Chapter 71: It's Been Fun — Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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 Georgia and Rooney sprinting back to the city centre, both unfit for the exertion but driven by the fact that their play is due to start in under two hours. Georgia carries flowers, stopping to pick them up whenever she drops one, while Rooney runs with nothing but her phone, a Starbucks cup, and a grin. They pause several times to catch their breath, and by the time they reach the town square, Georgia feels like her chest might give out. But they keep running—for the play, and for their friends.
When they burst into the theatre, they find Pip sitting at a table in the foyer with her head in her hands. Pip calmly but pointedly asks where they have been. Georgia is too winded to speak, so Rooney explains everything in a rush: she panicked after the previous night, lost her phone in a field, and Georgia tracked her down. Rooney then steps toward Pip and confesses that she has realized she truly likes her—something she hasn't felt for anyone in a long time—and that this feeling scared her so much it made her run away. Pip, blushing, admits she likes Rooney too. Rooney nods vigorously, trying to stay composed, and the two agree they should be clear about it. As the three of them head backstage, Rooney and Pip immediately begin kissing against a dressing-room door, ignoring Georgia's attempts to get their attention until she has to shout to remind them they have a play to perform.
They find Jason and Sunil sitting on the edge of the stage sharing popcorn. Jason is overjoyed to see them, picks Georgia up, and spins her around, declaring they're really doing the play. Sunil says he feels like he's going to cry. Rooney cuts the celebration short and directs everyone to get changed.
The costumes, props, and set have already been arranged backstage. The group changes into their first costumes and spends ten minutes arranging the set: Georgia's papier-mâché pillar goes on the center-left, and a star-covered garland is attached to a backdrop rail, so that when hoisted it looks like stars raining from the ceiling. Rooney spots a plain red plastic chair in the wings and has an idea: she grabs the flowers Georgia carried back and tapes them to the chair, transforming it into a throne of flowers.
Ten minutes before the performance, Georgia begins to worry about who will actually attend. She assumes Sadie will be there since she's judging, and maybe Jess, but fears it might be just two audience members. Peeking out from behind the curtains, she is proven wrong. Pride Soc members arrive first, and Sunil greets them. Then Sunil's friends from his orchestra show up, excited for the performance. Sadie arrives with a couple of friends and takes a seat in the front row—the most intimidating choice possible. Jess arrives, greets the Pride Soc group, and sits with Sadie, the two seeming to be good friends. A group of large boys turns out to be Jason's rowing teammates. Finally, two strangers arrive whom Pip introduces as Lizzie and Leo, friends she made at LatAm Soc.
Georgia notes that no one came specifically to see her, and neither did anyone come for Rooney. But she doesn't mind. The four people she has—her friends—are enough. The audience fills three whole rows. It might not be a lot, but it feels like a lot to Georgia; it feels like what they're doing matters.
At three minutes to two, the five of them gather in the right wing and huddle up. Pip makes a nervous joke about needing the toilet, and Rooney agrees while Sunil tries to be more polite about it. Jason tries to reassure everyone, which only makes Pip less relaxed. Georgia speaks up: whatever happens, it's been fun—it's all been fun. Everyone nods, knowing it's true. Whatever happens with the play, with the society, with their strange little friendship group, it has all been so much fun. Jason says