Jane enjoys her time at the party, but when Nellie arrives, she can sense that the latter doesn’t like her. Jane notices that Nellie’s car looks like the one that caused her horse to spook and questions her. Nellie does not show any remorse for causing the accident and instead mocks Jane for riding a horse. Blair, however, sides with Jane and chastises Nellie for causing the accident.

Nellie’s boyfriend, Dustin, also asks Jane how she hurt her leg; Jane fears that Nellie noticed her speaking with Dustin and will become jealous. On the drive home, Blair and Stacy, another local teenage girl, explain to Jane that they are suspicious and even frightened of Nellie because she has a history of strange and menacing behavior. However, they explain, “we have to be friends with her, because that’s how this town works” (115).

Jane arrives home slightly past curfew; Abigail is waiting up. Abigail chastises Jane for drinking, smoking, and possibly being involved with boys; Jane thinks her mother is a hypocrite because she suspects Abigail got pregnant before she was married. Jane also notes that her father is not at home and is suspicious of what he does when he is away late at night.

The unnamed narrator worries that someone is approaching, but it turns out to be a false alarm. They are confounded that they have killed someone.

Nellie arrives home from the party angry. She doesn’t like that Blair and Jane seem to be becoming closer. She also suspects that Dustin is attracted to Jane, which angers her even though she doesn’t like Dustin very much. Nellie is insecure about her physical appearance, especially because both of her parents are extremely attractive and she doesn’t resemble either of them. Nellie knows that her mother is regretful that she isn’t prettier, and she uses this knowledge to manipulate Charleigh at times.

Nellie thinks back to a summer several years earlier, when she was 15. She went to Sweden to visit her father’s extended family and felt more liberated and accepted there. However, Nellie developed a crush on a distant cousin and became very angry when he rejected her. Knowing her cousin had a severe peanut allergy, she slipped nuts into some trail mix he ate while they were hiking together. When he had a severe allergic reaction, she let him suffer for several minutes before giving him his EpiPen. This interaction led to conflict in the family: The cousin reported what happened, but Nellie lied and told her mother that her cousin had molested her. Nellie was sent home to America, but she dreams of returning to Sweden someday.

In the present-day, Charleigh tells Nellie that she went to the Swift farm and met Abigail. Nellie is irritated by her mother’s meddling, but Charleigh reassures her that Abigail didn’t seem interested in either Jane or Nellie. Charleigh speaks derisively of the farm and reassures Nellie that “the novelty will wear off soon” (126).

The day after meeting Ethan Swift at the bar, Jackson finds himself fantasizing about the other man and longing to call him. Instead, he finds a series of urgent voicemail messages from Charleigh, demanding he call her back immediately. Jackson feels resentful and irritated by Charleigh’s entitled attitude.

Charleigh arrives late to an exercise class at the private membership gym she and her family belong to. She was surprised and angry to see that, despite not being a member, Abigail Swift had attended the class and was being treated warmly by the other women.

Charleigh storms home and begins trying to reach Jackson on the phone. When he doesn’t respond to her messages, she resorts to complaining to her husband. Alexander doesn’t see what the problem is, reassuring Charleigh that their wealth and social status will never be challenged.

Jane hears her father come in very late at night, and her mother seems angry when he returns. The next day, Jane wonders if Ethan is unfaithful. She is surprised when Ethan asks if she can befriend Nellie. Ethan explains that Charleigh made him realize that family “seem like good prospects” (136) after she visited the farm. Jane is unhappy about this request, complaining about how Nellie spooked her horse, but her father encourages her to try.

Jackson attends the annual summer fish fry with Charleigh, Alexander, and Nellie. They are all startled when Abigail, Ethan, and Jane Swift arrive alongside the Chambers family (Blair’s family). Blair’s mother, Monica Chambers, introduces the Swifts to Jackson and the Andersens; Jackson observes Abigail, noting that she is not as attractive as her husband. Alexander is civil, but Jackson can sense the obvious tension between Jane and Nellie.

Ethan acts as though he and Jackson have never met, concealing their encounter at the bar. When Ethan heads to the bathroom, Jackson follows him.

In the bathroom, Ethan explains that he didn’t tell Abigail about meeting Jackson at the bar. He invites Jackson to come to the farm the following day and see the furniture; he notes that Abigail won’t be home. Jackson readily agrees. They return to the restaurant so that they don’t attract attention and Jackson returns his focus to Charleigh and her family.

Nellie drifts away from her family to mingle with some other teens. Dustin invites her to go skinny-dipping at the swimming hole later that night. She declines but bribes him to let her drive his jet ski.

On the jet ski, Dustin and Nellie approach the swimming hole where many teens, including Jane and Blair, are gathered. After watching both Jane and Blair dive from the roof of the boathouse, Nellie speeds towards them on the jet ski, only swerving at the last minute to avoid colliding with the swimmers.

Alexander, Charleigh, and Jackson drive home from the fish fry; she is drunk and angry with Alexander for being civil to the Swift family. She is also resentful that Jane is more beautiful than Nellie.

Charleigh ponders how she orchestrated the relationship between Nellie and Dustin, since Dustin’s family is rich and she did not want Nellie to be embarrassed by being single. Alexander complains that Nellie was rude to Jane, but Charleigh insists that it was good for Nellie to stand up for herself. Charleigh and Alexander continue to argue, and when they arrive at Jackson’s house, she goes inside with him, telling Alexander she’ll come home later.

Jane reflects on the night at the swimming hole. She appreciates that Blair is befriending her. She is alarmed by Nellie coming at them with the jet ski and hopes that her father observed how rude Nellie is when the families interacted. Jane also reflects on the experience of swimming topless: She found it liberating and believes Luke wouldn’t mind.

Jane’s thoughts are cut short by the sound of her parents arguing. Ethan is pointing out that an unnamed man (inferred to be Alexander) “took a shine to [Abigail]” (162). He explains that the family needs money and insists that Abigail find a way to orchestrate a seemingly chance meeting with Alexander: She can sit outside the Andersen house, wait for him to leave, and then follow him.

After drinking heavily, Charleigh spends the night on Jackson’s couch; in the morning, he is anxious for her to leave so that he can make his meeting with Ethan at the farm. Jackson has not told Charleigh about his crush or the meeting. He feels conflicted about hiding this information, since he usually tells Charleigh everything.

After dropping her off, he drives to the farm, where Ethan shows him around. Jackson marvels at the beauty and craftmanship of Ethan’s furniture. He feels worried when Ethan broaches the idea of encouraging Charleigh to purchase some of the furniture, since he can’t reveal that Charleigh hates the entire Swift family.

Julia happens upon them in the woodworking shed and seems suspicious of Jackson. Jackson leaves hastily, promising to be in touch with Ethan about potential referrals to his decorating clients.

Jane and Abigail sit in their parked truck, in front of the Andersen house. They follow Alexander into a general supply store, where he is buying ammunition for hunting. Abigail pretends to run into him by accident and begins flirting with Alexander while Jane watches from nearby. Jane observes that Alexander is clearly attracted to her mother. Abigail encourages Alexander to come to the farm to look at her potions and Ethan’s furniture, and he seems interested in doing so.

The unnamed narrator feels increasing anxiety, trying to figure out how to fix the situation with the body.