Fourteen-year-old Lexi Baill, a veteran of the foster care system, cautiously embraces a sliver of hope when her caseworker locates a great-aunt. Meanwhile, Jude Farraday, a wealthy and anxious mother, grapples with the challenges of raising twins, Mia and Zach, as they navigate the complexities of high school. These opening chapters lay the foundation for a story of love, loyalty, and the devastating consequences of choices.
Chapter 1: 2000
Lexi travels by bus from Southern California to Port George, Washington, to meet her great-aunt, Eva Lange. Despite the modest surroundings of Eva's double-wide trailer on the local reservation, Lexi is touched by Eva's gesture of quitting smoking in anticipation of her arrival. When Eva tells her, "We're family," and assures her she has a permanent home, Lexi experiences a sense of belonging for the first time.
The perspective shifts to Jude, consumed by anxiety on the first day of high school for her twins. Her husband, Miles, gently chides her for her overbearing parenting style, a result of her past struggles with miscarriages, highlighting the theme of Motherhood and Parental Control. Jude worries especially about Mia, who is shy and insecure, feeling overshadowed by her popular brother. Jude's attempt to walk Mia to her locker only amplifies her daughter's dread for the day ahead.
Chapter 2
On her first day at Pine Island High, Lexi feels out of place, self-conscious about the rhinestone butterfly sweatshirt Eva bought for her. She is immediately targeted by mean girls but is unexpectedly defended by Zach, the most popular boy in school. His simple gesture creates an instant connection that leaves Lexi breathless. Later, feeling isolated during lunch, Lexi spots Mia sitting alone under a tree. They bond over their shared love for classic novels—Lexi's Jane Eyre and Mia's Wuthering Heights—and an immediate friendship forms. Mia invites Lexi back to her house, where Lexi is awed by the Farradays' wealth.
When Zach arrives home with his friends, his warm demeanor from the morning vanishes. He is cold and dismissive toward Lexi, confusing her. Jude, though pleased that Mia has found a friend, is also wary. She drives Lexi home and is shocked to discover she lives in a trailer park. Lexi confesses her past: her mother was a heroin addict who died, and she grew up in foster care. Fearing Jude will end the friendship, Lexi is surprised when Jude, after explaining Mia's own painful history of being betrayed by a friend, decides to embrace Lexi, demonstrating the theme of Love and Loyalty. She invites Lexi to a "girls' day" at the mall, demonstrating a commitment to her daughter's happiness.
Chapter 3: 2003
Three years later, the twins and Lexi are seniors. Jude's anxiety is at an all-time high as she micromanages college applications. The central conflict of the chapter arises when Zach and Mia ask to attend a party at a house where the parents are out of town. Jude is terrified of underage drinking and the potential dangers, highlighting the theme of Choices and Consequences. After a debate with Miles, who advocates for trusting their children, Jude reluctantly agrees, making them promise to be safe and offering a "no questions asked" ride home if they drink.
At the party, Mia quickly gets drunk with her crush, Tyler. Lexi, who has been working at a local ice cream shop and is now an integral part of the Farraday family, watches over her. Her relationship with Zach has remained strained; he is consistently distant, which secretly hurts Lexi because of her long-held crush. After Mia becomes sick, Lexi offers to let her spend the night at her trailer. Once Mia is inside, Zach asks Lexi to show him the nearby hill where she and Mia often hang out. There, he confesses his own insecurities about his future, showing a vulnerability Lexi has never seen. Overcome by the emotional intimacy, Lexi leans in to kiss him, but he pulls away abruptly. Mortified, she runs back to the trailer. The next morning, Eva warns Lexi to be careful around the Farraday kids, astutely noting that they have safety nets and opportunities that Lexi does not.
Chapter 4
The narrative returns to Jude, who endures her monthly lunch with her emotionally distant and critical mother, Caroline. The lunch highlights the stark differences in their parenting philosophies; Caroline believes Jude loves her children "too much," a clear reaction to Caroline's own neglect of Jude after her father's death. This backstory provides context for Jude's intense, hands-on mothering style.
Later, Jude takes Mia and Lexi shopping for homecoming dresses. The event brings the class differences between the girls into sharp focus. When Mia insists they will go to the dance together, Lexi becomes upset, pointing out that she doesn't have a date and can't afford a dress. To solve the problem and ensure her daughter's happiness, Jude devises a plan: since Zach's girlfriend is out of town, he can take Lexi to the dance. She frames it as a friendly arrangement so he can be present when he is crowned homecoming king. Though deeply reluctant and worried about the implications, Lexi feels pressured to agree, setting the stage for a pivotal night.
Chapter 5
On homecoming night, Jude pampers Lexi with a professional hair and makeup session. At the Farraday house, the atmosphere is tense. Zach is stiff and awkward, barely looking at Lexi. At the dance, during a slow song, he pulls her outside onto the deserted football field. He confronts her about the night on the hill, asking what she would have done if he had wanted her to kiss him. He then kisses her passionately, a moment that is both thrilling and terrifying for Lexi. Their kiss is interrupted by Mia, who tells them Zach is about to be crowned homecoming king. Lexi is forced to lie about why they were alone, deepening her guilt.
In the days that follow, Lexi is consumed by her secret. Zach appears at her work and asks her to meet him secretly at a park later that night. Despite knowing it's a betrayal of Mia, Lexi agrees. At the moonlit beach, Zach confesses that he has had feelings for her since the first day they met but stayed away out of loyalty to Mia. The kiss at the dance made him realize he couldn't hide his feelings anymore. Caught between her loyalty to her best friend and her love for Zach, Lexi gives in. They kiss again, and she agrees to see him the next night, beginning a secret, dangerous relationship.
Key Events
- Lexi's Arrival (2000): Lexi moves in with her great-aunt Eva, finding a sense of belonging for the first time.
- A New Friendship (2000): Lexi befriends Mia, while also experiencing a charged moment with Zach.
- The Party (2003): Mia gets drunk at a party, and Lexi takes her home to protect her.
- The Almost-Kiss: Zach and Lexi share a vulnerable moment, ending with Lexi attempting to kiss him.
- The Homecoming Dance: Zach takes Lexi to the dance, and they share their first real kiss.
- The Secret Begins: Zach and Lexi confess their feelings and begin a secret relationship.
Character Development
The characters undergo significant changes in these opening chapters, setting the stage for future conflicts and growth.
- Lexi Baill: From a guarded teenager, Lexi blossoms with the love and stability she finds with Eva and the Farradays. However, her feelings for Zach lead her into a secret that compromises her integrity.
- Jude Farraday: Jude's overprotective nature is established, driven by a desire to shield her children from harm. Her kindness towards Lexi is evident, but her controlling tendencies inadvertently contribute to the central conflict.
- Mia Farraday: Mia gains confidence through her friendship with Lexi but remains somewhat naive, unaware of the secret romance between her brother and best friend.
- Zach Farraday: Zach's hidden depths are revealed as he struggles with his feelings for Lexi, torn between desire and loyalty to Mia.
Themes & Symbols
- Motherhood and Parental Control: Explored through Jude's hyper-vigilant parenting, her own mother's neglect, and Eva's quiet support.
- Love and Loyalty: The bond between Mia and Lexi is tested by Lexi and Zach's romance.
- Choices and Consequences: The characters' decisions set the narrative in motion.
"We're family."
This quote, spoken by Eva to Lexi, marks a turning point for Lexi, who has longed for a sense of belonging her entire life. It signifies the beginning of a new chapter for her, one filled with hope and the promise of stability.
"Too much love is barely enough."
This quote encapsulates Jude's parenting philosophy, driven by her own experiences and a deep-seated fear of loss. It highlights the lengths she is willing to go to protect her children, even if it means being overbearing.
Significance
These chapters are foundational, establishing the characters' personalities, backstories, and motivations. The dual perspectives of Lexi and Jude create a rich emotional landscape and introduce dramatic irony. While Jude works to protect her children, the greatest threat forms within her own world. The relationships—Mia and Lexi's bond, and Lexi and Zach's forbidden love—drive the plot toward its tragic climax. The seeds of love, loyalty, secrecy, and betrayal are sown, making the consequences feel both shocking and inevitable.