Star tells Frankie that Dean broke up with her and now none of their friends will speak to her. Star marvels at how easily they can pretend she doesn’t exist. Frankie can’t escape the thought of how easily the same thing could happen to her.

Frankie and Trish have their girls’ night. Trish thinks Porter still likes Frankie, but Frankie dislikes his “superior attitude.” She remembers how Alpha implied Matthew was “whipped,” so she puts on perfume and changes her top. When Matthew arrives, he tells Frankie he can’t take her to the movie because Alpha reminded him of an “obligation.” Frankie is almost certain that Matthew is punishing her for her behavior in front of his friends. She quickly considers all the concerns she cannot voice because she wants to keep her boyfriend. However, she also wants to stop him from “putting her in her place, which is what she felt he was trying to do” (176). She kisses him, and he presses her up against a tree. She realizes that she just altered their power dynamic and that Matthew wants to stay with her now. When he leaves, she secretly follows him.