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1. Why is Cass drawn to Bukowski?

Cass feels completely misunderstood by her family and desperately longs for an outlet for her frustration. She recognizes it in the hard drinking, hard living Bukowski and finds herself gravitating towards him, attracted to the ugliness life has left on him. He tolerates her attempts to shock him, but he feels a deep-seated need to take care of her and tries to provide a stabling influence.

2. Describe Cass and Bukowski's first night together.

Cass sees Bukowski in a bar and allows him to buy a drink for her, as she can tell that he finds her very attractive. This does not stop her from asking him if he thinks she is pretty, though, suggesting that she suffers from some sort of deep insecurity about herself. However, as they sit in the bar together, Cass pulls out a hat pin and pierces it through her nose in front of him, repulsing him with her eagerness to hurt and disfigure herself. He takes her home to his apartment, though he waits until morning to initiate any sex.

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