If He Had Been with Me
by Laura Nowlin
Contents
Chapter 4
Overview
Autumn and Sasha establish a new lunch group on the Steps to Nowhere, crystallizing their social identities apart from The Clique. Both pursue Brooke’s cousin Jamie, but Jamie chooses Autumn, and they become a couple. Alexis’s group notices, signaling Autumn’s shift into a new orbit that may reshape future dynamics.
Summary
At the start of high school, Autumn and Sasha eat lunch alone on the Steps to Nowhere, a quiet spot below the courtyard. As students sort into new groups, Alexis’s uniformed clique smirks at them, and Sylvie, a transfer from St. John’s, sits with that table. The social order begins to settle.
Sasha befriends Brooke, a St. John’s girl wearing a crucifix and skull, who brings her boyfriend Noah and her cousin Jamie. More students cycle through, and by the second week a stable group forms around the Steps: Autumn, Sasha, Brooke, Noah, Angie, Alex, and Jamie.
Autumn is immediately taken with Jamie—his green eyes, messy dark hair, and mischievous energy. Jamie leads playful pranks while the girls watch from the steps. Autumn and Sasha each try to win Jamie’s attention, Sasha with teasing and games, Autumn with demure flirtation. They compete without jeopardizing their friendship.
Within days, Jamie gravitates toward Autumn. He sits beside her, shares fries, and tickles her, signaling his choice. Autumn feels giddy yet strives to appear casual as their connection deepens.
On a Monday, Jamie takes Autumn’s hand as if it were understood, publicly confirming they are together. When Autumn and Jamie pass Alexis’s clique, they feign indifference but clearly notice. Autumn claims this new identity: Jamie, the dark-haired “gothic prince,” is hers, marking a decisive turn in her social world.
Who Appears
- AutumnNarrator; helps form a new lunch group and starts dating Jamie after friendly competition with Sasha.
- JamieBrooke’s cousin; mischievous and charismatic. Chooses Autumn, publicly holding her hand and initiating their relationship.
- SashaAutumn’s close friend; co-founds the Steps group and competes for Jamie’s attention but accepts Autumn’s win.
- BrookeNew friend from St. John’s; brings boyfriend Noah and cousin Jamie to the group.
- NoahBrooke’s devoted boyfriend; part of the newly formed lunch group.
- AngieGroup member; crush on someone from her old school, not interested in Alex.
- AlexShort, goofy boy in the group; not a romantic match for Angie.
- AlexisLeader in the old clique; notices Autumn and Jamie together, masking interest with indifference.
- SylvieNew girl from St. John’s who sits with Alexis’s table, marking shifting social lines.