Better Than the Movies

Liz finds Wesley, her vexing next-door neighbor, lounging on her car. She is immediately suspicious because she and Wes have an ongoing rivalry over the one available parking spot on their street. Liz recently called the parking police on Wes, who ticketed him for violating the 24-hour parking ordinance. She discovers that Wes has now taped the ticket to her windshield and struggles to remove it before heading to school.

Liz meets her best friend, Jocelyn in the school bathroom. Joss compliments Liz’s outfit before teasing her for dressing like the heroines in her favorite romantic comedies. In English class, Liz sits between Joss and Laney Morgan, the mean girl who Liz has resented since kindergarten for her cruel behavior. When a boy in class smiles at her, Liz muses about her short-lived relationships. She only dates boys for two weeks before they disappoint her for not living up to her rom-com expectations. Liz and Joss are planning to go to prom together, but Liz wishes she had a boy to spend the magical evening with.

After class, Liz spots Michael Young, her childhood crush who moved away in elementary school. As Liz and Michael hug, Wes bumps into them. He invites Michael to a party, and Liz worries about them rekindling their friendship. She is afraid Wes will turn Michael against her because Wes has enjoyed tormenting Liz since they were kids. After Michael walks away, Joss reveals the rumor that Michael and Laney have been almost-dating since he got back a month ago. She warns Liz not to romanticize Michael into being the hero of her story.

Liz is disheartened but not willing to give up. Joss reminds Liz about prom dress shopping later, but Liz invents an excuse because shopping without her mother is too painful to think about.

Liz remembers that Michael moved away right before her mother died in fifth grade. She reflects on her vast knowledge of rom-coms after watching so many with her mother, a screenwriter of romantic TV movies; Liz considers romance part of her inheritance. Liz decides to ask Wes to take her to the party so she can get closer to Michael, and offers him the parking spot in exchange. She recalls a kind moment from their childhood: She was short on cash while trying to recover her mother’s movie collection which had been mistakenly donated. Wes had loaned her the money to get the movies back.

After she asks for his help, Wes teases Liz about her plan to make Michael like her, but he agrees to take her to the party. The movie Kate and Leopold is playing in the background. Wes thinks it is “tropey garbage,” and Liz thinks it shows the power of true love (35). Wes is skeptical about the reality of enemies falling in love but is surprisingly knowledgeable about specific rom-coms.

Later, Liz goes for her usual jog. Her father and stepmother, Helena, think she runs for exercise, but she actually jogs as an excuse to visit her mother at the cemetery. She speaks to her mother’s grave and admits that this “ritual had kind of become like an oral diary over the years” (40). Back at home, Joss and Liz’s friends sneak into Liz’s bedroom after planning a senior prank. Liz expects Joss’s reproach for not participating in senior activities, but instead, Joss asks Liz about her afternoon. Liz neglects to tell her about the deal with Wes.

The next evening, as Liz waits for Wes to pick her up, she recalls being disappointed with how quickly her father fell for Helena six years earlier. Helena is sarcastic and laid-back, whereas Liz’s mother had been “enchanting” and traditional. Liz ignores Joss’s texts, believing Joss would not understand her desire to go to the party. Liz’s father reminds her about her midnight curfew; because a drunk driver killed Liz’s mother, he has become more protective. Still, Liz admits that she usually prefers to spend Friday evenings relaxing with friends.

When Wes arrives, he questions Liz’s choice of dress. He also reminds Liz that she knows nothing about Michael now, but Liz is determined to make her childhood crush come true. Wes calls her “Libby,” which Liz finds annoying because her mother used to call her that. At the basement party, Liz feels out of place, but Wes fits right in. When a drunk girl named Ashley flirts with Wes, Liz “rescues” him by claiming that she and Wes are dating. Ashley apologizes as Michael arrives. He thinks Liz’s dress is a work uniform, so Liz lies by saying she works at a diner. As she, Wes, and Michael share childhood memories, Liz discovers that Michael still thinks of her as his kid friend. When the subject of prom comes up, Liz hopes Michael will ask her. She makes it clear to Michael that she and Wes are not involved.

Suddenly, Ashley returns and vomits all over Liz. Wes helps Liz to the restroom to clean up and gives her extra gym clothes from his car. When she returns downstairs, he helps hold up the oversized pants for her. She is surprised by his protectiveness before they leave the party.

On the way home, Wes reveals that Michael still sees Liz as the “nice little weirdo” he grew up with (72). Liz is confused until Wes reminds her that she used to perform plays and sing made-up songs as a kid. Wes assures her that he attempted to talk her up, but Michael took that to mean that Wes has feelings for Liz. She is disappointed, but Wes claims Michael thought her hidden tattoo, which he spotted when the oversized pants were drooping, was cool. Liz suggests she and Wes pretend to date so that Michael will see her as more grown up. Wes suggests, instead, that he pretend to woo her while she remains uninterested. If he succeeds in getting Michael to ask Liz to prom, Wes gets the parking spot forever; Liz agrees. Wes walks Liz to her door, and she finds it surreal that it feels right.

The next morning, Wes visits Liz at her bookstore job. He tells her that he, Michael, and their friends are going to a basketball game that night. He claims it would be the perfect opportunity for her to get closer to Michael, so Liz agrees to go. When Wes advises her to choose a more casual outfit, Liz is offended; she is wearing a skirt, blouse, and nice shoes. He begs her to let him take her shopping for clothes he thinks Michael will find more appealing. Liz agrees and texts Joss another lie about working a double shift to avoid prom dress shopping again.