67 pages 2 hours read

Jeff Garvin

Symptoms of Being Human

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016

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Chapters 9-16Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 9 Summary

Riley drives to Bec’s house on the older side of Park Hills. When they get there, Bec’s brother Erik answers the door. Riley prepares for Erik to harass them, but Bec intervenes and tells Erik to go play his workout game. Erik leaves the two of them alone and Bec explains that someone on the football team has bribed Erik to do favors in exchange for a chance at a spot on the team.

Bec shows Riley into a bedroom that Bec shared with her deceased sister. Bec says she keeps her sister’s side of the room the way she left it to honor her memory.

Erik connects Riley’s laptop to the neighbor’s WiFi, so Riley and Bec can prepare for the quiz. While scrolling, Riley and Bec come across is for QueerAlliance, an LGBT+ resource website, and Riley is shocked to find their blog featured on the webpage. Anxious to make sure Bec doesn’t notice Riley’s reaction, they make up a lie that they have to be home early on school nights and head home. Riley’s thoughts are split between the attention their blog is getting and trying to determine whether Bec is flirting.