Chapter 17 Summary: Scarlett's Reckoning and Return to Ballet
⚠️ 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
Scarlett sneaks out of Asher's house early Saturday morning, embarrassed by her fantasies about him. She texts him a quick thank-you and meets her best friend Carina at a café. Scarlett vents about her complicated feelings toward Asher and her reluctance to date another footballer due to her ex-boyfriend's betrayal. Carina gently challenges Scarlett's fear of vulnerability. Inspired by Asher's earlier encouragement, Scarlett asks Carina whether she should try for the Royal Academy of Ballet's staff showcase. After consulting her doctor virtually, she meets with director Lavinia, only to learn auditions closed. Lavinia offers Scarlett the understudy role for the lead dancer, which Scarlett accepts, feeling a spark of excitement. That afternoon, Scarlett arrives at Asher's house for training and discovers him kissing a blonde woman, shattering her good mood.
Key Events
- Scarlett leaves Asher's house early, avoiding face-to-face contact after her private moment.
- She confides in Carina about her feelings for Asher and her trust issues stemming from a past relationship.
- Scarlett decides to pursue a return to ballet and books a doctor's appointment.
- She meets with Lavinia, learns auditions are closed, but accepts the understudy position.
- Scarlett arrives at Asher's house and sees him kissing another woman.
Character Development
- Scarlett: Takes a significant step toward confronting her past trauma by considering a return to the stage, showing growth in her willingness to be vulnerable. However, her discovery of Asher with another woman reinforces her fears about trusting men in the football world.
- Carina: Acts as a supportive but honest friend, gently pushing Scarlett to examine her own fears rather than letting one bad experience define her future.
- Lavinia: Demonstrates flexibility and loyalty toward a valued employee, offering a compromise that respects rules while acknowledging Scarlett's unique situation.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Risk vs. Security: Scarlett debates whether to stay in her safe, predictable life or take emotional and professional risks. Her decision to audition—even as an understudy—represents a tentative embrace of risk.
- Trust After Betrayal: The chapter explores how a past betrayal (Scarlett's ex moving on quickly) can create lasting walls, influencing new relationships.
- Second Chances: The understudy role symbolizes a second chance at her dancing career, albeit on limited terms.
- The Universe as Matchmaker: Carina's belief that fate is pushing Scarlett and Asher together contrasts with Scarlett's practical resistance.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter marks a turning point for Scarlett's internal arc. She actively chooses to re-engage with ballet, reclaiming a part of her identity she had abandoned after her accident. The emotional high of that decision makes the final moment—seeing Asher kissing another woman—particularly devastating, raising stakes for the emotional conflict between them. It also deepens the theme of vulnerability: just as Scarlett opens herself to a new possibility (dance), she faces a painful reminder of why she guards her heart.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Scarlett decide to try for the staff showcase after years of avoiding it?
Scarlett is influenced by Asher's encouragement to leave her comfort zone and by Carina's observation that she already knows the answer. She wants closure—one last performance on her own terms—and to prove to herself she can do it. Her conversation with Lavinia reveals that the accident took away her chance for a proper ending.
2. How does Carina's attitude toward Scarlett's past relationship differ from Scarlett's own view?
Carina believes Scarlett is letting one bad ex have too much power over her, arguing that not all footballers are untrustworthy. Scarlett, however, generalizes that all footballers are "fuckboys" and uses the professional connection to Asher as a shield to avoid intimacy.
3. What is the significance of Scarlett finding Asher kissing the blonde woman at the end of the chapter?
It undercuts Scarlett's hopefulness and reinforces her fear of being hurt. Just when she takes a chance on herself, she witnesses evidence that Asher may fit the pattern she fears, leaving her emotionally conflicted and likely to retreat further.