What are the motifs in Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen?

The need for friendship and the boundaries of friends make up an important motif of this story. When Ruby is forced to move to a new school, she intends to stay out of sight and "under the radar" so that she will remain alone. The initial point of friendship is her carpooling with Nate and Gervais. Ruby soon finds herself the topic of conversation because she's with Nate who is very popular and well-liked. Ruby then finds herself caught up in a budding friendship with Olivia, another student at Perkins who is something of an outsider as well. Ruby notes that she has friendships available.