Finn — Thirteen

As afternoon wanes, Finn notes Sylvie’s text confirming he can pick her up after seven, underscoring his plan to end their relationship that night. He and Autumn lie together, having spent hours kissing and exploring each other, and she repeatedly tells him she loves him, a fact Finn is finally accepting.

Autumn asks for true stories from when they didn’t recognize their love. Finn admits he secretly chose the tiara she received years ago. Autumn recalls a Valentine’s Day visit when Finn, feverish and shirtless, thought she’d brought him a valentine; both reveal they misread each other’s signals, exposing long-standing mutual desire.

They confess private attractions—Autumn to Finn’s body at games and around the house; Finn to Autumn’s presence everywhere—and Finn describes being mesmerized by her on Halloween. Together, they imagine an alternate version of that night where a spilled drink leads to a clandestine upstairs make-out, whispered confessions, and the next day’s fallout, including necessary breakups and rumors.

The hypothetical reinforces their present resolve: Finn must break up with Sylvie, and Autumn would have broken up with Jamie. Finn wishes they had started sooner; Autumn reassures him they are together now. They affirm nicknames—she calls him “Finny,” he slips into calling her “beloved”—and promise a future together.

As they consider showering, Autumn shyly declines, revealing boundaries around intimacy, and she refuses to dress in front of him. Finn respects this, decides to buy condoms that night to be prepared, and they exchange more I-love-yous before he gets up to leave for his difficult conversation with Sylvie.