Chapter 64

Early the next morning, Jamie calls Autumn and comes over. His distant manner signals his intent, and they sit on the back steps after briefly encountering Finny. Autumn senses the breakup before Jamie states he "can’t do this anymore." He claims he cannot be who she needs and labels her too depressed.

Autumn challenges his reasons and proposes using the summer to recover, but Jamie refuses. Pressed for the truth, he admits there is "something else": he and Sasha have discovered mutual feelings. Autumn laughs bitterly at his phrasing and demands specifics.

Jamie reveals they slept together a couple of days before prom, after ordering Autumn’s corsage, and that last week they acknowledged their feelings. He insists they tried not to ruin graduation. Autumn recognizes the recent shift she misread as end-of-year stress.

Autumn reflects that she once believed she loved Jamie less and would be the one to end it. Regaining composure, she tells Jamie to leave, calls them assholes, and refuses further discussion. When Jamie asks for future friendship and conveys Sasha’s wish to talk, Autumn declares she will never be his friend again. She slams the door and cries in private.