Chapter 10 Summary 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.

Chapter 10 Summary

After leaving Charlotte's party, Scottie tries to apologize to Irene, but Irene is cold and accuses her of arrogance, saying Scottie thinks she understands Irene's enemies better than Irene does. Scottie concedes she's right. Danielle and Honey-Belle catch up, and Danielle bluntly questions whether Irene is genuinely gay, warning her not to fake liking girls for votes. Honey-Belle defends Irene, mentioning her internalized homophobia, but Danielle insists she's just protecting her best friend. Irene snorts at the phrase “led along,” and Scottie braces for Irene to blow up the whole fake dating scheme—but Irene stays quiet.

Scottie suggests the four of them keep hanging out, and Honey-Belle enthusiastically proposes a self-care sleepover in her Jacuzzi. Danielle is won over by the promise of a hot tub, and Irene reluctantly agrees. At the Hewett house—a gingerbread-like mansion owned by the Grandma Earl Christmas Emporium heirs—they change into swimwear. Irene has her own red bathing suit, Honey-Belle lends Danielle a flowery bikini, and Scottie ends up in an orange racerback that Irene compares to a carrot.

In the bedazzled Jacuzzi, Honey-Belle starts a game called “How's Your Heart?” where each person shares how they're feeling. Honey-Belle admits she's happy after talking to Gunther. Danielle, prompted, reveals she feels anxious, always on edge about tests, games, and college acceptances. Irene, after some coaxing, says her heart feels betrayed. When Honey-Belle and Danielle leave to make nachos, Irene and Scottie are alone.

Irene admits she was lying in the video—she did have feelings for Charlotte, who used her. She explains that the first time they hooked up was the same night Charlotte filmed her, and that she was too drunk to care. Scottie asks if Irene and Charlotte slept together, and Irene says only when drunk. Irene then reveals the origin of her eyebrow scar: at a Candlehawk party, Charlotte wanted to leave with a drunk driver, Prescott. Irene tried to stop her, but Charlotte shoved her into a cabinet, cutting her face. Charlotte was benched for the first five games of her soccer season and blames Irene for it. Scottie feels sick, realizing she had once wanted to thank the person who gave Irene that scar. Irene admits she let Charlotte go anyway, and that sometimes it hurts too much to try harder.

They eat nachos and relax in the hot tub until they're pruny. When it's time for bed, Honey-Belle insists on giving Scottie and Irene her bedroom, despite their protests. Danielle teases them about snuggling. In Honey-Belle's unicorn-filled room, they awkwardly change and share the bed. Irene warns Scottie not to touch her, but later Scottie notices Irene clutching an old T-shirt. Irene explains it's her mother's shirt she used to nap with as a child. They lie in the dark, both struggling to fall asleep, hyperaware of each other's presence.

Key Events

Scottie apologizes to Irene after leaving Charlotte's party; Irene accuses her of arrogance.
Danielle questions Irene's sincerity about being gay; Honey-Belle defends her.
Scottie suggests the four of them hang out, leading to Honey-Belle's Jacuzzi sleepover invitation.
At the Hewett house, they change into swimwear and enter the hot tub.
Honey-Belle initiates the “How's Your Heart?” game; Danielle shares her anxiety, Irene says she feels betrayed.
When alone, Irene reveals she lied in the video and had feelings for Charlotte.
Irene explains her scar came from a Candlehawk party where Charlotte shoved her into a cabinet after Irene tried to stop her from leaving with a drunk driver.
Charlotte was benched and blames Irene for it.
They eat nachos, then Honey-Belle gives her bedroom to Scottie and Irene.
They share the bed, and Irene clutches her mother's old shirt.

Character Development

Scottie shows significant growth in this chapter. She apologizes sincerely and admits she was wrong about understanding Irene's enemies. She feels guilt for subjecting Irene to Charlotte and for not taking Irene's warnings about toxicity seriously. Her reflection on Tally—wondering if Tally would have rejected her—reveals her own insecurities and lingering feelings. Scottie also becomes more empathetic, listening to Irene's story without judgment and feeling sick about her earlier desire to thank the person who scarred Irene.

Irene reveals a vulnerable side. She admits she lied in the video and had genuine feelings for Charlotte, who used her. She shares the painful story of her scar, showing how Charlotte's manipulation and blame have shaped her guardedness. Her comfort object—her mother's old shirt—reveals a need for solace and a softer, childlike side beneath her prickly exterior.

Danielle shows loyalty and anxiety. She gives up time with Kevin to check on Scottie and Irene, and she speaks honestly about her own fears about the future. Her protective instinct toward Scottie is clear, even as she challenges Irene's authenticity.

Honey-Belle acts as a catalyst for emotional bonding. Her game encourages honesty, and her insistence on giving up her bedroom pushes Scottie and Irene into an intimate situation. She is kind, generous, and perceptive, noticing Irene's dark aura and orchestrating alone time for Scottie and Irene.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Toxic relationships and betrayal are central. Irene's history with Charlotte shows how manipulation, blame, and emotional abuse can leave lasting scars—both physical and emotional. Charlotte's actions—filming Irene without consent, using her feelings, and blaming her for a consequence of Charlotte's own choices—illustrate a deeply unhealthy dynamic.

Vulnerability and emotional honesty are encouraged through Honey-Belle's game. Danielle's anxiety confession and Irene's eventual revelation about Charlotte show that sharing feelings can deepen trust and connection. Scottie's apology and admission of guilt also demonstrate emotional honesty.

Healing from past trauma is symbolized by Irene's scar and her mother's shirt. The scar represents a wound that hasn't fully healed, while the shirt is a comfort object that helps her cope. Irene's decision to share her story with Scottie is a step toward healing.

Intimacy and trust build as Scottie and Irene share a bed and personal histories. The physical closeness—though awkward—parallels their growing emotional closeness. Irene's warning not to touch him, followed by her revealing her mother's shirt, shows a gradual lowering of defenses.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter pivots the fake dating scheme into a genuine emotional connection. Irene's backstory humanizes her and explains her guardedness, while Scottie's apology and willingness to listen show her growth. The sleepover setting allows for vulnerability, and the shared bed creates a new kind of intimacy that hints at real feelings. The chapter also deepens the friendship among the four girls, setting up a support system that will likely matter in the chapters to come.

Study Questions and Answers

How does Irene's explanation of her scar change Scottie's perception of her?

Scottie initially believed the scar came from a wild party incident, but learning that Charlotte caused it makes her feel sick and guilty for having wanted to thank the person who gave Irene that scar. It shifts her view of Irene from a mysterious, intimidating figure to someone who has survived emotional and physical abuse.

What role does Honey-Belle's “How's Your Heart?” game play in the chapter?

The game creates a structured opportunity for the characters to share their feelings, leading to Danielle's anxiety confession and Irene's eventual revelation about Charlotte. It normalizes emotional honesty and helps break down barriers, especially between Scottie and Irene.

Why does Irene clutch her mother's old shirt at the end of the chapter?

The shirt is a comfort object from her childhood, suggesting she seeks solace and security after the emotional turmoil of the night. It reveals a vulnerable, childlike side to Irene and contrasts with her usual tough exterior, deepening her character.