Chapter Thirty-Two: We Were Sixteen – Summary & 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
In this flashback chapter, sixteen-year-old Frankie narrates the night she asked George to be her first sexual partner. Already anxious about virginity and jealous that George has slept with Tish, she had earlier tried to lose her virginity to Dylan Martin at the winter formal. That plan ended when George, furious, followed them into the parking lot and punched Dylan.
Eight weeks later, Frankie devises a new backup plan: seduce George. She texts him to sleep over, lights candles, and wears a matching bra and underwear. When George climbs through her window, he is stunned. She blurts out that they should have sex together. After a moment of tempted hesitation, George pulls away, saying he cannot do it. Frankie kisses him, but he stops her, declares he does not even know her anymore, and leaves through the window.
For two days, George ignores her. Then Frankie finds a letter in their birdhouse: George writes that sleeping together would be a huge mistake and makes her promise never to kiss him again. Frankie writes back, agreeing. The chapter ends with that vow.
Key Events
- Frankie recalls her sexual anxiety at sixteen and her awareness of George’s relationship with Tish.
- She describes the winter formal incident: she got drunk on rum with Dylan; George followed them and punched Dylan.
- Eight weeks later, Frankie texts George to come over and prepares a seduction scene.
- George is shocked by her near-naked appearance and her proposal that they have sex.
- George almost gives in but then refuses, saying he can’t, and leaves angrily.
- After two days of silence, George leaves a letter in the birdhouse asking for a promise never to kiss again.
- Frankie replies, accepting the promise.
Character Development
Frankie reveals her deep insecurity about being left behind sexually. Her plan to have George “teach” her shows she values trust and control over spontaneity. Yet she also harbours a hidden hope that George’s reaction to Dylan’s kiss hinted at jealousy. After his rejection, she realizes her push could have ruined their friendship, and she prioritizes preserving the bond over her plan.
George demonstrates fierce protectiveness and a strong moral compass. His anger at Dylan stemmed from care for Frankie, not possession. Despite being tempted, he refuses to let physical intimacy complicate their core friendship. His letter makes clear that their platonic relationship is more important to him than any physical encounter.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Friendship versus romance: The central conflict—Frankie wants sex without strings, but George sees even a consensual encounter as a threat to their unique connection.
- Control and anxiety: Frankie’s rehearsed pitch, the practice condom, and the staged setting all reflect her need to control the vulnerable experience of first sex.
- The birdhouse as communication: The letter in the birdhouse becomes a symbol of safe, thoughtful communication—a way to say hard things without ruining the friendship face-to-face.
- Jealousy and protection: George’s violence at the formal and his refusal now both stem from a protective impulse, not romantic jealousy—though Frankie wonders if they do.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter cements the defining promise of Frankie and George’s relationship: that they will never cross into romantic or sexual territory. It explains the deep trust and boundary they have maintained into adulthood and foreshadows the emotional stakes when those boundaries are later tested. It also shows Frankie’s vulnerability and George’s steadfastness, making their eventual choices more poignant.
Study Questions & Answers
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Why does Frankie choose George as her “teacher” for losing her virginity?
She trusts him completely, knows he has experience, and believes their friendship can handle it without emotional complications. Deep down, she also wants to test whether his violent reaction to Dylan was motivated by jealousy. -
What is George’s primary reason for refusing Frankie’s proposal?
He values their friendship above all else and sees sex as a mistake that would forever alter their bond. He says, “I can’t do that,” and later writes that it would be a “huge mistake,” prioritizing their platonic connection over a temporary physical encounter. -
What does the letter in the birdhouse symbolize in this chapter?
The letter allows both characters to speak honestly without the pressure of a face-to-face conversation. It represents their commitment to preserving the friendship through clear, written boundaries—the same communication method they will use later in the story.