Just Listen

Annabel finishes the fashion show, feeling sorry and empathetic for Emily. She senses that Emily knows about how Will raped her and guesses Emily endured the same trauma as her. After her parents’ proud comments at the show’s end, Annabel lies that she’s heading out for pizza with the other models. She actually goes to Bendo, a local club, to meet Owen for their date.

She arrives at Bendo, still tense about Emily, and Owen notices that she’s acting unlike herself. Annabel tells him multiple times that she’s fine, though she feels guilty for not being honest. Feeling like a fraud, Annabel focuses on Rolly, who is excited about finding his dream girl, the one who punched him while he was working in his self-defense class. This time, he works up the nerve to talk to the girl, calling her his “destiny.” Annabel recognizes the girl as Clarke, and Rolly begs her to introduce them. She doesn’t offer her history with Clarke, but she is wary and states that they were friends long ago, but no longer. When Rolly pleads, Annabel agrees and approaches Clarke to introduce him. Though she says to Clarke that she’s aware she hates her, Clarke responds, “You think I hate you?” (285). Clarke starts to explain that isn’t the problem between them, but then Rolly interrupts, and Annabel leaves the two to chat.

Ted, one of the band’s members, invites Annabel and Owen backstage. They meet Truth Squad, a local hit band. They chat with the animated band, but when they’re ready to perform, Annabel can’t shake the image of Emily or the guilt of not being sincere with Owen about her feelings. Stressed and nauseated, Annabel excuses herself to go to the bathroom and races outside, where she retches but doesn’t throw up.

After Annabel vanishes from Bendo, she doesn’t contact Owen, hoping to avoid a confrontation. On Monday at school, Owen asks her what happened and states he waited for her after the concert. He’s angry and worried. Annabel is unsure how to explain her trauma from the rape, which was reopened by Emily. Even to Owen, Annabel can’t share the traumatic experience, so she explains she had a lot of “stuff” going on and had to leave. Owen tells her that she can tell him anything, but Annabel admits she isn’t the honest type, that she’s not upfront and bold like he believes. She reflects that they both wished she could have changed, but she’s not capable of transforming into the brave, honest girl he wants.

A few months later, Annabel and her mother are preparing for Christmas. Her mother excitedly exclaims that Annabel was chosen as the star of the department store’s spring commercial too, after the success of her fall campaign. Grace says she’s a “role model” for young girls in particular, but Annabel thinks she wouldn’t inspire anyone. She fails to tell her mother again that she wants to quit modeling.

Annabel’s life has changed over the last few months; she doesn’t speak to Owen anymore, isolates herself, and focuses on her schoolwork and family. Emily, unlike Annabel, presses charges against Will for rape and sexual assault. Annabel is amazed at Emily’s strength, never expecting that people would support her if she came forward, but Emily appears strong at school. In fact, Emily is surrounded by friends and support—though Sophie becomes despondent over the accusations. Sophie doesn’t confront Emily and instead quietly spends time alone. Will’s trial is forthcoming.

Annabel misses Owen, but she prepares for Kirsten coming for Christmas and appreciates Whitney’s recovery. Due to her communications and film classes, Kirsten has become less talkative and more to the point with efficient communication. Annabel wishes she could communicate like Kirsten, especially with Owen. Kirsten’s short film wins the college competition. Meanwhile, Whitney gets involved with organic cooking, tends to her growing herbs, and continues writing her history. She fills notebooks with ideas and cooks healthy meals for the family, and Annabel is pleased with her progress.

She also listens to Owen’s numerous CDs he burned her, unable to handle silence after so much time spent with him. Annabel still saves the CD titled “Just Listen” for last.

On the last day of school before Christmas break, Annabel eats lunch in the library, as usual. Emily finds her and explains that although their relationship has been weird, she remembers Annabel acting hurt after the party last year after being alone with Will. She assumes that Will raped her too, and Annabel is frozen. She doesn’t respond to the conversation, not even when Emily offers her the lawyer’s number who is representing her against Will. Emily tells her that her story can help if she decides to call the lawyer. Annabel remains silent, and Emily apologizes, then leaves. Annabel thinks she is about to vomit, but she cries instead.

Annabel runs into Clarke in the bathroom. She asks if Annabel is okay since Owen is wondering. Clarke is dating Rolly now, so she chats with Owen. When Annabel says she didn’t think Clarke cared about her, Clarke flips the situation, stating she believed Annabel hated her since she ditched her. Clarke states Annabel tried to fix their friendship only once, and she was mad after she chose Sophie and the pool boys. Annabel understands her perspective, and though Clarke asks again if she’s okay, she admits she doesn’t know and doesn’t want to discuss it. Clarke gives Annabel her phone number in case she changes her mind.

Kirsten arrives, and the family teases her about how she used to talk constantly. She admits she’s working on communicating more concisely and listening. Annabel agrees in her mind that not enough people listen, thinking of Owen’s CDs, which she has almost finished. When they arrive home to Whitney’s homemade stir-fry, Kirsten and her sister are civil and complimentary after not speaking for months.

After dinner, Whitney invites Kirsten and Annabel out with her friends. They attend a coffee shop open mic night with girls from Whitney’s therapy group, surprised that Whitney signed up to share her writing. Moira, her therapist, appears and listens to Whitney’s piece. Annabel and Kirsten tear up at Whitney’s story, an emotional portrayal of her being the middle sibling, broken and darker than her sisters. She describes when she broke her arm at 11, falling from her bike, Kirsten helping her home, the hospital casting, and realizing that being in the middle means she holds them together and isn’t the overlooked shade of gray. Annabel is touched and inspired that Whitney shared a personal story with strangers. She thinks that maybe she could call the attorney or Clarke.