Chapter 124 Summary: Ryder and Colson’s Night in the Woods
⚠️ 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
After a penalty during the game, Coach Grebbs strands Ryder and Colson on a dark highway. The two co-captains hike into the woods, build a fire from collected wood, and share a meager dinner of chips and a granola bar. As the night stretches on, Colson breaks the silence and admits his recent hostility stems from his painful breakup with Gigi. He confesses he cheated on her and lost her trust, and that he still believes she is “the one.” Ryder listens, masking his own secret relationship with Gigi. They also swap stories about team superstitions, including a chaotic incident where Patrick accidentally caused a police stop. The conversation ends with Colson suggesting they create a new group chat to improve team unity, a surprising proposal from the usually hostile Ryder. The chapter closes with Ryder wrestling with guilt as Colson remains unaware of what’s really going on.
Key Events
- Coach Grebbs strands Ryder and Colson on the side of the road as punishment for a penalty.
- The two collect firewood and build a campfire; Ryder reveals he learned fire-building while hiding with his siblings in foster care.
- They share a sparse dinner of chips and a granola bar, bracing for a long night.
- Colson initiates a serious talk about their team behavior and mutual hostility.
- Ryder tells the story of Patrick “Kansas Kid” accidentally causing a police raid on the team bus, which led to a no-phones rule and the creation of a “would you rather” superstition.
- Colson admits the team’s losing streak might be because they haven’t been sending the “I’m aching for you” text before games.
- Colson reveals his breakup with Gigi, confessing he cheated and lost her trust; he says he still thinks she’s “the one.”
- Ryder internally acknowledges that Gigi is sleeping with him, but keeps the secret.
- The chapter ends with Ryder feeling like a complete jerk for his hypocrisy.
Character Development
- Ryder: Shows a quieter, listening side. He shares a vulnerable memory about his foster-care past, but his biggest internal conflict is his guilt: he is secretly sleeping with Gigi while Colson pours out his heart about losing her. This moment forces Ryder to confront his own dishonesty.
- Colson: Moves from abrasive hostility to raw vulnerability. He admits his recent “being a jerk” stems from heartbreak and regret over his infidelity. This conversation humanizes him and deepens the reader’s understanding of his motives.
- Both: Their shared nocturnal ordeal begins to chip away at the wall of rivalry. Colson proposes a new group chat to foster unity, and Ryder agrees — a small but significant step toward mutual respect.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Trust and Infidelity: The chapter revolves around broken trust. Colson’s confession about cheating on Gigi contrasts with Ryder’s secret involvement with her, creating a tangled web of deceit.
- Communication vs. Secrecy: The firelit conversation represents a rare moment of honest communication, yet Ryder’s silence about his own actions highlights how secrets undermine trust.
- Team Unity and Superstition: The discussion about team rituals and the suggestion to create a new group chat symbolises the fragile process of merging two hostile groups into one cohesive team.
- Isolation and Survival: The literal stranded-in-the-woods situation mirrors the emotional isolation both characters feel after loss and conflict.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point in the Ryder–Colson dynamic. It moves their relationship from purely adversarial to complicated by empathy and hidden guilt. Colson’s vulnerable confession about his infidelity sets up the inevitable confrontation when Ryder’s secret comes to light. Additionally, the fire-building scene offers rare character depth for Ryder, showing how his traumatic childhood shaped him. The chapter also advances the team-building subplot: both co-captains acknowledge they need to change their behavior for the team to succeed.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Ryder feel guilty when Colson confesses about his breakup?
Ryder is secretly sleeping with Gigi, Colson’s ex-girlfriend. Hearing Colson’s raw pain and regret makes Ryder realize he is actively contributing to that pain by hiding the truth. He feels like a “complete idiot” for his hypocrisy.
2. What team-related idea does Colson propose at the end of the chapter?
Colson suggests creating a new group chat for the whole team to share the “I’m aching for you” superstition. He believes this ritual could improve morale and help the team start winning, since they have not been doing it collectively.
3. How does the fire-building scene reveal something important about Ryder’s past?
When Colson asks how Ryder learned to build a fire, Ryder replies flatly, “Hiding.” He then explains that he used to take his younger siblings into the woods behind a violent foster home to keep them safe. This reveals a background of trauma and responsibility that contrasts with his usual arrogant exterior.