Inventing Elliot

Elliot calls Louise several times over the weekend but hangs up before the phone rings. On Monday, he catches up with her at school and nervously apologizes again about Friday evening, saying he would understand if she doesn’t want to see him. He wants to say so much more to her—to describe all the things about her and their friendship that he loves and still wants to continue—but he just stands there trying to figure out what she wants him to say. Eventually, Louise starts talking. She apologizes to Elliot for overreacting but explains that she thought he was different from other boys, who are only after one thing. She tells Elliot that she was hoping that he would kiss her but not try anything else. Louise sounds uncertain and embarrassed, not the self-assured girl he has fallen in love with. She asks if she had led him on, to which he stammers that she has done nothing wrong.

Louise seems tired, and after a pause she shares her feeling about Holminster with Elliot. She describes the school culture as vicious and mean, and for the first time brings up the “stupid” Guardians. Louise goes on the tell Elliot that the girls are no better, that they are generic “blobs,” full of “catty gossip and spitefulness” (162).