Twisted

In the heat of the day, Tyler notices the cake’s frosting is beginning to slide. He picks up his speed but then worries it will make his armpits sweat. He rehearses in his head what he’s going to say to Bethany, though he can’t settle on anything he likes.

Bethany is unable to walk on her own and her brother has broken her crutches while fake-wrestling with his friends. Bethany and Tyler bond over what a jerk Chip is. Tyler apologizes profusely for the accident and Bethany lets him know she doesn’t blame him. Nonetheless, he apologizes again and she insists that he stop:

[s]he grabbed a handful of my t-shirt and pulled. I sat up on my knees in front of her chair. When she let go of my shirt, her hand brushed my cheek. It smelled like soap and ice cream and girl: pure and perfect girl. Her touch set my face on fire. My face and everything else (37). 

The two eat cake and watch television together, enjoying each other’s company. Bethany has to go to the bathroom but can’t maneuver herself there on her own. Tyler tries to help support her, but finally realizes it’s easier to just pick her up and carry her. As they reach the top of the stairs, Chip returns and is chagrined to find Tyler there. Bethany reminds Tyler she will see him tomorrow, the first day of the new school year. 

The next morning, Hannah is starting her freshman year at George Washington High and could not be more excited about it. Tyler muses that high school is just school, “plus seven levels of social hell (especially for freshman girls)” (42). She offers to help Tyler get dressed in a way that accentuates his new physique. He looks in the mirror and doesn’t think he looks half bad.

Hannah is filled with excitement for her first day and Tyler can’t help but feel a bit sad for her. He looks knowingly at the sophomores, juniors and seniors who are already dreading being back. He notices Bethany and her mother arguing in the parking lot.

Once inside, it’s obvious students are paying attention to Tyler; some because of the Foul Deed but most because of his new look. Hannah is pleased.

Principal Hughes welcomes the students and reminds Tyler of their conversation after the Foul Deed, in which Tyler promised to behave himself.

Tyler notices that Hannah has a belly button ring and worries about the upperclassmen leering at his little sister. Hannah, on the other hand, tells her brother not to interfere, and that she has been waiting her whole life for this. 

Tyler asks his homeroom teacher for a copy of his schedule, which is filled with Advanced Placement courses, classes Tyler vaguely remembers agreeing to after the Foul Deed. Tyler arrives in AP English to find his classmates have done their summer readings. Tyler has not cracked a book. Mr. Salvatore, the English teacher, gives Tyler an additional week to “buckle down” (51). By the end of the day, Tyler has resolved to talk to his parents about changing his schedule. 

After dinner, Tyler approaches Bill in his “lair,” a basement study where he goes to listen to music and escape his family. Bill removes his headphones when he sees Tyler there, eager to dismiss him. When Tyler brings up changing his schedule, Bill admonishes, “[y]ou want me to take care of your problems again” (55). Bill’s growing irritation sparks fantasies of violence in Tyler, who continues to try to plead his case. Though Bill wins this argument, Tyler reminds his father that Tyler will be eighteen in a few months.

Linda defends her husband to Tyler as he comes up the stairs from the basement:

“—he’s under pressure at work

--he’s depressed again

--he’s not good at communicating

--he’s worried about money

--he’s your father

--you have to give him a chance…” (56)

Tyler ignores his mother, walks up the stairs, and closes his bedroom door. 

Tyler again comforts himself with thoughts of death. He remembers seeing a news report of a young pilot crashing his small plane into a building. He recalls, “I watched replays obsessively, trying to figure what the kid’s last second felt like. Did he feel anything? Did he feel everything? Which would be worse?” (57). 

Bethany begins to pay more attention to Tyler, who rushes to greet her after fourth and eighth period each day. In spite of the positives in his romantic life, Tyler’s grades have taken a nosedive and he is grateful his father is spending all of his time at work, so Tyler is not under constant scrutiny. Meanwhile, Yoda is courting Hannah, who does not seem interested. In order to improve his bona fides, he applies to be the manager of the JV football team and is accepted on a two-week trial basis.