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| Chapter | 99 of 127 (list of chapters) |
| Published | December 4, 2017 |
| Page count | 6 |
| Major characters | Madison, Jessica, Lucy |
| Locations | Roseville High School |
| Collected in | Volume Seven |
| Chapter navigation | |
| ← Moments Apart | High Expectations → |
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Madison finally works up the nerve to tell Lucy exactly what she thinks of her, at length and at full volume. There's just one small problem: Lucy doesn't hear a single word of it. Luckily, Jessica knows how to cheer a girl up.
Synopsis
Madison hums her way through the school hallway, picks up a book from her locker, and is generally at peace with the world. Then Lucy walks past, and the serene smile snaps into a vengeful glare.[1]
What follows is a furious tirade delivered entirely at Lucy's back. Madison points and screams "BLUE-EYED BITCH", but Lucy just keeps walking and never once turns around. Madison accuses her of thinking she's so great just because she's pretty, then blushes and falters.[2] Before long, she's yelling at herself for whining and self-pity instead of yelling at her target.[3]
Not one to be discouraged, Madison chases Lucy down the hall to get to the point: Jessica. She warns Lucy to stay away from her girlfriend, and accuses her of making Jessica sad by flirting with "that IDIOT SOMALI BOY". Or possibly the Korat. Underneath all the shouting, she lands on something sincere: she loves Jessica, who has gone through a lot and doesn't need anyone making it worse.[4] One final threat, and Lucy strolls off into the crowd.
As it turns out, Lucy didn't hear any of it. Jessica has been watching the whole time, and once she recovers from laughing, she explains. Lucy is half-deaf, and between the deaf ear and the noisy freshmen down the hall, she tuned Madison out completely.[5] Madison is scandalized. "What?! That sucks!!" She vows revenge on the spot.[5]
Jessica has a better idea, though. She calls Madison over, checks the hallway for onlookers, and kisses her on the lips. Madison freezes, face red, steam rising off her head. "I love you. You're adorable!" Jessica tells her.[6] Madison beams and takes Jessica's arm. The two head off down the hall, Madison fishing for a few more compliments on the way.
Character dynamics
- Madison and Jessica: The couple's first on-panel kiss, and the first "I love you" between them. Jessica does check the hallway before leaning in — public affection, but the careful kind. She follows the kiss with the reassurance Madison actually needed: "You run circles 'round her, don't you worry."[6]
- Madison and Lucy: Their first direct on-panel encounter, and a thoroughly one-sided one. Madison declares herself Lucy's enemy at length, and Lucy walks off none the wiser.[5]
Trivia & observations
- Lucy doesn't have a single line in the chapter. It's her first appearance since After You, and her only fully silent one since her return in Love Again.[1]
- The unheard-tirade gag is an old one: back in Show and Tell, Yashy confessed her misdeeds within earshot of Lucy, believing her deaf ear meant she couldn't hear.[7]
- Page one went up the day before Veronica's 30th birthday, and Oliver used the commentary under it as a birthday announcement.[1]
- Page three's commentary calls the mid-rant self-scolding "Madison trying to practice that self-love", and thanks Lucy for encouraging the moment of mindfulness.[3]
- Veronica and Oliver later shared a behind-the-scenes breakdown of this chapter, revealing two rejected script directions: one where Lucy yells back at Madison, and one where Lucy jokingly flirts with her to fluster her, which they deemed "a terrible idea".[8]
Related chapters
- Golden Hour: Madison's debut chapter, where she and Jessica are first revealed as a couple, and where the grudge starts: David compares Madison to Lucy, and Madison melts down over the idea that she's a replacement.
- Table for One: Mike accidentally calls Madison "Lucy", and Madison threatens to "wring her neck". This chapter is that threat finally attempted, with mixed results.
- Show and Tell: The origin of Lucy's deaf left ear, and of the Somali and Korat breed labels Madison garbles in her rant.
- Pillow Talk: Jessica's backstory chapter, and the story behind "She's gone through a LOT".