Chapter 10 Summary: Darcy's Secret Arrangement with Brougham
⚠️ 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 a letter to Locker 89 from a sender who confesses to rigging a competition against the girl who is now their girlfriend. The sender, who signs as [email protected], asks whether they should confess, terrified of the girlfriend finding out through someone else. Darcy, who has hidden the letter in her desk drawer at home, is getting ready at Brooke's house for a gay-straight alliance mixer at Alexei's. Ray is there, styling her hair, and Darcy is simmering with anger knowing Ray wrote the letter. Brooke and Ray are affectionate, leaving Darcy feeling like a third wheel.
At the mixer, Brooke repeatedly gravitates toward Ray, leaving Darcy alone. Darcy observes the party, noticing Finn acting strangely. She follows him to a study, where Finn reveals he ate three weed gummies. Darcy texts Brooke for help, and Brooke explains that edibles take time to digest and hit later, and that Finn will likely recover with supervision. They keep Finn safe—he tries to climb a bookshelf, lies on the floor, and attempts to lick the carpet—until Brougham arrives. Darcy calls Brougham, who agrees to drive over, and they manage Finn until he shows up.
Key Events
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Darcy reads a letter from ray_of_sunshine001 confessing to rigging a competition against their girlfriend.
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Darcy gets ready at Brooke's house with Ray present, feeling jealous and resentful.
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At the mixer, Brooke spends most of her time with Ray, leaving Darcy isolated.
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Finn eats three weed gummies and becomes severely impaired.
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Darcy and Brooke work together to keep Finn safe, calling Brougham for help.
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Brougham arrives to take Finn home, and Darcy returns to the party.
Character Development
Darcy's internal conflict deepens in this chapter. She is torn between her loyalty to Brooke and her knowledge of Ray's secret. Her jealousy of Ray is palpable, but she also shows a strong sense of responsibility when she steps up to care for Finn. Her decision to call Brougham, despite their awkward history, shows she prioritizes Finn's safety over her own discomfort.
Brooke is portrayed as distracted and somewhat oblivious to Darcy's feelings, but she proves reliable in a crisis, quickly helping Darcy manage Finn. Her affectionate nickname for Darcy, calling her