Chapter 9 Summary: Flying High — Key Events, Themes, 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.

⚠️ This summary and analysis contains major plot details from Chapter 9 of Never Ever After. If you haven't read the chapter yet, you may want to do so first.

Summary

In December 2006, Mandy goes out with friends from her dance class to hear a band. While sitting at a table, a man in a fedora catches her eye. He grins at her group, and she feels an unexpected flutter—something she hasn't felt in a long time. Her friend Victoria nicknames him “Mr. E” (short for Mr. Mystery) and, without Mandy's consent, walks over to his table and brings him back to introduce him.

The man, who turns out to be a journalist recently moved from Wilmington, North Carolina, and Mandy quickly discover they have a lot in common. Both are journalists, and both were extras on Dawson's Creek. They talk for hours, dance together, and Mandy feels an immediate connection. Before they part, she asks what he would have done if her friend hadn't intervened. He replies that he would have assumed she was taken or out of his league.

Mandy goes home and tells her mom she has met the man she will marry. But a week later, he stands her up for their first date—a formal dance at her studio. He calls to say he isn't coming, but Mandy is devastated. She deletes his number, attends the dance alone, and tries to move on. Over the next five months, she goes on a few dates but can't stop thinking about him.

Five months later, at a museum benefit in downtown Nashville, he reappears. He recognizes her and admits he kept her number even after getting a new phone. When she asks why he stood her up, he says he got scared. They dance, and he promises to call. That night, he does.

The rest of the chapter covers their summer together. They visit every dance floor in Nashville, meet each other's friends (Mandy becomes close with his best friend, Crawford), and go on spontaneous adventures. Mr. E lives entirely in the present, which is both charming and frustrating—he often disappears for weeks at a time, only to reappear with the same enthusiasm. On the Fourth of July, after watching fireworks, he convinces her to climb a construction crane. They climb several stories, and from the top, they share their first kiss.

Key Events

Mandy meets Mr. E at a band performance in December 2006; Victoria introduces them.
They bond over shared journalism backgrounds and their Dawson's Creek extra roles.
Mr. E stands her up for their first date; Mandy deletes his number.
Five months later, he reappears at a museum benefit and explains he kept her number.
They dance and he calls her that night, beginning a summer of dates and adventures.
On the Fourth of July, they climb a construction crane and share their first kiss.

Character Development

Mandy starts the chapter as someone cautious about dating, admitting she hasn't felt butterflies in years. She is initially embarrassed by Victoria's boldness and worries about freezing up in conversation. After being stood up, she shows resilience by attending the dance alone and trying to move on. Over the summer, she becomes more willing to take risks—she follows Mr. E up a crane despite her fear. Her growth is shown in her ability to forgive and re-engage after disappointment, and in her gradual embrace of spontaneity.

Mr. E is introduced as a mysterious, charismatic figure. He is described as living almost entirely in the moment, which makes him delightful but also unreliable. His admission that he got scared reveals a vulnerability beneath his confident exterior. His habit of disappearing and reappearing creates a push-pull dynamic that tests Mandy's patience. Yet his adventurous spirit and genuine enthusiasm make him hard to resist.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Fate and coincidence: The chapter emphasizes the improbability of two people with such specific shared experiences (journalism, Dawson's Creek) meeting in Nashville. Mandy's initial belief that he is “too good to be true” hints at a sense of destiny.
Second chances: Mr. E's reappearance after five months and his explanation about keeping her number give them a second chance. Mandy's decision to forgive him is central to the chapter.
Living in the present moment: Mr. E's philosophy of focusing on the “now” is both his charm and his flaw. It drives their adventures but also causes his disappearances.
Adventure and spontaneity: The crane climb is the ultimate symbol of this theme. Mandy's initial refusal gives way to participation, showing her growth.
Push-pull relationship dynamics: Mr. E's pattern of closeness followed by withdrawal creates an emotional cycle that Mandy finds both frustrating and compelling.
Shared passions: Dance and journalism are recurring motifs that bind the couple together.
Risk-taking: Climbing the crane represents emotional and physical risk-taking, mirroring Mandy's decision to trust Mr. E again.
Mystery and intrigue: The “Mr. E” nickname and his fedora create an air of enigma that draws Mandy in.
Disappointment and trust: The stand-up and subsequent reconciliation highlight the fragility of trust and the possibility of rebuilding it.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it establishes the central romantic relationship of the memoir. It introduces Mr. E as a compelling but flawed figure, and it shows Mandy's emotional journey from cautious hope to disappointment to renewed trust. The chapter also sets up the push-pull dynamic that will likely define their relationship in later chapters. The crane kiss is a memorable, symbolic moment that cements their connection and foreshadows the risks Mandy is willing to take for love.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Mandy's reaction to being stood up reveal her character?

Mandy's decision to delete Mr. E's number and attend the dance alone shows her self-respect and resilience. She refuses to wallow in disappointment and instead chooses to move forward, even though she still thinks about him. This demonstrates her strength and her unwillingness to accept poor treatment.

2. What does Mr. E's explanation for standing her up suggest about his personality?

He admits he got scared, which reveals a vulnerability beneath his confident exterior. It suggests he is not as sure of himself as he appears and that his fear of intimacy or commitment may be a driving force. His keeping her number indicates he was conflicted, torn between his feelings and his fear.

3. How does the crane scene symbolize the couple's relationship?

The crane climb represents the risk and excitement that Mr. E brings into Mandy's life. She initially resists but then follows him, showing her willingness to trust him and embrace adventure. The kiss at the top symbolizes the reward of taking that risk, and the breathtaking view suggests the potential of their relationship if they are willing to climb together.