Chapter 27 Summary: Chris's Deer Rescue and Forbidden Feelings

⚠️ 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

Late at night after dinner with Mike, Chris and Larissa discover a fawn tangled in a fence near a highway. Despite Chris’s terror of deer, he helps Larissa cut the animal free. A mother doe charges the car, but they escape safely, then go to a 24-hour diner. During the meal, Chris internally acknowledges that he has strong romantic feelings for Larissa, but she is dating his best friend Mike. He resolves to never act on his emotions.

Key Events

Chris and Larissa see a fawn stuck in a fence; Larissa insists on rescuing it.
Chris reluctantly helps, making tiny cuts in the plastic netting while Larissa holds the fawn.
The mother deer appears, huffing and aggressive. Chris is paralyzed by genuine fear of deer.
Larissa finishes cutting the fawn free, and they run to the car as the doe charges.
After laughing off the adrenaline, they go to a diner and order food.
Larissa jokes about not telling Mike about Chris’s deer phobia.
Alone in the car and later in bed, Chris admits to himself that he likes Larissa in a way he shouldn’t, but he will never act on it because she is his best friend’s girlfriend.

Character Development

Chris

Vulnerability revealed: Chris’s extreme fear of deer is no longer a joke—he is genuinely terrified, and his physical reaction (shaking, sweating, paralysis) humanizes him.
Protective instincts: Despite his fear, he positions himself between Larissa and the charging doe, showing bravery and selflessness.
Emotional awakening: This chapter marks a turning point where Chris consciously names his romantic feelings for Larissa. He internally acknowledges the conflict between his happiness in her company and loyalty to Mike.

Larissa

Compassionate and determined: She refuses to leave the fawn, even after the mother appears. Her empathy drives the rescue.
Playful and observant: She teases Chris about his fear but respects it once she understands it is real. She also notice his semi-confession in the car earlier but does not pry.
Unaware of Chris’s feelings: She casually mentions asking Mike to keep the deer phobia secret, oblivious that Chris’s emotional conflict runs deeper.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Deer as a Metaphor for Forbidden Desire

The deer represents the untouchable—the fawn is beautiful and innocent, yet dangerous because it belongs to the wild (Larissa belongs to Mike). Chris’s fear of the mother doe mirrors his fear of pursuing Larissa; the charge he endures parallels the emotional risk of revealing his feelings.

Man-Made Traps vs. Natural Bonds

The fence that trapped the fawn is a man-made “death trap.” Larissa notes it is their responsibility as beings with opposable thumbs to free it. This echoes the societal expectations and friendship ties that trap Chris’s heart: he feels bound not to cross a line.

Post-Panic Laughter as Release

After the adrenaline subsides, both characters laugh uncontrollably. This shared moment underscores their easy chemistry and the intimacy that makes the situation so painful for Chris.

Why This Chapter Matters

Reveals Chris’s central internal conflict: Up to now, his feelings for Larissa have been hinted at. Here he states them clearly and decides to suppress them, setting up the emotional stakes for the rest of the story.
Solidifies the Chris–Larissa dynamic: Their teamwork during the rescue and easy banter at the diner illustrate why they would be a good match—and why Chris’s silence will cost him.
Advances the theme of loyalty vs. desire: Chris chooses loyalty to Mike over his own happiness, a choice that defines his character arc.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Chris insist the rescued fawn is “cute” after claiming to be afraid of deer?
His comment is a deflection. By focusing on the baby animal’s appeal, he avoids directly discussing his fear with Larissa and also masks the deeper truth: he thinks Larissa herself is cute. It is a safe way to express admiration without confessing.

2. What does the mother deer’s charge symbolize for Chris?
The charge embodies the punishment Chris imagines he deserves for his forbidden feelings. The mother deer is an external threat that matches the internal threat of his own desires. When he throws dirt and pebbles to fend her off, it mirrors his attempt to suppress his emotions.

3. How does the diner scene contrast with the earlier rescue and expose Chris’s turmoil?
The diner is calm and mundane, a stark contrast to the high-stakes rescue. In this quiet space, Chris’s internal conflict becomes louder. Larissa’s casual mention of “your girlfriend” and her promise not to tell Mike force Chris to confront that he cannot have what he wants. He laughs outwardly but lies awake later, highlighting the growing tension between his public behavior and private feelings.