Unfriended

The popular girls worry about the conflict on social media. They’re scared the principal might step in. Truly has stopped replying to comments and she’s given up on untagging herself. Natasha concludes that Truly’s surrender signals her guilt.

Hazel arrives in a shiny black car, and Brooke tells her that she wants to hang out again without funerals or death. Hazel compliments Brooke by calling her “weird.” She also sticks up for Truly. She tells Brooke that Truly is nice and alludes to the email Natasha sent Truly. Brooke wonders how Hazel knows about the email, and Hazel promises to explain later. Hazel reminds Brooke that she has “power,” so she should use it to help Truly. Citing the Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir (1969-1974), Hazel tells Brooke, “Don’t be humble; you’re not that great” (344).

Hazel quotes adults who say kids should get off social media and go outside. Hazel thinks it’s people, not social media. Hazel argues that kids didn’t invent bullying. Hazel’s grandmother bullies her mother about her style, her mother bullies her father about how he chews, and her father bullies her about her hair.

Clay studiously prepared for his math test, but when he looked at the test, he was immediately confused. After math class, Clay bumps into Brooke, and she takes him to the C stairwell. Clay’s parents took away his phone and computer, so he’s not following the online drama. Jack briefed him about it, and Brooke thinks Truly looks “haunted.”

Concerning math, Brooke suggests Clay asks his father to run with him. Clay’s father doesn’t run, but that’s Brooke’s point: Running for him is like studying for Clay—it’s not easy. Clay is silent. He wants to “grab” Brooke. She asks him if she’s “weird.” Clay says she is, and she kisses him. They admit their romantic feelings for each other.

Truly writes the script for the Benedict Arnold play. She prints them out, staples them, and brings them to social studies. There are only four parts, so Natasha asks if Truly is the director. Truly claims she’s “nothing.” Natasha is Peggy, Brooke is George Washington, Evangeline is Benedict Arnold, and Lulu is John Andre. The girls discuss the play and the actions of the characters, and Natasha notices that their conversations have multiple meanings, as it also applies to their personal behavior.

Truly claims no one in the play is “innocent,” but Natasha believes the play suggests that if a person is a scheming “douche,” then they should die. Truly walks out of school, and Natasha texts her mother in the bathroom. Natasha’s mother tells her to stay tough.

Truly’s chapter is five lines. She calls herself a “butterfly” and tells herself not to feel or think. Truly just has to keep walking.

Truly has never cut school, so Hazel is worried. Hazel is supposed to be strange and hyperbolic, not Truly. Hazel begs Truly to “connect.” She sends Truly a flurry of urgent texts. She prods her to answer. She tells Truly that the ostracism is her and Natasha’s fault.

Truly stands by Big Pond as she wonders why people are mad at her. She feels like she must choose between having no friends and having friends that hurt her. She doesn’t want to go home because then she’ll have to face her parents, who’ll be disappointed that she cut school.

Truly looks at her phone and the texts from Hazel, who promises to publicly accept blame for the conflicts on social media. Hazel apologizes, and Truly responds with an apology. Hazel tells Truly to change her passwords. Confused by Hazel’s directive, Truly throws her phone in the air and it splashes into Big Pond.

Jack skips practice and goes to Truly’s house. No one answers the door, but he sees her sitting on a swing in the backyard. He joins her. After small talk about her stitches, she starts to cry. Truly asks Jack about what’s happening online. Jack believes people say false, unmindful things, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

Jack gives Truly the bracelet, and Truly wonders why he’s nice to her. She feels like she has a wrecked and petty personality, but Jack disagrees. He helps Truly put the bracelet on, and Truly says it feels as strong as rope. Truly wants a rope. Jack is excited that Truly likes his gift. To calm himself, he thinks about what he’ll cook for dinner.

Brooke’s father stands in the kitchen. He can’t believe he bought $200 worth of groceries but forgot milk. Her father says he once bought a car for $200—it had no floor or brakes, but he didn’t need them. Her father doesn’t mind setbacks. Bad things will occur, but people should keep going and start over. While Brooke helps her father put away the groceries, Clay sends her a photo of the C stairwell, labeling it the greatest spot on earth.

At Evangeline’s house, the girls are supposed to practice the Benedict Arnold play, but they go online to try to find Truly and delete and block the toxic posts about her. At home, Natasha tries to fit into a dress. She sweats and feels her blood flow cut off. She gets the dress inside-out and over her chest when she crashes into her lamp. Natasha’s mother thinks Natasha threw her lamp against the wall.

Natasha’s mother gets a phone call from Truly’s mother, who tells Natasha’s mother about how Natasha’s actions have negatively impacted Truly. They hang up, and Natasha’s mother bangs Natasha’s door open. They laugh at Natasha’s condition, and Natasha’s mother cares for Natasha’s feet—she stepped in the lamp glass.

Natasha feels fat, and her mother exacerbates her perspective. Natasha’s mother makes Natasha hate herself. She wants her mother to realize that she’s hurt, too. Natasha’s mother claims to be on Natasha’s side. Natasha says her mother should be on someone else’s side then.

Hazel and Truly apologize again to each other at school. Hazel gives Truly a word lock that spells “friend,” and she compliments Truly’s bracelet. Truly assures Hazel that her parents don’t hate her, they just think the conflict got “a little out of hand” (408). Truly’s parents have banned her from going online for a month, and, as a show of solidarity, Hazel bans herself from online spaces for a month. Hazel and Truly agree that online isn’t the main problem, but it accelerates an already toxic atmosphere.

Truly enters the bathroom, hoping to have a moment to herself before she faces the girls, but the girls are already in the bathroom. They tell Truly that they deleted most of the content about her, and then they compliment each other’s costumes. They take a photo and post it.

Truly tells Natasha that her mother thinks they need a break. Natasha agrees. Truly asks if Natasha is okay, and Natasha tells Truly to get over herself. Truly is talking about Natasha’s feet—they look injured. Natasha doesn’t want to get into it. The girls agree to try not to get so angry at one another.

In the gym, Truly introduces the play, Benediction, since the word means to say something good about someone. Truly thinks Benedict also just wanted to be popular.