That's Not What Happened

Miles is a senior along with Lee and Denny Lucus. His parents had substance use disorders from the time he was young; his mother overdosed when he was five. Later, his father went to jail for assault and possession. Miles first sees Lee next door after he moves in with his grandmother; though they are neighbors, they do not talk until after the shooting, when he begins to keep Lee company on her roof at night. Miles gradually reveals his feelings for Lee (asking her to prom, asking to travel with her to California, and then finally expressing stronger feelings in his letter). Miles enjoys history and studies historical topics independently.

Miles was named a hero for shielding Ashley as she lay wounded, but he reveals the truth in his letter: He tripped over Ashley and fell. He feels guilt for not correcting this false hero narrative; as he states in his letter, “I didn’t want to be seen as a hero, but it was nice to not be seen as a lost cause for once” (280). Because of his convoluted feelings about this spun narrative, he initially refuses to write a truth letter for Lee; he is especially concerned about what she will think of his hiding the truth. This is ironic since Lee wanted the truth about Sarah to come out in part to alleviate her guilt for hiding the truth for three years. In another irony, it is Ashley (the key player in perpetuating both false narratives) who convinces him to write the letter.

Uncertain about his plans, Miles makes the journey to Los Angeles with Lee at the novel’s close. Miles is a dynamic, round character who is cognizant of the judgments others make about him but who is beginning to utilize his increasing perspective regarding conflict.

Ashley was a senior at the time of the shooting. She was shot in the hallway. As a result of her injury, Ashley can no longer walk and uses a wheelchair. Ashley, who married her high school boyfriend and has a daughter, serves as an unofficial caretaker of the other survivors at the novel’s start; she checks in with them, especially on anniversaries and difficult days. She does not, however, check on Kellie, having judged Kellie as a liar whose actions against Sarah are unforgivable.

Ashley makes two assumptions during the shooting that create the novel’s conflict. Most significantly, she assumes the girl inside the restroom speaking to the shooter is Sarah. She tells many people in the aftermath of the shooting how Sarah boldly claimed the cross necklace found by the shooter and stated that yes, Jesus was “looking out for her now” (124). Ashley also lambasts Kellie as a liar in the aftermath of the shooting for trying to claim Sarah’s cross necklace and actions as her own. Lee does not realize that Ashley is responsible for spinning the “Sarah story” until Ashley writes her letter.

The second assumption Ashley makes regards Miles’s actions during the shooting. She tells everyone he bravely covered her body with his and told her to play dead, saving her life. In actuality, Miles tripped and fell over Ashley. The impact of this assumption is similar to the first in that many think Miles behaved differently than he did. Miles wants to keep the truth from Lee and others until Ashley convinces him to write his letter.

Ashley is a dynamic character because she begins to accept that her assumptions caused stories to plant and grow without evidence. She changes her strongly held opinion about Kellie and emails Kellie on the fourth anniversary to apologize for her role in propagating the false narrative.

Eden was a sophomore at the time of the shooting. She is a talented artist with a passion for manga. She and Denny were the only two survivors in the computer lab, where Jared, her cousin Rosi, and others were killed. Eden felt that Rosi showed her up in front of family members and that their family was very proud of Rosi but not her; she harbors guilt over these feelings after Rosi’s death. Eden went on to attend college and, inspired by her roommate and girlfriend, took up activism against gun violence. She advocates for campus safety changes in public presentations at various colleges. Eden, though, experiences lasting mental and emotional trauma from the shooting, which contributes to her substance use disorder at college.

When Eden writes her letter for Lee’s compilation, she realizes that her problems are significant. Eden plans to seek help and get treatment. Eden is a dynamic, complex character who decides that she must continue to change to gain confidence and positivity and improve her well-being.

Denny is a senior. Like Lee and Miles, he was a freshman when the shooting occurred. He and Eden were the only two people to survive the shooter’s attack in the computer lab. Denny is blind; Glitter is his guide dog. Denny has an interest in creating new accessibility software so that those with disabilities can utilize computers effectively. He loved his computer teacher, Ms. Taylor, who was killed in the shooting.

Denny demonstrates positivity and a sense of humor. His letter to the scholarship committee is the impetus for Lee’s decision to tell the truth about Sarah. He supports and cares about the other survivors and helps to counsel Lee on what to do once she decides to tell the truth. He takes Amber to the prom, where he comes to Lee’s defense when Tara Chambers and Pete McHale harass her for telling the truth. A character who appreciates the truth and wants to help others, Denny is static in his traits and remains a kind and genuine person throughout the story.

Kellie was 16 at the time of the shooting. She disliked school and was not sociable, preferring to spend time alone. She left class to smoke in the girls’ restroom on the day of the shooting and was privy to Lee and Sarah’s conversation about Sarah’s hickey and Ashley’s comments to Sarah. Kellie told Lee and Sarah to hide in a stall when the shooting began; her cross necklace fell onto the floor when she tripped. Kellie told the shooter that the necklace was hers and that she believed Jesus was with her. When others attributed those actions to Sarah, Kellie attempted to tell the truth, but no one believed her; too many saw her as a loner whose behavior was judged as angry and difficult. Kellie knew that Lee could help to clarify her story but chose not to. Later, she changed her name and told no new acquaintances about her past.

When they meet, Kellie tells Lee that Lee does not need to apologize, since the “Sarah story” became bigger than either of them had any control over. Kellie rejects Lee’s request for her letter until months later when Kellie sees Sarah’s biography. She is inspired to tell the truth and releases Lee’s compilation for public readership. Because Kellie demonstrates this changed mindset by the end of the story, she is a complex, dynamic character.