This Is Where It Ends: Chapter 7 Summary & Analysis

Sylvia reflects that Opportunity is a community oriented around its history and roots, from the mayor whose family has been here since the Civil War to the farmers like her Abuelo who congregate to discuss the weather. Even though she wants to leave, she still feels at home here.

In contrast, the Browne family has lost its place in the community after Mrs. Browne’s death, due to Tyler’s aggression and Mr. Browne’s increasing alcoholism. After their efforts were rebuffed several times, the townspeople lost interest in trying to rehabilitate the family. Autumn is the only person who didn’t notice her growing exclusion.

Despite Tyler’s behavior, Autumn is extremely loyal to her brother and only questioned his character once, when Sylvia revealed to her that Tyler knew about their relationship and tried to pressure her into stopping it. Autumn worries that Tyler hates her, and wonders why he’s so angry all the time. Even though Sylvia loathes Tyler, she pities Autumn and can see that she has bruises from her Dad’s beatings, so in the past she has reassured her girlfriend that Tyler would never hurt anyone.

On the stage, some teachers try to approach Tyler, but he shoots one of them in the leg and waves them away. Only Mr. Jameson stands undaunted; he’s the school’s most beloved teacher, who knows everyone’s name and takes time to give advice about the future. Every year he makes a bonfire for the seniors, where all the students write their wishes on sky lanterns and send them up. Everyone loves the ritual, even his skeptical daughter Mei.

Fareed tries to open the school’s front door, but it’s locked from the outside. Meanwhile, Tomás enters the office to find Neil, the janitor, tied up and suffocated in his chair. He throws up at the grotesque sight. Tomás covers the man’s body with a school flag lying on a shelf and takes all the tools that look useful, from crowbars to screwdrivers. Right now, he’s not worried about self-defense but rather revenge: if Tyler hurts Sylvia, Tomas vows to “kill him slowly.” He hopes the police get here fast.

Claire feels that the day is a nightmare from which she might soon wake up. Her lungs are burning and the gas station seems so far away, but Chris urges her to stay strong. Almost crying, she asks him how she could have missed the warning signs in Tyler. Chris reassures her that she’s not responsible, and tells her not to blame herself; after all, Tyler has been angry since his Mom’s death, and everyone in the community was aware of this.

To distract Claire, Chris reminisces about the first race they ever ran together, when he forgot his running shoes. He lost the race to Claire, and he reminds her that she can “live up to anyone.” Claire said that she thought he had let her win, and Chris touches her hand and says that she doesn’t need to win to “be perfect.”

Everyone watches the onstage confrontation between teacher and student. Tyler pushes Mr. Jameson aside and resumes his monologue, saying that if the students want to survive they have to know who their friends are and learn to stop caring. His malicious smile reminds Autumn of an incident only a few nights ago, when Tyler revealed to their Dad that Autumn is still dancing against his wishes and allowed her to be beaten. Later, Tyler cleaned her bruises and swore that it was an accident. He reminded her that they need to stick together against their father’s anger, and suggested that she stay home from school to recover.

Tyler demands that all the seniors raise their hands, and when only a few comply he shoots in the air. He turns around and shoots Mr. Jameson in the chest, killing him. Returning to the students, he identifies a senior who didn’t follow instructions and shoots him, saying “bang bang, you’re dead.”

In an increasingly frantic tone, Jay tweets about the shooting at Opportunity High and asks for more information. An anonymous user tells him that he must be “drunk” to believe this rumor.