A cliff over the river called Dying Sun, where Michael lives, is introduced as a new and formative setting. The mood becomes almost romantic and reflective as Tori and Michael watch the sun go down after a day together, with Tori perceiving her surroundings in an idyllic light: “[T]he sky is still a little orange and, in every other direction except the town, all you can see are fields, many abandoned and wild, their long grass flowing like sea waves” (145). The natural imagery contributes to an atmosphere of both beauty and desolation, reflecting Tori’s internal state, which is poised between melancholy and fleeting joy. Particularly in contrast to the confining school halls, the expansive cliffside foreshadows her journey to relief and Finding Light in the Darkness.

A similar cliff appears in Tori’s dream, where it is a source of both anxiety and rebirth. Her dream of falling from a cliff suggests her fears of growing up and losing herself. That she is then caught by a boy wearing a red hat is one of several allusions to J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, in which the protagonist, Holden Caulfield, wears a red hat and describes his desire to “catch” children before they fall from a cliff (the field of grass that Tori sees is another nod to this passage). In that novel, Holden’s wish reflects his desire to preserve childhood innocence; like Tori, he is preoccupied with avoiding the woes of adulthood. However, the use of Holden’s first name for Michael’s last name also implies a parallel between these two characters, positioning Michael as the “catcher” who will save Tori.

In this vein, Tori’s interactions with Michael kickstart her journey toward emotional openness. Despite her initial discomfort, she eventually cuddles with him while watching Beauty and the Beast and finds that she can relax in his presence. Tori’s attention to the details of Michael’s physicality (“His arm is laid over his forehead, his hair is splayed out in the dark and the remaining light swirls in kaleidoscope shapes in his blue eye” [159]) demonstrates her growing appreciation for beauty and human connection. Their relationship is not without tension, however; when she cannot acknowledge their friendship, they argue, and he affirms her worst fears about herself: that she is incapable of connection and love.

Tori’s struggle to trust and accept care from others is further evidenced by her response to Lucas’s attempts to reconnect. These irritate her, as they remind her of past behaviors, as compared to what she perceives as her current personal flaws: “I thought that it’d be nice to try and rekindle this friendship, but it’s too hard. I don’t want to talk to anyone” (99). Her comparison of him to “some ghost who doesn’t want to be forgotten” says as much about her as it does about him (99), reflecting her struggle with who she used to be versus who she is now.

Charlie’s relapse only heightens Tori’s conflict, leading her to reflect, “[Y]our brother is unwell. You don’t have any friends. Nobody feels bad for you. Beauty and the Beast isn’t real. It’s funny because it’s true. Don’t be sad anymore” (133). The rapid-fire lines capture Tori’s sense of powerlessness; her world feels fragmented and overwhelming. At the same time, her words convey her sense of shame regarding her emotions, implying that she shouldn’t “be sad” and that no one should sympathize with her. Charlie’s crisis therefore both triggers a similar, if quieter, crisis in Tori and reinforces her belief that her struggles pale in comparison—a new motive for Feigning “Normalcy” to Fit In.

The tension in these chapters arises from Tori’s active engagement with Solitaire and the surrounding social dynamics. Her investigation of the blog results in her being locked in the IT room and then freed by Michael, which establishes both suspense and an opportunity for building trust with Michael. That Solitaire catalyzes this encounter is significant, as it claims that it exists to help students navigate school stress and social isolation. This parallels Michael’s role as an emotional anchor for Tori, and through the contrast between these two sources of support, Oseman explores the tension between guidance and manipulation. Tori is drawn to Solitaire’s advice yet must interpret and act on it independently; the more harm the blog causes, the more it leads her toward Being the Start of Change.