If He Had Been with Me
by Laura Nowlin
Contents
Chapter 13
Overview
On the last day of school, a pool gathering is upended when Brooke confesses she kissed Aiden. Brooke tells Noah privately and is forgiven, but the girls’ secrecy angers the boys. Jamie freezes Autumn out until she reveals Brooke’s secret, restoring peace but exposing a troubling dynamic in their relationship.
Summary
On the last day of school, Autumn coasts through easy finals and basks with friends on The Steps to Nowhere. Jamie delays signing her yearbook until the end of the day, leaving a private note declaring his love and hopes for their future. Brooke seems distracted, brushing off concern.
At Jamie’s pool party, playful games shift when Autumn notices Brooke and Angie missing. In the bathroom, Brooke tearfully confesses she let her lab partner, Aiden Harris, kiss her while studying, then stopped it. The girls decide it is Brooke’s place to tell Noah. When the boys knock, they shield Brooke’s privacy and send Noah in to talk.
Outside, the girls refuse to explain, frustrating Jamie and Alex. Noah later asks for Angie, then leaves with Brooke to talk. The girls keep the secret, and when Autumn says goodbye, Jamie withholds affection, signaling anger about being excluded.
That night, Jamie and Autumn argue by phone. He relents only after Autumn reveals Brooke’s confession, after which he becomes instantly sweet and the fight is dropped. The next day at the mall, Brooke reports that Noah forgave her, recognizing her remorse.
Relieved for Brooke and Noah, Autumn nevertheless wonders how Jamie would react if the situation were reversed, hinting at unease about loyalty and control in her own relationship.
Who Appears
- AutumnNarrator; navigates last-day celebrations, guards Brooke’s secret, then betrays it to pacify Jamie, prompting self-doubt about their relationship.
- JamieAutumn’s boyfriend; affectionate in writing but sulks over secrecy, forgiving only after Autumn reveals Brooke’s confession.
- BrookeAutumn’s friend; admits she kissed Aiden, tells Noah, cries, and is ultimately forgiven.
- NoahBrooke’s boyfriend; hears her confession privately, forgives her, and reassures her.
- AngieFriend; already knows Brooke’s secret, supports Brooke, helps enforce privacy from the boys.
- SashaFriend; studies for finals, joins Autumn and Angie in protecting Brooke’s privacy from the boys.
- AlexFriend; jokes with the group, frustrated by being kept out of the girls’ bathroom conversation.
- Aiden HarrisBrooke’s lab partner; kisses Brooke during a study session, triggering the chapter’s conflict.