Summary
Part Three, Truth or Dare, Chapter 19
Part three begins on the same Monday, October 15. Nate reveals to the reader that he lied about his mom because it was easier than telling the truth: that his mom was a drug addict who left him to live on a commune in Oregon. Meanwhile, she tells him she’s sober now. Nate is upset, and rides his motorcycle north for hours. He sees a Joshua tree, and remembers learning from his mother that it grows for seven years before branching or blooming.
He returns to Bayview and attends a party, but leaves when Browyn calls. The chapter switches to her perspective: he comes over to her house near midnight. There, he explains that he thought his mother would never come back, and she believes him. He opens up to her about his true feelings towards his mother, and also reveals that his mother thought Bronwyn was his girlfriend. She says that she’d like to be. The two kiss passionately, then watch the Japanese horror film Ringu.
Part Three, Truth or Dare, Chapter 20
The next morning, Cooper worries about telling his dad he’s gay. He’s been worried about the information coming out for a while after Simon seemed to hit on him. In fact, he had Simon disinvited from an after-prom party at Vanessa’s. He feels guilty for his actions.
On Tuesday evening, Nate meets up with his mom. She offers to help him pay for a lawyer.
Part Three, Truth or Dare, Chapter 21
At school, Mikhail Powers’ crew conducts interviews. Maeve suggests to Leah that she tell the media Simon was a bully. Moreover, she tells the lunch table that she’s going to tip the crew off to Simon’s 4chan threads, on which he said “he didn’t even care when that boy killed all those people in Orange County.” Janae tries to take her phone, but fails.
On Friday, Vanessa trips Addy while she’s running on the school track. Janae helps her out, and tells her, “when Simon was himself, he wouldn’t have wanted this for you.” That afternoon, Janae goes to her house.
Analysis
The Joshua tree serves as a symbol for the possibility of hidden growth: it appears to do nothing for years before flourishing. Nate sees this and thinks of his mother, although it could just as easily apply to him. After years of apparent stagnation, he is rediscovering himself through Bronwyn’s eyes.
The romance between Nate and Bronwyn is not just a path toward self-discovery, but also discovery with regards to Simon’s death. As the two grow closer, they are able to speculate about the truth, as well as their classmates’ potential motives. However, the fact that they do so while watching horror movies serves as a reminder that violence and danger are always right around the corner of their romance.
These chapters add to a picture of Simon as an antagonist-in-absentia. About That is a gossip app that reveals painful truths, but Simon’s 4chan activity showed a lack of concern not just for people’s reputations but for their very lives. He actively sympathized with school shooters rather than their victims.
They also develop Janae’s character. Simon’s goth best friend remains distraught after his death, yet sits with the four teens accused of murdering him during lunch. She seems not to share her classmates’ suspicions. At the same time, she wants to keep her friend’s memory unblemished, as when she tries to stop Maeve from revealing his 4chan posts.
Finally, Cooper’s fear around revealing his homosexuality relates to the theme of media bias. As a talented athlete, he is aware that he will be judged on more than talent. Homosexuality still serves as a liability in his field.
