“All of my life has been a series of tasks in preparation for this day, my first day of college. I spent the last few years nervously anticipating this. I spent my weekends studying and preparing for this as my peers were hanging out, drinking, and doing whatever else it is teenagers do to get themselves in trouble. That wasn’t me.” 

Tessa’s thoughts reveal her conscientious personality and the hard work and planning she did to get to college. Up until now, she has focused on her goals rather than concerning herself with parties and fitting in. However, by the end of the novel, her plans have completely changed; school and her internship become second place to her relationship with Hardin as she embraces a different persona. 

“I have no idea what college will be like, and, unexpectedly, the question that keeps dominating my thoughts is: Will I make any friends?” 

Tessa’s question is quite a normal one for any college freshman to be asking on move-in day. Everyone has a desire to be accepted and in meaningful relationships with friends. Tessa’s thoughts foreshadow the key role friendships will play in the novel’s events, as Tessa seeks friendship and acceptance from a group that is unlike her in every way. In her desire for friendship, Tessa makes uncharacteristic decisions, allowing her to be influenced by the lifestyle of Steph’s group and their opinions of her. 

“In my home, tattoos and piercings are not a normal thing. I always had to have my hair combed, my eyebrows plucked, and my clothes clean and ironed. It’s just the way it is.” 

Todd uses physical appearance to emphasize the contrast between Tessa and Hardin. Tessa can’t help but judge Hardin, Steph, and their friends based on their looks, simply because the idea of looking like them is foreign to her. As Tessa reflects on the expectations placed on her growing up, she also highlights her mother’s emphasis on looking a certain way and maintaining a façade of perfection. 

“For a second, I think he might slap me. But his hand moves up to my cheekbone and then he gently tucks my hair behind my ear. I swear I can hear his pulse as he brings his lips to mine—and the fire crackles under my skin.” 

This kiss from Hardin is preceded by rudeness and roughness as he throws Tessa’s carefully organized notes on the ground, then pins her to the wall by her wrists. The order to events here becomes a pattern throughout the novel, as arguing and even physical roughness or violence often comes before passionate kissing or sexual activity between Tessa and Hardin. 

“It sounds so bad as I repeat it. I really am acting so out of character, just like my mother said. I put my hands over my face. How could I do this to Noah—again?” 

As Tessa tells Steph about fooling around with Hardin, she realizes how much she has changed since meeting Hardin. Even though she feels ashamed for cheating on Noah, her behavior betrays the weakness of her resolve to stay away from Hardin. This quote shows the power of Tessa’s sexual attraction to Hardin, as well as the beginnings of her change in character. 

“‘How often do you drink? You implied before it was never,’ I say. I need to get back to being angry with him after he answers. ‘Before tonight it has been about six months.’ His eyes fall to the floor like he is ashamed.” 

Hardin’s behavior while drunk coupled with his response to Tessa suggests that he has an alcohol problem. Although Todd never directly states that Hardin is an alcoholic, she later points out that he drinks when he has a reason to, such as when he’s angry or upset. He also tends to exhibit destructive behavior when he drinks, showing that his consumption of alcohol is irresponsible and unhealthy. 

“‘Sorry, but something is not right there. If you were mine, I wouldn’t be able to stay away from you. I would fuck you every chance I had.’ My mouth falls open. Hardin’s dirty words have the strangest effect on me. I flush and look away.” 

This quote displays the effect Hardin’s words have on Tessa. His expression of sexual desire for her in explicit terms both embarrasses and arouses her. Furthermore, his words relate to Todd’s depiction of sex throughout the novel. Hardin disrespects Noah’s commitment to save sex for marriage, suggesting that something is wrong with Noah because he hasn’t slept with Tessa. However, instead of highlighting Noah as honorable, Todd romanticizes Hardin’s sexual prowess, suggesting that Hardin is complimenting Tessa because he wants to have sex with her. 

“I think back to what Hardin said earlier about me being my true self with him. Maybe he is right. I love the way I feel right now. I love the electricity shooting through my body when we’re like this.” 

Tessa questions the ways Hardin is changing her and wonders if the person she is with him is her true self. However, she bases her judgment on the sexual pleasure she feels with him, rather than any sense of companionship or love between them. Her thoughts echo Todd’s theme that one’s relationships influence one’s identity and call into question the prudence of Tessa’s decision to pursue Hardin and allow herself to change based on lust. 

“She’s so irritating, with her stupid pink hair and her skanky clothes. She is a slut. I’m surprised by my thoughts and my anger toward her, but it’s true. And I really don’t like her. I don’t think I’ve actually ever called anyone a slut, even in my head.” 

This quote provides evidence of the change taking place within Tessa. She is becoming just as judgmental and spiteful as Hardin and his friends. Tessa’s thoughts also reveal her insecurity in her relationship with Hardin, showing how quickly she becomes jealous whenever Molly is near Hardin. Her anger at Molly causes her to later use Zed to make Hardin jealous, further solidifying the change in her identity because of the time she spends with Hardin and his friends. 

“It’s astounding how abruptly his mood can change from angry to lustful to calm.” 

Tessa notes Hardin’s extreme mood swings when she goes to dinner at his father’s house. He goes from yelling at her, to kissing her passionately, to calmly rejoining the others at dinner and apologizing for his behavior. What Tessa deems “astounding” appears emotionally unhealthy and even a little frightening to the reader. Hardin’s emotional ups and downs act as signs of the emotional pain of his past, as well as foreshadow his untrustworthy nature. 

“I will do anything with him, and I don’t care about the consequences that might come tomorrow. He says he wants me, and I am his to take. I have been since I kissed him that first time.” 

Tessa is under Hardin’s power, and she knows it. Her thoughts here betray the way lust has completely altered her judgment and changed her from logical and responsible to living only for the moment. Rather than following what she knows is right and being faithful to Noah, she chooses momentary pleasure and the thrill of being under Hardin’s control.

“This uncertainty is already driving me crazy; the entire time I have been with Noah I have never had to worry about his feelings for me. I never had to deal with ex-friends with benefits—I am the only girl Noah has ever kissed in his life, and honestly, I like it that way. I wish Hardin had never done anything with another girls, or at least had done things with fewer of them.”

Now that she has broken up with Noah, Tessa is unsure of where she stands in her relationship with Hardin, and she compares her uncertainty to the sense of security she always felt with Noah. Todd underscores the contrast between Noah and Hardin sexually as well. Ironically, Tessa loves the way Hardin can make her body feel, yet she hates the sexual experience from which he learned how to please her. Tessa’s thoughts support the novel’s theme that sex—even from a past relationship—can have a powerful impact on one’s choices and relationships.

“My life was much more simple before I met Hardin, and now after…it is complicated and stressful, and I am either extremely happy or there is this burning in my chest when I think of him with Molly.” 

Tessa’s musings sum up the radical highs and lows of her relationship with Hardin, showing the emotionally unhealthy nature of their relationship. They are also a nod to the novel’s title, which suggests that meeting Hardin created a line of division in Tessa’s life; she had a particular type of life and personality before meeting Hardin, and now she has a different life and character after meeting him. 

“Hardin looks at me, and I feel my cheeks heat up. ‘I think Catherine was a selfish, pompous bitch,’ he lets out. Gasps fill the room and the professor glowers at Hardin, but he continues. ‘Sorry, but she thought she was too good for Heathcliff—and maybe she was, but she knew Edgar could never compare to Heathcliff and yet she married him anyway. Catherine and Heathcliff were just so similar that it was hard for them to get along, but if Catherine wasn’t so stubborn they could have lived a long and happy life together.’” 

Hardin’s analysis of the romantic relationships in Wuthering Heights clearly draws a parallel between Catherine and Heathcliff’s relationship and his relationship with Tessa. In this way, Todd uses literature as a symbol to suggest that the most romantic love stories involve personality differences that at first seem irreconcilable. She suggests that, just like Catherine and Heathcliff, Tessa and Hardin are right for one another despite the ups and downs of their relationships. 

“How could he be such a jerk before and say these loving things to me now? Despite the hint of possessiveness in his tone, his words are sweet and surprisingly humble for him.”

This quote exemplifies the way Hardin’s words, even when kind, are often tainted with possessiveness. This relates to the novel’s theme of the need for control. It also reveals Tessa’s impression of his emotional instability. Hardin often goes from being rude and hurtful one moment, to sweet the next. It seems that if he loved her, he would recognize that he has several emotional issues to work through before he can build a healthy relationship with her. 

“All I did was ask him about a job that he didn’t tell me about. I should be able to talk to him about that, but there’s just so much about him that I don’t know, and it makes me really uncomfortable.” 

Tension begins to build in the novel as Tessa becomes frustrated with Hardin’s secrecy. He grows angry when she asks to know more about his job. This is just one example of many in which Hardin becomes defensive and aggressive simply because Tessa wants to get to know him better. This quote contributes to the secrecy motif by creating mystery about Hardin’s character and by foreshadowing the secret of Hardin’s bet that comes to light at the novel’s end.

“When we walk into my office Hardin grabs my wrist and turns me to face him. ‘What the hell was that?’ he spits out. Is he joking? I look down at my wrist in his hand and take that as a no. His grip isn’t tight, but it holds me in place.”

After seeing Tessa exchange a few friendly words with her coworker Trevor, Hardin overreacts with jealousy, betraying his need for control over Tessa. He uses physical force to wield power over her as well, showcasing his violent tendencies seen elsewhere in the novel. Hardin’s reaction to a simple workplace interaction displays his emotional instability. 

“‘You are going to listen to me from now on. Am I right?’ he says against my neck gently biting the skin. What? ‘Tell me you will listen to me or I won’t let you come.’ He can’t be serious. ‘Hardin…’ I plea and try to move faster, but he stops me. ‘Okay…Okay…just please,’ I beg and he smirks. I want to slap him for doing this right now. He is using my most vulnerable time against me but I can’t find my anger through my need for him.” 

Hardin asserts power over Tessa in the bedroom, using her sexual attraction for him as a means to control her. Although Tessa recognizes his need for control, she succumbs because of her need for sexual gratification. Here, two of the novel’s themes intersect as Hardin uses sex to gain control.

“‘Just because we aren’t together anymore doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be there for you,’ he says, and my heart aches. I do miss him; not my relationship with him, but he’s been such a huge part of my life since I was a child, it’s hard to let that go entirely. He was there for me through everything, and I hurt him, without even calling to explain or apologize. I feel terrible about how I left things with him, and tears well up in my eyes.” 

Tessa’s conversation with Noah shows that although she has mistreated him, Noah still cares about her. Their history and relationship appear deeper and more meaningful than hers and Hardin’s, yet Tessa treated him with cruelty. Noah’s kind words underscore the contrast between him and Hardin and highlight Tessa’s immaturity in the way she chose Hardin over Noah. 

“Hardin looks at me and I nod. I can’t believe we are really doing this. I ignore the small voice reminding me that this is too soon, that I am too young, and I follow Hardin back into the kitchen.” 

As Tessa agrees to sign the apartment lease with Hardin, she does so against her better judgment. Her choice to ignore the voice in her head highlights the shift in her personality and the power of her emotional attachment to Hardin. Her foolish decision shows the way one’s judgment can be negatively affected when one’s heart and emotions are involved. 

“‘In case you forgot, I am the one paying the bills here, so if anyone is going to leave, it will be you,’ he says with a blank stare.” 

Hardin uses his financial position to assert power over Tessa when she threatens to make him move out. Even though he shows up drunk after being gone all night and most of the day, and has clearly been in a fight, he refuses to tell Tessa where he’s been. This moment brings together three of Hardin’s concerning characteristics: his problem with alcohol, his secrecy, and his need for control.

“‘Listen to you! Look at you. You aren’t the same Tessa that I dropped off at college three months ago.’ She waves her arms to gesture up and down my body. ‘You are defying me, even yelling at me! You have some nerve! I have done everything for you, and here you are…throwing it all away.’”

With her obsession over appearance and perfection, Tessa’s mother is not flawless. However, she’s not far off base here. Tessa is a different person than she was three months ago, and she is quite young to be moving in with someone she’s only just started to date. However, instead of portraying Tessa’s mother as a voice of reason, Todd paints her as an overly critical, volatile person trying to take away Tessa’s freedom. 

“[B]ut I have noticed the small changes in him. Like the way he holds my hand in public and the way he leans down to kiss me nearly every time I pass him in the hallway of our apartment.” 

Tessa claims to notice ways that Hardin has changed for the better since she’s known him, yet the two examples she gives are both physical examples of his feelings for her. The facts that Hardin now acknowledges their relationship in public and kisses her tenderly rather than only before sex don’t seem like strong indicators of lasting or meaningful change. Although Hardin has opened up to her somewhat about his childhood, Tessa appears naïve to think Hardin is a completely new and improved person just because of these small changes she’s seen during their short-lived relationship. 

“I feel a little like Miss Havisham in Great Expectations, plotting and scheming. I had never cared for her character, but suddenly I find myself relating to her. I can now see how love can make you do things that you normally wouldn’t, like become obsessive and even a little crazy.” 

Todd uses literature as a symbol for Tessa’s situation with Hardin to show how Tessa’s feelings for Hardin have made her do uncharacteristic things. This corresponds with the theme that one’s relationships influence one’s character, showing that the people one chooses to spend time with will inevitably have an effect on one’s identity, whether it be for the better or for the worse.