kinsey Scale’s X is a real category for those who do not experience sexual attraction. Georgia misreads it as a glitch, symbolizing how society often overlooks or invalidates asexual identities. The letter X becomes a motif for the unknown and the unacknowledged.

Pressure to perform romance – Georgia’s worry about kissing Jason on the second date highlights the social scripts that dictate dating behavior. Rooney’s counterpoint—that you don’t have to do anything—offers an alternative, but Georgia still feels the weight of expectation.

Casual sex vs. relationships – Rooney’s preference for sex without commitment is presented as a valid choice, but her comment about falling for the wrong people suggests it may be a defense mechanism. The chapter contrasts Rooney’s avoidance with Georgia’s confusion, showing different ways of navigating intimacy.

Neglect and care – Roderick the plant is a small symbol of Rooney’s emotional state. She forgets to water it, just as she avoids tending to her own feelings. The act of watering it is a brief moment of responsibility, but the plant’s poor condition hints at deeper neglect.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in Georgia’s journey of self-discovery. It is the first time she actively seeks answers about her sexuality, and the Kinsey Scale test gives her a concrete result—the X—that she cannot yet understand. The chapter plants the seed for her eventual realization that she is aromantic and asexual, but it also shows how difficult that realization is when society only offers binary or numbered categories.

Rooney’s backstory is also hinted at here, adding depth to her character and setting up future revelations about her past. The chapter deepens the friendship between Georgia and Rooney, as Georgia observes Rooney’s vulnerability without pushing for details.

The title “The Letter X” is significant: it represents the unknown, the unlabeled, and the possibility of an identity that doesn’t fit conventional boxes. Georgia’s dismissal of the X is a missed opportunity, but it also makes her later acceptance more meaningful.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Georgia immediately assume the Kinsey Scale test is faulty when she receives an X?

Georgia expects a numerical result because she has internalized the idea that sexuality is a binary or a scale with defined endpoints. The X, which indicates no sexual preference, is outside her frame of reference. She assumes she must have answered incorrectly because she has never heard of an identity that doesn’t involve sexual attraction. Her reaction reflects a broader societal lack of awareness about asexuality.

2. What does Rooney’s glance at the photo of Beth suggest about her character?

The glance suggests that Beth may have been a significant person in Rooney’s past—possibly an ex-girlfriend or an unrequited crush. Rooney’s comment about always falling for the wrong people, combined with her quick change of subject, implies that this relationship ended badly and left her guarded. The photo is a visual cue that Rooney has emotional history she doesn’t share openly.

3. How does the chapter use the Kinsey Scale to explore the theme of identity?

The Kinsey Scale is presented as a tool that promises to categorize sexuality, but it fails to capture Georgia’s experience. The X is a legitimate category for asexuality, yet Georgia cannot accept it. This highlights the limitations of rigid scales and the importance of self-discovery beyond external labels. The chapter suggests that identity is not always a simple number or letter, and that understanding oneself takes time and openness.