Chapter 32 Summary: Molly's Chapter — Key Events 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.

Chapter 32: Molly – Summary and Analysis

Summary

The chapter opens with Molly waking up the morning after the concert, her eyes puffy from crying. A small part of her still believes Alex will have sent an apology text, but when she checks her phone, there is nothing. For the first time in a long while, she truly notices the state of her dorm room: clothes everywhere, books and binders mixed with dirty socks. She spends the next couple of hours cleaning, putting everything back in its place, but the activity doesn't bring the usual healing. Instead, it makes her dwell on how things ended with Alex. She considers calling her mom but stops herself, feeling guilty for having ignored her calls for two weeks. Needing to get out of her head, she visits Noah.

At Noah's place, she tells him about the fight with Alex, describing how Alex called her a project and said they weren't friends. Noah suggests she talk to Alex, but Molly insists she's done, even saying she never should have taken his advice to go to the party. Noah pushes back, pointing out how much happier she's been and reminding her that she's with Cora now. Molly admits she doesn't know if she's happy without Alex. They watch a documentary, and about an hour in, Cora texts Molly to come over and watch a movie. Molly feels lighter and decides she can still fix things with Cora.

That afternoon, Molly arrives at Cora's dorm. Cora has a horror movie, The Grudge, cued up, along with popcorn and candy. Molly is surprised they start the movie right away, expecting more conversation. She apologizes for the previous night, explaining that she and Alex got into a fight. Cora says Alex always seemed superficial, which surprises Molly, but she pushes the thought aside. They watch the movie, and during jump scares, Cora scoots closer. Halfway through, Cora puts her hand out, and they hold hands. Molly notices her heartbeat slows instead of racing, and she feels like she's missing the flutter she used to get thinking about Cora. She forces herself to stay in the moment, telling herself she's an overthinker and shouldn't mess this up.

On Monday, Molly sits with Cora and Abby in class, placing her backpack on Alex's usual chair. Alex doesn't show up. Molly scans the room but finds no sign of her. When she opens her binder, she finds the note Alex had written to invite Cora to breakfast. She traces the indentations, remembering the chaos of rugby tryouts, the frozen yogurt shop, and the roller rink. She laughs quietly at the memory of Alex hitting the limbo bar. Cora asks what's up, but Molly says nothing, slipping the note back.

On Tuesday, Molly and Cora study at the library. Cora shares one of her AirPods, and Molly cringes when she hears Broadway show tunes, which she privately dislikes. She doesn't tell Cora, thinking that maybe if it's Cora's favorite, it could become hers. Cora then mentions her teammate Hallie, calling her the funniest person she's ever met, and Molly's stomach sinks with insecurity. Feeling she needs to solidify their relationship, Molly asks Cora to the art gala on Friday. Cora accepts, noting it's a formal event and that she can't wait to see Molly in a dress. Molly panics internally, realizing she doesn't own a formal dress and never went to prom. She thinks Alex might have helped, but then reminds herself Alex is gone. She decides she'll have to swallow her pride and finally call her mom, hoping her mom isn't angry about being ignored.

Key Events

Molly wakes up expecting an apology text from Alex but finds none.
She cleans her messy dorm room, but the activity makes her feel worse.
She visits Noah and tells him she's done with Alex, though she admits she's not sure she can be happy without her.
Cora texts Molly to come over for a movie; they watch a horror film and hold hands.
Molly feels the hand-holding doesn't match her expectations, but she suppresses the feeling.
On Monday, Alex is absent from class; Molly finds the note Alex wrote to invite Cora to breakfast and feels nostalgic.
On Tuesday, Cora shares an AirPod playing Broadway music; Molly dislikes it but hides her feelings.
Cora mentions her teammate Hallie, making Molly insecure.
Molly asks Cora to the art gala; Cora accepts, noting it's formal.
Molly realizes she needs a formal dress and decides to call her mom.

Character Development

Molly undergoes significant growth in this chapter. She begins by clinging to the hope that Alex will apologize, but when that doesn't happen, she takes steps to move forward. Her decision to clean her room symbolizes an attempt to restore order in her life, yet she finds that external order doesn't resolve internal chaos. Her visit to Noah shows her willingness to open up, even as she resists his advice. Her interactions with Cora reveal a new vulnerability: she hides her true feelings about the Broadway music and forces herself to feel something she doesn't, illustrating her tendency to overthink and suppress her own needs. Most importantly, her decision to call her mom at the end marks a turning point—she's willing to reach out for help, something she's avoided for weeks.

Alex is absent from the chapter, but her influence lingers. Molly's nostalgia over the note and her internal references to Alex show that letting go is a process, not a single decision. Alex's absence also forces Molly to rely on herself and others, like Noah and Cora, rather than on Alex.

Cora is portrayed as kind and understanding, but also as someone who doesn't fully know Molly. Her choice of a horror movie and Broadway music highlights the differences between them, and her casual mention of Hallie triggers Molly's insecurity. Cora's acceptance of the gala invitation shows her interest, but the chapter leaves the relationship feeling uncertain.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Order vs. Chaos: Molly's cleaning of her room represents her attempt to regain control, but the mess mirrors her emotional turmoil. The chapter suggests that external order can't fix internal chaos.
Nostalgia: The note from Alex triggers a flood of memories, showing how the past can pull at the present. Molly's laughter at the limbo bar memory contrasts with her sadness, illustrating the complexity of letting go.
Hiding True Feelings: Molly hides her dislike of Broadway music and forces herself to stay in the moment with Cora, even when she feels disconnected. This motif highlights her fear of being honest about her emotions.
Insecurity: Cora's mention of Hallie makes Molly feel she's