All the Bright Places: 10. Finch: Day 9 Summary & Analysis

Finch decides on Monday morning that 80s Finch has to go, mostly because the picture of him in the Bartlett Dirt is “unnervingly wholesome.” Finch also doesn’t trust this version of him to not mess up with Violet. So, during third period, Finch meets Charlie and Brenda at Goodwill. As Finch and Brenda browse the racks, Brenda tells Finch about making out with Roamer at a party over the weekend. (Though Roamer is Amanda Monk’s boyfriend, he’s also a jerk, and Brenda has loved him for years.) Then, they discuss what Finch is looking for. Finch wants to look sexier—and both Charlie and Brenda realize that this is because Finch has a crush on Violet.

Brenda insists that Finch can’t dress to please a girl; he needs to be himself. Finch thinks that would be a great idea if he knew who he was. Brenda continues to talk about Violet in a scathing tone. Finch doesn’t really want to hear it, so he interjects that Violet was in the accident on the A Street Bridge last year, and Violet’s sister died. At this, Brenda looks thoughtful and suggests that Finch dress more like Ryan Cross, which would mean a trip to Old Navy. Finch decides that his new self curses, so he says, “fuck Ryan Cross.” Charlie finds him a “badass” leather jacket, and Brenda comes over with a big pair of boots.

By lunchtime, Finch loves “Badass Finch”—girls like him now. When one freshman girl asks him if he’s from London, Finch adopts a British accent for the rest of the day. When he joins Brenda and Charlie for lunch, he tells them all about his life in London and his Irish girlfriend. Walking to class afterwards, Finch almost believes in the story. But when he sees Ryan Cross smiling and talking to Violet in U.S. Geography, Finch comes back down to earth. Violet is too busy talking to Ryan to acknowledge Finch, and Roamer insults Finch for good measure.

Class is boring, but Violet is the only one who laughs when Finch makes a joke in his British accent. After class, Finch comes up right behind Violet. In his new persona, he’s not afraid of Ryan Cross or Roamer. He says in his normal voice that it’s time to start wandering. Finch suggests they go to Hoosier Hill—now. Roamer mumbles that Finch should try jumping off the belltower again, but Finch ignores him. Violet insists that she can’t miss class, but she agrees to go after school.