One of Us is Lying

Maeve scans the 4chan threads Simon commented on and plans to review them further, believing Simon may have made more enemies. That evening, a national crime program, Mikhail Powers Investigates, features the “Bayview Four,” as it dubs them. Bronwyn wishes, “for the hundredth time,” that she had “just taken that D in chemistry” as she watches the host profile each student (176). Because none of the students or their lawyers cooperated with the program, Powers also interviews an Until Proven defense lawyer, Eli Kleinfelter, who echoes Maeve’s belief that Simon may have had other enemies. Eli points out that someone other than Simon may have had access to his app’s administration panel.

That evening, Bronwyn and Nate watch Battle Royale from their separate homes and discuss Eli’s theories. Bronwyn encourages Nate to call Eli then worries that giving him advice will make him less attracted to her. He deflects her suggestion by asking her to come watch the movie at his house, explaining that he would only want her over when it’s dark because “my house sucks during the day” (182). Bronwyn turns him down but promises they will “figure something else out” (182).

Another Tumblr post appears, this one suggesting police should look more closely “at Simon’s old entries” (183-84). Cooper breaks up with Keely. She tries to make him jealous by telling him she hooked up with Nate before they started dating, but she can tell that he doesn’t care. She adds, “Simon would’ve given anything if I’d chosen him,” while Cooper was not even aware there “was a choice” because he has always been everyone’s first choice (185). She says he made her feel invisible and accuses him of lying about everything, including his fastball. He angrily denies having used steroids and leaves abruptly, aware that he owes her an apology but he “doesn’t know how to give it” (186).

Addy notices that Nate and Cooper receive much more media attention than she and Bronwyn do. At lunch, she tries to show Bronwyn social media posts in which tweens swoon over Nate’s eyes, overlooking his drug-dealing past, but Bronwyn is not interested. Addy notes that they have become “as friendly as you can get when you’re not one hundred percent sure the other person isn’t framing you for murder” (188). Janae sits with them at lunch every day, though Addy notices she has lost more weight and is “jumpier than ever” (186).

In science class, Addy is paired with TJ. He compliments her hair, and she snorts. Only Ashton likes her hair, and chopping it off was her way of accepting that she and Jake are over, since it was the reason he noticed her freshman year. When she makes a self-deprecating joke, TJ smiles and says, “There you are” (189). He tells her that he found her fun and funny and never understood why she was so passive around Jake. Addy is taken aback. She had assumed he hoped to hook up with her again and never considered that he might have enjoyed her company. After science, Jake asks her how she is doing, and whether she would like to talk. She says yes, but when he says that she does not look like herself without her hair, she replies, “Well, I am,” and walks away (191).

When the reporters return to Bayview High, Nate again sneaks out the back with Bronwyn and takes her to Marshall’s Peak, a popular party spot on weekends that is abandoned during the week. Just as he begins to get closer to her, she mentions that she phoned Eli Kleinfelter, and he backs away. Their conversation was not about Nate, though. Eli believes the kids’ lawyers “aren’t doing enough to pick apart the theory that nobody else could’ve poisoned Simon” (193). Nate is skeptical, but Bronwyn continues that the car accident may have been preplanned, a way to distract the group while someone snuck into the room and put peanut oil in Simon’s cup. Nate dismisses Eli as being “full of dipshit theories,” and believes Bronwyn is naive to believe none of the four is the actual killer (194).

Nate’s heart pounds as he kisses Bronwyn, but her phone keeps going off. It is Maeve. Their mother is looking for Bronwyn because the police want her to come to the station. Nate drives her back to his house, where Maeve will pick her up. When they arrive, they find Nate’s mother, who Bronwyn believed dead, ringing the doorbell.

In the car, Bronwyn and Maeve discuss the sudden appearance of Mrs. Macauley. Maeve attempts to be encouraging, but Bronwyn feels that Nate lied to her. She notes that he did not seem surprised to see his mother, only stoic.

At the police station, Detective Mendoza shows Bronwyn a post from Simon’s companion website for About That, where he posted longer pieces. Simon had taken the website offline, but all posts and comments are still viewable from the back end. One of Bronwyn’s classmates alerted the police about the post, which mocks Maeve, a freshman at the time, for her crush on a varsity basketball player who had a girlfriend, and also for getting drunk and throwing up in a washing machine. Detective Mendoza then shows Bronwyn the comment she posted: “Fuck off and die, Simon” (205).

Addy rides her bicycle to Jake’s house. He asks how the investigation is going, and she mentions Maeve’s belief that the police should look more closely at Simon. Jake accuses her of blaming the victim. He reiterates his point that About That would not have existed if people were not sneaky (207). Addy counters that Simon “hurt a lot of people” (207). She asks Jake why he invited her over. He tells her that reporters keep calling him, and he deserves to know what is happening. Addy asks him if he will ever forgive her, and he reminds her that she cheated on and lied to him. She tells him that she never felt worthy of him then proved it, prompting him to tell her not to “play the poor-me card” (209). Addy realizes that, just as with Detective Wheeler, she does not have to talk to Jake. Riding away on her bicycle, she feels free “[f]or the first time in a long time” (209).

Cooper feels the media circus has taken over his life. He once dreamed of being a trending Google search for his baseball skills, not for murder. A reporter chases him and Luis into their gym. After their workout, Luis offers to swap clothes and cars so Cooper can get away for a while. Cooper agrees, then drives Luis’s car into downtown San Diego. He takes the elevator up to Kris’s apartment. Cooper tells him they should probably talk about Simon, but Kris tells him, “Later,” then kisses him (213).