High School

The high school is one of the central locations in the novel. Located in rural Ohio, the school is the only one in the small town. Alex, Claire, and Jack all attend the high school together. The school has a big problem with underage drinking, sexual assault, and drug abuse. Jack is the most popular boy in school, where he is a sports star and academic genius, and he dates almost every girl in school at one point or another. Alex and Claire are less popular students at the school: Alex is an antisocial girl without any friends before senior year, and Claire is the preacher's kid who is expected to be the perfect girl.

Alex's House

Alex lives in a big house that Claire describes as "nice and shiny" (52). After Alex's father leaves the family, he has a successful career and sends lots of money home...