Chapter 1 Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways

⚠️ 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 by introducing the school's open secret: locker eighty-nine, located at the end of a dead-end hallway near the science labs, is never assigned to a student. Instead, it serves as a drop box for anonymous relationship advice. Students slide envelopes containing ten dollars and a letter describing their romantic problems, and within a week they receive an email from an anonymous sender with advice that is guaranteed to solve their issues or their money back. The narrator, Darcy Phillips, reveals that she is the one running this service. She is a junior at St. Deodetus's, known as the daughter of Ms. Morgan, a science teacher, and best friend to Brooke Nguyen. Darcy explains that she obtained the locker combination years ago and collects the letters after school while her mother finishes work. She uses a burner email account to send advice, and she has never been caught—until now.

One afternoon, while Darcy is elbow-deep in locker eighty-nine collecting envelopes, she hears someone clear their throat behind her. She turns to find Alexander Brougham, a senior who has just finished swimming laps in the school pool and entered through the fire escape. He is soaking wet and has clearly seen her with the letters. Darcy tries to deny it, even shoving the envelopes down her tights, but Brougham is not fooled. He reveals that he deliberately snuck through the fire escape hoping to catch the person who runs the locker service, because he needs help getting his ex-girlfriend Winona back. He offers to keep Darcy's identity secret in exchange for her coaching him. Darcy recognizes this as blackmail, but she has no choice: if her secret gets out, her service would be ruined, and she fears the fallout with Brooke, who doesn't know about her involvement.

After some tense negotiation, Darcy agrees to a deal: fifty dollars up front, fifty more if Brougham successfully gets Winona back, and a cap of five hours of coaching. She also adds a threat that if he tells anyone, she'll expose his lack of game. Brougham takes her phone number and learns her name is Darcy Phillips. He leaves, and Darcy's mother arrives to drive her home. During the drive, Darcy texts Brooke, who is complaining about an essay, and reflects on the risk Brougham now poses. She lies to her mother about her day, saying it was uneventful, and worries about what kind of person Brougham is. The chapter ends with Darcy thinking she needs to talk to her sister Ainsley.

Key Events

Darcy's anonymous relationship-advice service via locker eighty-nine is established.
Darcy is caught by Alexander Brougham after he swims laps and enters through the fire escape.
Brougham blackmails Darcy into coaching him to win back his ex-girlfriend Winona.
They negotiate terms: $50 up front, $50 bonus if successful, five-hour cap.
Darcy gives Brougham her phone number and her name.
Darcy's mother picks her up; Darcy texts Brooke and lies about her day.
Darcy worries about the threat Brougham poses to her secret and her relationships.

Character Development

Darcy Phillips is introduced as a clever, resourceful, and somewhat cynical teenager. She runs a successful advice service that she genuinely believes helps people, though she also enjoys the income and the sense of achievement. She is careful and methodical, having avoided detection for years. When caught, she tries to bluff her way out, but quickly realizes she has no leverage. Her internal monologue reveals her anxiety about exposure, especially regarding Brooke. She is also shown to be quick-witted, as seen in her sarcastic comments to Brougham, but she ultimately capitulates to his demands because she values her anonymity above all else.

Alexander Brougham is introduced as a senior who is supposedly one of the hottest guys in school, though Darcy privately disagrees, noting his broken nose and bulgy eyes. He has an Australian accent that Darcy initially mistakes for British. He is confident and manipulative, using Darcy's secret as leverage without hesitation. He presents himself as reasonable, but his actions are clearly coercive. He is also pragmatic, willing to pay for help rather than simply expose her. His backstory—a recent breakup with Winona—sets up his motivation for the rest of the novel.

Brooke Nguyen appears only through text messages, but her importance is clear. Darcy's reaction to Brooke's message—feeling like the law of gravity had declined to apply—reveals that Darcy has romantic feelings for her best friend. This is a key subplot that will likely complicate Darcy's life.

Ms. Morgan, Darcy's mother, is a science teacher at the school. She is absent-minded and distracted, which Darcy uses to her advantage to avoid questions. Their dynamic also highlights the awkwardness of having a parent on staff.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Anonymity and Identity: The locker service depends on Darcy's anonymity. Her entire business and sense of self-worth are tied to being unknown. Brougham's discovery threatens to collapse that identity.
Blackmail and Coercion: Brougham's offer is framed as a deal, but it is clearly blackmail. He uses Darcy's secret as a weapon, and she has no real choice but to comply. This sets up a power imbalance that will likely drive the plot.
Fear of Exposure: Darcy's constant worry about being found out—by Brooke, by her mother, by the school—drives her actions. She lies to her mother and is terrified of what Brooke would think if she knew about the service.
Unrequited Crush: Darcy's feelings for Brooke are hinted at through her internal reaction to Brooke's text. This adds a personal stake to Darcy's fear of exposure, as she believes Brooke would hate her if she knew the truth.
Parent-Teacher Dynamic: Having a mother who works at the school creates a unique pressure for Darcy. She must navigate calling teachers by their first names at home and their formal titles at school, which adds a layer of complexity to her daily life.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter establishes the central premise of the novel: Darcy's secret side business and the immediate threat to it. It introduces the main conflict—Brougham's blackmail—and sets up the central relationship that will drive the plot. It also plants seeds for future developments: Darcy's feelings for Brooke, her relationship with her sister Ainsley (who is mentioned but not yet seen), and the potential consequences of her advice service being exposed. The chapter effectively hooks the reader by creating high stakes and a compelling dilemma for the protagonist.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Darcy agree to Brougham's deal instead of refusing or exposing him?

Darcy agrees because she has no viable alternative. If Brougham reveals her identity, her advice service would be ruined, and she would lose the one thing she feels she has achieved. More importantly, she fears that Brooke would hate her if she found out about the service, especially given the 'Brooke thing from last year' that is hinted at. The threat of losing Brooke's trust outweighs the discomfort of working with Brougham.

2. What does Darcy's reaction to Brooke's text reveal about her feelings?

Darcy's reaction—feeling like gravity had stopped applying—indicates that she has strong romantic feelings for Brooke. She wonders if Brooke thinks about her as much as she thinks about Brooke, and whether she is 'special' to Brooke. This suggests an unrequited crush that will likely become a major subplot.

3. How does Brougham's method of catching Darcy reflect his character?

Brougham deliberately uses the fire escape to avoid detection, showing that he is strategic and patient. He waits until he has solid evidence—seeing her with the letters—before confronting her. He then uses that evidence to leverage a deal, demonstrating that he is manipulative and willing to use others' secrets for his own benefit. His calm, almost casual demeanor during the negotiation suggests he is confident in his power over her.