The Score – Chapter 12: Allie vs. Dean’s Sexting Game
⚠️ 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
During a bar hang for a friend’s birthday, Allie receives a series of graphic sexts from Dean. He describes past encounters and his current arousal, trying to provoke her. Allie initially ignores him, then taunts back with a joke about blue balls. Dean changes the jukebox song to “I Want You to Want Me.” In retaliation, Allie picks Pink’s “U and UR Hand” and dances provocatively with Megan. Dean watches with intense desire. Allie reminds herself of Dean’s reputation as a womanizer, yet the sexual tension between them escalates. The chapter ends with Dean texting that the next time she puts on a show for him, she’d better be naked.
Key Events
- Dean begins sexting Allie under the table, recalling past intimate moments.
- Allie tries to ignore the messages but grows aroused and embarrassed.
- She finally texts back, mocking Dean for potentially getting blue balls.
- Dean switches the bar music to Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me.”
- Allie counters by choosing Pink’s “U and UR Hand” and dancing with Megan.
- Dean becomes visibly aroused watching Allie dance.
- Allie reflects on Dean’s promiscuous history to cool her own desire.
- Dean sends the final sext, insisting Allie be naked for her next performance.
Character Development
Allie wrestles with her physical attraction to Dean versus her knowledge of his player reputation. She uses humor and song choices to reclaim agency, but her internal conflict deepens. Dean demonstrates persistence and a flair for public flirting, while his “I’m goddamn aching” text hints at a desire that may surpass mere conquest. Their dynamic remains a battle of wills.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
- Sexting as Power Play – Dean’s texts are both seduction and provocation; Allie’s responses and song choices are countermoves.
- Female Agency – Allie picks an anthem about rejecting unwanted advances, transforming the jukebox into a tool of self-expression.
- Sexual Tension – The back-and-forth pushes both characters closer to a physical climax while they perform for a public audience.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks a turning point in Allie and Dean’s “cat-and-mouse” game. It moves their flirtation from private moments into the semi-public sphere of the bar, underscoring the performative nature of their attraction. Allie’s inner reasoning and Dean’s momentarily vulnerable “aching” line add nuance to what could be a purely physical feud, setting up greater emotional stakes for later chapters.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Allie choose Pink’s “U and UR Hand” for the jukebox?
She selects the song as a direct rebuttal to Dean’s advances. The lyrics are a female-empowerment anthem about telling a persistent man to back off, allowing Allie to publicly assert control over the narrative.
2. How does Dean attempt to regain the upper hand after Allie’s dancing?
Dean sends a final text demanding she be naked next time, escalating the stakes. His body language and sustained eye contact communicate that he is both aroused and amused by her challenge.
3. What internal conflict does Allie experience during this chapter?
She struggles between her intense physical attraction to Dean and her rational knowledge of his reputation. She fears being just another girl he seduces, which fuels her resistance even as her body craves him.