The Rest of Us Just Live Here

The introduction to this chapter describes an indie kid named Satchel writing a poem that her parents “give her loving space” to compose (11). She’s then joined by another indie kid named Dylan, who tells her of Finn’s death; they comfort each other.

As Mikey, Mel, Henna, and Jared return to Mikey and Mel’s home, Mikey reflects on how he’s never worked up the courage to tell Henna how he feels. As the friends prepare to hang out, Mikey and Mel’s mother unexpectedly come home early. Mrs. Mitchell is cold toward Mikey’s friends; Henna and Jared quickly pick up on the social cues and make an exit. Mrs. Mitchell begins to criticize Mikey for his friendship with Jared, and Mikey runs out of the house before she can finish her thought. Mikey gives Jared a ride home. Jared has noticed that Mikey’s OCD has been getting worse recently. Mikey reflects on how this is true, and how much he platonically loves Jared—which is complicated, because Jared is gay.

The introduction describes the discovery of Finn’s body and how Satchel enlists other indie kids to help her talk to her uncle, who is the police officer leading the investigation. The Messenger, already inside a new Vessel, prepares for the arrival of the Immortals.

Mikey describes how his hometown is just like any other suburban American town, but with the notable difference of the indie kids—the Chosen Ones of every fantasy novel who are constantly battling otherworldly forces that sometimes impact the daily lives of the locals. Mikey, who is not an indie kid, is only focused on making it to graduation.

While at school, the principal announces Finn’s death. Mikey, Mel, Jared, and Henna tell the police what they know of Finn’s death, but the police don’t believe their fantastical version of events. Dejected, the group heads to lunch. To Mikey’s dismay, Henna invites Nathan to eat with them, and Mikey finds that Nathan is both nice and attractive.

After school, Jared and Mikey head to the local diner where they both wait tables. They discuss how Nathan’s attractiveness hurts Mikey’s prospects with Henna. Before their shift ends, Mikey begins to wash his hands over and over, until he’s made himself bleed. When Jared finds him, he envelops Mikey in a big hug, stopping him from hurting himself. On the way home, they discuss how Mikey has been “getting stuck” in compulsive loops.

The introduction describes various developments in the world of the indie kids: Satchel and her friend Dylan, who has a crush on her, discuss Finn’s death and another indie kid—also named Finn—who has feelings for her; the Messenger makes an offer to another indie kid named Kerouac.

Mikey describes how, four years prior, Mel had a heart attack and died for four minutes because she had a heart arrhythmia exacerbated by her anorexia. Mikey attributes both his OCD and Mel’s eating disorder to his parents’ dysfunction: His mother is an aspiring state politician who consistently prioritizes her political ascendance over her kids’ wellbeing, and his father, who has an alcohol addiction, is trapped in a job that he tried to embezzle from and is now permanently indebted to his boss—his wife’s brother—who could press charges, but doesn’t. The family went through superficial counseling, but Mikey feels that he and Mel have to look out for each other because their parents won’t.

In the present day, Mikey and Mel help their younger sister, Meredith, plan to see her favorite band, Bolts of Fire. The band will be playing at a local fair, and the older siblings, despite Mrs. Mitchell’s refusal to allow Meredith to go, say that they will both accompany her.

The introduction describes Kerouac opening the Gate of the Immortals, which allows the Royal Family to enter the world of the indie kids. Kerouac later finds that the Messenger lied to him and dies.

Henna and Mikey drive to get Henna’s prom dress. They are supposed to go to prom with Mel and Jared as a group, but Henna wants to invite Nathan to join them all as her date—a proposal that Mikey feels would be a violation of the friend group’s dynamic. Henna admits that Mikey is probably the last person she should be discussing this with, which Mikey interprets as Henna’s acknowledgement that she knows he has feelings for her. Mikey takes a risk and admits his love for her. Just as Henna responds by saying “I don’t think you are” (59), they hit a deer and swerve off the road.

Mikey and Henna are both hospitalized, though Henna’s injuries are more severe than Mikey’s. Mikey is attended to by a young doctor named Steve, whom Mel flirts with. Mrs. Mitchell eventually arrives and, though she shows some concern for Mikey’s fractured ribs and broken nose, is more preoccupied with telling her children that their district’s congressman has unexpectedly died and that she’s been tapped for the position. Henna’s parents visit Mikey to thank him for taking care of Henna in the moments before the police arrive.