Chapter summaries She Gets the Girl Rachael Lippincott

Chapter 16: Molly — Summary and 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

The chapter opens with Molly trying to calm her nerves by cleaning and reorganizing her dorm room, but the routine fails to distract her from the mysterious text Alex sent: meet on the Cathedral steps at 6:20, dressed comfortably. Molly chooses an outfit on the nicer end of comfy—jean shorts, a party shirt in a different color, and sneakers.

When she arrives, Alex is waiting on the Cathedral railing, wearing a shirt with chainsaws popping out of a cereal bowl and black running tights. Alex immediately criticizes Molly's outfit, insisting she meant shorts and a T-shirt, at minimum a sports bra. Molly jokes about going to the gym, which visibly offends Alex. Alex stops walking and insists she isn't the self-absorbed, shallow person everyone assumes she is—and that Molly seems to think she is. Molly is stunned to see real emotion from Alex and realizes she's been the one judging unfairly. She apologizes sincerely, and Alex accepts, leading her onward.

Alex veers off the concrete path onto grass, and Molly follows until they reach a field where about twenty-five girls are gathered for rugby tryouts. Molly's stomach sinks. Alex calls out to Cora, who is wearing a rainbow sweatband and looks cute in her rugby clothes. Alex announces they're there for tryouts and tells Cora that Molly loves rugby. Molly stutters along with the lie, claiming she can't get enough of the sport. Cora mentions that Oak Park teammates Mariah, Skeggs, and Anna all broke limbs in the same week, and Molly covers by saying she's more of a fan than a player.

Alex signs both of them up. Molly panics, insisting she knows nothing about rugby, but Alex explains the real goal: get Cora's number. Molly tries to walk away, but Cora calls out and throws her a ball. Molly drops it, and Alex covers with a joke about her being better at defense. Cora gives an encouraging smile.

The throwing drills go better than Molly expects—she finally gets the hang of the spiral—but then the captain splits everyone into teams for a scrimmage. Molly is assigned the nickname Jean Shorts. During the scrimmage, a teammate with red French braids gets tackled and flips the ball to Molly. Before she can react, a wall of muscle crashes into her, knocking the wind out of her. She's pressed into the mud, gasping for air.

Cora crouches over her, coaching her to breathe, then helps her off the field and checks her ribs. Molly's pain fades as she feels Cora's hand on her bare skin. Cora offers to lend her athletic clothes next time, saying she should have called. Molly asks for Cora's number, and Cora writes it on Molly's arm with a pen from a nearby backpack. Cora says she hopes Molly will come watch the games, then jogs back to the scrimmage.

Alex celebrates, pulling Molly into a hug that knocks her bruised ribs. Alex admits she hoped the tryout would get Molly out of her head—that focusing on not making a fool of herself would leave less room for anxiety around Cora. She jokes about paying the tackler, then admits they got lucky. Molly apologizes again for her earlier comment, and Alex brushes it off. They head to Tutti Fresh Yogurt, with Molly treating. The chapter closes with Molly reflecting that things haven't gone as planned, but they feel better than they have in a long time—maybe ever—and that Alex has had a big hand in that.

Key Events

  • Alex texts Molly a mysterious invitation to meet at the Cathedral steps at 6:20, dressed comfortably.

  • Alex criticizes Molly's outfit, and Molly's gym joke offends Alex, leading to a rare moment of genuine emotion from Alex.

  • Molly apologizes and realizes she's been unfairly judging Alex.

  • Alex leads Molly to rugby tryouts and tells Cora that Molly loves rugby—a lie Molly goes along with.

  • Molly tries to leave but is pulled back when Cora throws her a ball, which she drops.

  • Molly improves during throwing drills but gets tackled hard during the scrimmage, leaving her winded and bruised.

  • Cora helps Molly off the field, checks her ribs, and offers to lend her athletic clothes.

  • Molly asks for Cora's number, and Cora writes it on Molly's arm.

  • Alex celebrates, admitting she hoped the tryout would get Molly out of her head.

  • Molly apologizes again for her earlier comment, and the two go for frozen yogurt.

Character Development

Molly takes a significant step outside her comfort zone. She goes along with Alex's scheme despite knowing nothing about rugby, and the physical shock of the tackle actually helps quiet her overthinking. Her realization that she's been judging Alex unfairly shows growth in self-awareness. By the end, she's more open to spontaneity and less trapped in her own head.

Alex reveals a vulnerable side. Her reaction to Molly's gym joke shows she cares about being seen accurately, not just as a flirt or a shallow person. Her admission that she wanted to help Molly get out of her head—and her willingness to celebrate Molly's success—deepens their friendship.

Cora comes across as caring and attentive. She checks on Molly after the tackle, offers to lend clothes, and writes her number on Molly's arm without hesitation. Her encouragement suggests genuine interest in Molly beyond the tryout.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Anxiety and Overthinking: Molly's cleaning ritual fails to calm her nerves, and her panic about rugby tryouts shows how her mind spirals. The chapter suggests that physical action—even getting tackled—can interrupt that spiral.

Stepping Out of One's Comfort Zone: Molly's willingness to fake her way through rugby tryouts is a literal and metaphorical leap. The chapter rewards her risk with Cora's number.

Misjudgment and Assumptions: Molly assumes Alex is shallow and self-absorbed, but Alex's reaction proves otherwise. The chapter challenges both characters—and the reader—to look past first impressions.

Friendship and Trust: Alex's scheme is manipulative but well-intentioned. Molly's apology and Alex's acceptance show a growing trust between them.

Phone Number as Symbol: Cora writing her number on Molly's arm is a physical, almost cinematic gesture. It represents connection, possibility, and the start of something new.

Physical Pain as Catalyst: Getting tackled knocks the anxiety out of Molly, at least temporarily. The pain becomes a strange kind of liberation, freeing her to be present with Cora.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in Molly's arc. It moves her from passive longing to active pursuit, even if the pursuit is engineered by Alex. The rugby tryout forces Molly to confront her fears, and the physical shock of the tackle gives her a new perspective on her anxiety. It also deepens the friendship between Molly and Alex, showing that Alex is more than the shallow flirt she appears to be. The chapter sets up the next stage of Molly and Cora's relationship, with the phone number as a tangible symbol of possibility.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does the rugby tryout function as a metaphor for Molly's internal struggles?

The tryout represents the gap between Molly's self-perception and her potential. She believes she can't play rugby, just as she believes she can't talk to Cora. The physical tackle—and Cora's care afterward—shows Molly that she can survive discomfort and that vulnerability can lead to connection. The chapter suggests that stepping into the unknown, even clumsily, is better than staying stuck in overthinking.

2. What does Alex's reaction to Molly's gym joke reveal about her character?

Alex's reaction reveals that she's deeply aware of how others perceive her and that she resents being reduced to a shallow flirt. Her insistence that she wanted to be real friends with Molly shows a desire for genuine connection. This moment complicates Alex's character, making her more sympathetic and setting up the friendship that develops through the chapter.

3. Why does Cora write her number on Molly's arm instead of using paper?

The gesture is intimate and spontaneous, matching the tone of the chapter. It creates a physical, lasting symbol of connection that Molly can see and touch. It also echoes the teen-movie quality Molly herself notices, reinforcing the chapter's theme that real life can feel cinematic when you take risks.

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