Chapter 7 ('FOUR'): Summary, Analysis, 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.

Summary

The chapter opens with Sage backstage at a theater, minutes before the first act of A Midsummer Night's Dream, where she's performing a guest spot as Titania. She's distracted, re-tying her pointe shoes and thinking about Elias Westbrook, the hockey player she met at a league fundraiser two days earlier. She's been analyzing him obsessively, trying to figure him out, and admits she's curious to uncover his secrets.

Her thoughts drift to her recent ex, Owen Hart, a hockey player she dated from freshman year through her senior year of college. Their relationship went long-distance when Owen was called up to a developmental team in Vancouver. Owen wanted Sage to follow him, but she refused to move away from her brother Sean. She had chosen a cheap local college after paying for Sean's first year at York Prep, and her uncle Marcus offered to pay for both their educations. Sage wouldn't accept help for herself but allowed her uncle to help Sean. During that final year, Owen became overbearing and controlling, resenting the time she devoted to ballet and to Sean. The breakup happened only a few months ago, but Sage is determined to move on.

The performance begins. Sage spots her uncle Marcus in the audience, watching with pride. After the show, the director gives notes, telling Sage she needs to pick one emotion and stick to it — her performance lacked consistency in musical phrasing, expressions, and coordination.

Outside, Sage meets her uncle, who says she seemed to have something to prove. She excuses herself and calls the number Elias gave her. His agent, Mason, answers, saying Elias is training at the arena. Sage is irritated that Elias gave her his agent's number instead of his own. She asks her uncle for a ride to the arena, where he has an office.

Once there, Sage slips out of her uncle's office and makes her way to the locker room. She bursts in on the players, including Socket the goalie, and confronts Elias about the wrong number. Elias, half-dressed and wet from a shower, asks to talk outside. He explains that giving out Mason's number is a safety precaution — he's had poor experiences with women trying to enter his life. Sage feels guilty for jumping to conclusions. Elias offers his real phone, and she programs her number in. They agree to go on a date, with Elias noting that he thought she wasn't into hockey players. Sage admits she's made an exception, and Elias says that makes two of them.

Key Events

Sage performs as Titania in a school-show performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, distracted by thoughts of Elias.
The director criticizes her for lacking emotional consistency in her performance.
Sage calls Elias's number and reaches his agent, Mason, instead.
Sage gets a ride to the arena from her uncle and confronts Elias in the locker room.
Elias explains the wrong number was a safety precaution, and they exchange real numbers.
They agree to go on a date.

Character Development

Sage — This chapter deepens Sage's backstory significantly. Her relationship with Owen reveals a pattern: she's independent to a fault, refusing help even when it's offered, and she prioritizes family (Sean) over romantic relationships. Her reaction to the wrong number shows both her pride and her willingness to confront problems head-on. By the end, she's willing to make an exception to her no-hockey-players rule, showing she's open to taking a risk despite her past.

Elias — Though we see him mostly through Sage's eyes, Elias reveals a cautious side. His habit of giving out Mason's number is framed as a safety measure born from bad experiences. He remembers Sage's name, apologizes sincerely, and makes it clear he wants the date. His line about making an exception suggests he also has reservations about getting involved.

Marcus — Sage's uncle continues to serve as a supportive father figure, watching her perform, offering rides, and providing the family stability her parents didn't. His observation that Sage had something to prove hints that he sees through her.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Trust issues — Both Sage and Elias carry baggage. Sage's controlling ex taught her to rely on no one; Elias's past with women makes him cautious about sharing his real number. Their exchange of numbers is a small act of trust.

Family sacrifice — Sage's choice to pay for Sean's education and stay near him rather than follow Owen to Vancouver shows how central family is to her identity. Her uncle's offer to pay for her education, which she refused, reinforces her stubborn independence.

Ballet as escape — Sage's dedication to ballet is a constant in her life, a way to stay motivated and grounded. Her distraction during the performance shows how much Elias has gotten under her skin.

Miscommunication — The wrong number is a classic miscommunication device, but here it's rooted in character: Elias's caution, not malice, caused it. Sage's assumption that he was rejecting her drives the conflict.

Boundaries — Elias's safety precaution is about setting boundaries, and Sage's confrontation is about testing them. Their negotiation over numbers is really about establishing trust.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter does crucial work in establishing Sage's emotional landscape. Her backstory with Owen explains her wariness of athletes and her fierce independence, while her family situation — the loss of her parents, her sacrifice for Sean, her uncle's support — grounds her character in a way that makes her relatable. The chapter also advances the central romance: Elias and Sage move from a chance meeting to an agreed-upon date, with both acknowledging they're making exceptions for each other. The locker-room confrontation is a turning point that shows both characters' willingness to be vulnerable.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Sage react so strongly to discovering Elias gave her his agent's number?

Sage's reaction is rooted in her past. After Owen's controlling behavior, she's sensitive to being dismissed or manipulated. The wrong number feels like a rejection — Elias insisted on a date, then gave her a number that wasn't his. Her confrontation in the locker room is less about the number itself and more about asserting that she won't be treated carelessly. When Elias explains it was a safety precaution, her anger shifts to embarrassment, showing she's capable of reassessing her assumptions.

2. How does Sage's relationship with Owen shape her approach to Elias?

Owen was controlling and resentful of Sage's commitments to ballet and her brother. That experience taught Sage to be self-reliant and wary of athletes. Her decision to date Elias despite this shows growth — she's willing to take a risk. But her quick anger at the wrong number suggests she's still primed to expect the worst from men, especially hockey players.

3. What does the director's note about picking an emotion reveal about Sage's state of mind?

The director tells Sage to pick one emotion — hypnotized, infatuated, or playful — and stick to it. Sage's inability to commit to a single emotional register on stage mirrors her internal state: she's distracted by Elias, still processing her breakup with Owen, and carrying the weight of her family responsibilities. Her performance inconsistency is a symptom of her emotional turmoil.