Chapter Two: Rose — Summary, Themes, and Analysis
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Summary
The chapter opens at a party hosted by Molly Kwon during a heavy rainstorm. Rose sits in her usual armchair near the entrance, while her two guards, Theodore and Sidney, stand outside on the porch, huddled together to stay dry. Rose feels a pang of guilt for their discomfort, but she knows her father's orders are absolute; she has no authority to invite them inside. She reflects that the last time she made them tea, she was so high she mistook salt for sugar, a detail that hints at her past substance use.
Eleanor Kowalczyk, one of Rose's closest friends, drapes herself over the back of Rose's chair and dangles a half-smoked joint in front of her. Rose swats it away, explaining that she's serious about quitting. Eleanor and Alfie Paget-Harrington, who is also present, tease her about it, but Rose holds firm. She notes that she had an incentive to quit, though she doesn't elaborate.
Across the room, Molly has been ignoring Rose all evening, spending her time with a girl Rose doesn't recognize. The girl, Danni, is dressed in ill-fitting clothes, has muddy shoes, and looks deeply uncomfortable. Rose watches her with curiosity, noting that Molly hasn't introduced her to Eleanor and Rose yet. Eventually, Molly brings Danni over. Rose immediately makes a misstep by asking which school Danni attends, and Molly corrects her—Danni is at Bramppath, likely on a music scholarship. Rose tries to recover by complimenting Danni's