Talking at Night: A Novel

Will and Rosie stay in touch via text message. Will sleeps with Darcy once but doesn’t enjoy it, thinking about Rosie instead. Marley gets angry with Rosie for not dating Will, but Rosie placates her with a movie night. Rosie focuses on studying for her exams. She likes it when Will texts her before bed. Rosie feels “In control, and on the right path […]” (62).

Marley plans to attend the winter dance with Tom Dellow. She can tell Marley is frustrated that she’s not taking Will, but Rosie promises they can get ready together and jokes that Josh is her date. Rosie’s mom has a bad migraine the week before Christmas break and can’t go to work. Rosie takes her medicine, sits by her bed, and thinks she likes her mom better when she’s ill because she isn’t pressuring her about weight loss or school. Rosie tells Josh she wants to go shopping for a dress for the dance. He jokes with her about wanting to impress someone special, and when Rosie cracks a joke about him never having a girlfriend, neither laughs in the uncomfortable silence. Rosie apologizes and blames her outburst on stress.