Chapter 7: Alex — Summary, Key Moments, 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.

Return to the book hub to navigate to other chapters.

Read the previous chapter or skip to the next chapter.

Summary

It's just after 2:00 a.m. when Alex, Cora, and Abby find themselves stranded at a bus stop after a party. The last bus has already left, and the walk back to Alex's apartment is long and poorly lit. Cora suggests calling an Uber, but Alex knows she can't afford the surge pricing—she relies on free bus rides for Pitt students. Just as Alex braces for the walk, Molly pulls up in her small white sedan and offers them a ride.

During the drive, Alex checks Snapchat and sees that Natalie opened her message hours ago but never replied. The silence stings, and Alex feels the familiar distance between them. When they arrive at Nordenberg, the upscale freshman dorm, Cora invites Alex upstairs. Alex hesitates—she could easily kiss Cora and lose herself in a night of distraction—but she declines, telling Cora she has a girlfriend. Cora is surprised but accepts it and leaves.

As Cora walks away, Alex notices Molly staring after her with a longing expression. Alex immediately realizes Molly has feelings for Cora. Excited and a little tipsy, Alex scrambles into the front seat and urges Molly to follow Cora inside, suggesting she ask to use the bathroom as an excuse. Molly hesitates too long, and the door closes.

On the drive to Alex's apartment, they argue. Molly accuses Alex of stringing Cora along all night, and Alex fires back that Molly is making excuses. The argument escalates until Molly admits, “You're right.” Alex suddenly understands that Molly wasn't judging her—she was frustrated by her own inability to get close to Cora. Alex reflects on the earlier game of Never Have I Ever, where Molly's honesty about her inexperience stood out. Alex feels guilty for mocking her and realizes Molly is being vulnerable in a way Alex herself struggles to be.

This realization sparks an idea: Alex offers to help Molly win Cora over. Alex thinks this will prove to Natalie that she has changed—that she can be selfless and emotionally available. Molly dismisses the offer, rolls her eyes, and drives off without a word. But Alex is determined, watching Molly's car disappear and vowing not to give up on the plan.

Key Events

Alex, Cora, and Abby miss the last bus and can't afford an Uber.
Molly arrives and offers them a ride.
Alex checks Snapchat and sees Natalie hasn't replied to her message.
At Nordenberg, Cora invites Alex upstairs; Alex declines, citing her girlfriend.
Alex notices Molly's longing look at Cora and urges her to make a move.
Molly hesitates, and the opportunity passes.
Alex and Molly argue about Molly's inaction; Molly admits Alex is right.
Alex realizes Molly was frustrated, not judgmental.
Alex proposes helping Molly win Cora over; Molly rejects the idea.
Alex remains determined to prove she has changed.

Character Development

Alex shows significant growth in this chapter. She actively resists the easy, superficial hookup with Cora, even though she knows it would be simple and comforting. Her decision to say “I've got a girlfriend” marks a deliberate shift from her past behavior. She also recognizes her own pattern of using flirting to avoid emotional intimacy, and she connects this to Natalie's criticism of her being “emotionally unavailable.” The argument with Molly forces Alex to confront her own assumptions—she initially reads Molly's quietness as judgment, but later understands it as vulnerability. This moment of empathy leads to her selfless (if misguided) offer to help Molly, which she frames as a way to prove to Natalie that she can change. Alex's persistence at the end shows her determination, though it also hints at her tendency to overcomplicate things.

Molly is revealed to be more complex than Alex initially thought. She is honest about her inexperience and admits when Alex is right, showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Her hesitation at the door reflects her fear of rejection, and her dismissal of Alex's help suggests she is either too proud or too skeptical to accept it. Molly's character serves as a foil to Alex: she is genuine but passive, while Alex is impulsive but learning to be more thoughtful.

Cora remains a minor but important presence. She is open and inviting, but Alex's rejection of her advances shows that Alex is no longer willing to use people as distractions. Cora's brief appearance reinforces the theme of missed opportunities and the difference between superficial connection and real feelings.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Self-improvement and proving change: Alex's entire motivation for helping Molly is to show Natalie that she has changed. She wants tangible proof of her growth, which she believes will make her worthy of Natalie's love.
Vulnerability vs. superficial connection: Alex contrasts her easy flirtation with Cora against Molly's genuine, unrequited feelings. The chapter argues that real connection requires honesty and emotional risk, not just physical attraction.
Class and economic disparity: The contrast between Nordenberg's luxury and Alex's modest apartment highlights the social and economic gap between the characters. Alex's inability to afford an Uber is a concrete reminder of her circumstances.
Missed opportunities: Molly's hesitation at the door is a literal missed chance, but it also symbolizes the broader theme of letting fear prevent action. Alex's own missed opportunities with Natalie are echoed in this moment.
Honesty and accountability: Alex's realization that she was wrong about Molly's intentions leads her to take accountability for her own behavior. This is a step toward the honesty she needs to practice with Natalie.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 7 is a turning point for Alex's character arc. It shows her actively resisting her old patterns and making a conscious effort to change, even if her methods are flawed. The chapter also introduces the central matchmaking plot that will drive much of the rest of the novel. Alex's decision to help Molly is both selfless and self-serving—she genuinely wants to help, but she also sees it as a way to prove her worth to Natalie. This dual motivation makes her character more nuanced and sets up the comedic and emotional complications that follow. Additionally, the chapter deepens the theme of emotional unavailability by contrasting Alex's past behavior with Molly's vulnerability, forcing Alex to confront her own shortcomings.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Alex decline Cora's invitation to come upstairs?

Alex declines because she is trying to change her behavior. She recognizes that hooking up with Cora would be the “easy way” and would leave her feeling more alone than before. She also wants to be faithful to Natalie and prove that she can be emotionally available. This decision marks a deliberate break from her past pattern of using casual encounters to avoid deeper feelings.

2. How does Alex's perception of Molly shift during their argument?

Initially, Alex assumes Molly is judging her for flirting with Cora. But when Molly admits Alex is right, Alex realizes that Molly was actually frustrated—frustrated by her own inability to get close to Cora. Alex then reflects on Molly's honesty during the game of Never Have I Ever and understands that Molly is being vulnerable in a way Alex herself struggles to be. This shift in perception allows Alex to empathize with Molly and leads to her offer to help.

3. What does Alex hope to achieve by helping Molly win Cora over?

Alex hopes that by helping Molly, she can prove to Natalie that she has changed. She wants to show Natalie that she is no longer the “emotionally unavailable” person Natalie criticized. Alex believes that having a tangible success—helping Molly find love—will demonstrate that she can be selfless and that something good can come from her flirting. This motivation is both genuine and self-interested, reflecting Alex's complicated character.

Back to Chapter 6 | Book Hub | Continue to Chapter 8