Garrett Graham: The Steady Anchor in The Score

Overview

Garrett Graham is the captain of the Briar University hockey team and the steady, responsible roommate of Dean Di Laurentis. In The Score, he serves as a moral compass and a grounding presence, particularly when Dean begins to spiral after the death of their friend Beau Maxwell. Unlike his flashy teammate, Garrett is defined by his loyalty, emotional intelligence, and willingness to intervene when those he cares about are in trouble. Though not the central protagonist, Garrett’s actions—from offering shelter to a heartbroken Allie to physically confronting a self-destructive Dean—frame the novel’s recurring themes of friendship, accountability, and grief.

Plot Role

Garrett’s primary function in the story is as a stabilizer. He is first introduced in Chapter 1 when Allie Hayes needs a safe place to stay after her breakup with Sean. Through his girlfriend Hannah, Garrett generously offers his own bedroom to Allie, reassuring her that his roommates Dean and Tucker will keep Sean away. This moment establishes his reliability and his willingness to help friends without hesitation.

Later, when Dean begins to unravel after Beau’s death, Garrett becomes the person who refuses to let his roommate ignore the consequences. In Chapter 32, after Dean misses Allie’s play and throws a drug-fueled party, Garrett physically confronts him—giving Dean a black eye and demanding that he take responsibility. This intervention is not portrayed as violence for its own sake but as a desperate act of care from a friend who has watched Dean self-destruct. Garrett’s role here is to be the one who cannot look away.

He also acts as a bridge between Dean and the rest of the group. In Chapter 25, when Sean shows up drunk at Allie’s dorm, Garrett physically removes Sean from the scene, protecting both Allie and Dean from further escalation. In these moments, Garrett embodies the voice of reason that the more impulsive characters lack.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Garrett is motivated by a strong sense of loyalty and a desire to protect his inner circle. His actions consistently demonstrate that he prioritizes the well-being of his girlfriend, his teammates, and his roommates above his own comfort.

Loyalty: When Hannah asks if Allie can stay at the house, Garrett does not hesitate. He also cleanly follows through on his promise to keep Dean from hitting on Allie, establishing boundaries without needing to be asked twice.

Responsibility: As captain of the hockey team, Garrett takes his leadership seriously. In the locker room after a tough loss (Chapter 8), he is the one to reassure a discouraged freshman, Hunter, with a “plenty more hockey” speech. He does not wallow in defeat; instead, he projects resilience.

Confrontational care: The most striking example is his physical confrontation with Dean. Garrett does not shy away from administering tough love. His black eye to Dean is the culmination of mounting frustration, but it comes from a place of wanting Dean to face the reality of his actions rather than numbing himself with drugs and alcohol.

Emotional stability: Garrett is presented as a counterweight to Dean’s impulsiveness. While Dean jokes, flirts, and avoids vulnerability, Garrett offers stability and open affection—shown in his easy interactions with Hannah and his willingness to listen.

Chronological Arc

Garrett’s arc in The Score does not follow a typical personal transformation because he is already a well-grounded character. Instead, his arc is about his role within the team and his response to external crises.

• Early chapters: Garrett is present as a supportive figure. He is away for a weekend with Hannah, but his home remains a sanctuary for Allie. He is also consistently seen at the hockey rink and at post-game gatherings, providing a steady presence.

• Mid-novel (post-Thanksgiving): When Sean harasses Allie, Garrett is the one who physically removes Sean from the dorm. This act solidifies his protective nature and earns Dean’s gratitude.

• Crisis after Beau’s death: Garrett watches Dean’s self-destructive spiral with growing concern. He does not lecture but instead tries to keep Dean accountable.

• Climax (Chapter 32): After Dean misses Allie’s opening night and throws a party with drugs, Garrett punches Dean, giving him a black eye. This is the low point of Dean’s arc, and Garrett’s action is the catalyst for Dean’s eventual apology tour. Garrett later accepts Dean’s apology, demonstrating his capacity for forgiveness.

• Resolution: In the final chapter, Garrett is present when Tucker announces his pregnancy with Sabrina. He responds with the same easygoing humor that defines him, showing that his character remains unchanged—still the loyal, slightly sarcastic friend.

Relationships

Hannah Wells: Their relationship is already established going into The Score (Garrett is the hero of The Deal). In this novel, Hannah and Garrett act as a stable couple. Garrett’s softness around Hannah is evident: he calls her “babe,” kisses her cheek in the cold, and willingly defers to her when she wants him to leave for girl talk. Their relationship models healthy commitment, contrasting with the casual-to-serious arc of Dean and Allie.

Dean Di Laurentis: Garrett’s relationship with his roommate is one of affectionate exasperation. He knows Dean’s flaws intimately—his womanizing, his immaturity, his tendency to avoid responsibility—but he also respects Dean’s talent on the ice. Their bond is tested during Dean’s grief, and Garrett’s intervention, though physically aggressive, ultimately helps Dean begin to heal. Garrett’s role is that of a brother-like figure who refuses to let Dean hit rock bottom alone.

Allie Hayes: Garrett’s interactions with Allie are warm but secondary. He is welcoming when she moves into his room for the weekend, and later, he shows concern for her safety by removing Sean. He does not judge her relationship with Dean but trusts Hannah’s judgment when she reports that Allie and Dean are now a couple.

Logan and Tucker: Garrett shares a close fraternity with his other housemates. He often jokes with them in the locker room and at home, and he is part of the group that breaks the news of Beau’s death to Dean. His leadership within this friend group is natural rather than forced.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Each decision is motivated by care for others, and the consequences, while sometimes painful in the moment, lead to positive outcomes.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Garrett is a living embodiment of the theme of responsibility and accountability. While Dean learns the hard way that actions have consequences, Garrett already lives by that code. He is also deeply tied to the theme of grief and support: he does not allow Dean to isolate himself in his pain; instead, he forces Dean to confront it.

In a broader sense, Garrett represents the idea that healthy relationships require honesty and intervention. His willingness to physically confront a friend underscores the message that love sometimes looks like conflict. His stable relationship with Hannah also serves as a symbol of committed partnership—something that Allie and Dean slowly grow toward.

Garrett is not directly linked to any major symbolic object (like Dean’s BMW or Allie’s script), but he symbolizes the anchor that prevents the friend group from drifting apart. Without him, Dean’s spiral might have fractured the team permanently.

Five Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Garrett offer his bedroom to Allie in Chapter 1? Garrett offers his room because Hannah asks him on Allie’s behalf. He trusts Hannah’s judgment and wants to help a friend in distress, especially since Sean’s persistence made Allie’s dorm unsafe for the weekend.

2. How does Garrett react when Sean shows up drunk at Allie’s dorm? Garrett physically removes Sean from the building. He does not allow the confrontation to escalate into violence or further emotional harm to Allie. Dean arrives later to comfort Allie, but Garrett’s swift action prevents a worse scene.

3. What triggers Garrett to punch Dean in Chapter 32? Dean missed Allie’s opening night of the play and threw a party where drugs (MDMA) were used. Garrett, frustrated by Dean’s refusal to deal with grief and his reckless behavior, hits him to shock him into facing reality.

4. Does Garrett ever apologize for hitting Dean? Yes. After Dean apologizes to Garrett for his behavior, Garrett accepts the apology. The implication is that the physical confrontation was a last resort, not an act of malice, and their friendship continues.

5. What role does Garrett play in the novel’s final scene? In the final chapter, Garrett is present when Tucker announces that he and Sabrina James are expecting a baby. Garrett reacts with surprise and humor, enjoying the chaotic announcement alongside Dean and Allie.