Just Listen

Annabel attends the yearly Lakeview Models calendar photo shoot at the mall and notices her former friend Emily, who she introduced to Sophie a few years ago. Emily and Annabel aren’t speaking, but Emily is Sophie’s closest follower now. Annabel thinks about her past with Sophie. She remembers their volatile and “complicated” relationship, the way she tiptoed around Sophie’s moods, how Sophie was jealous of Annabel’s modeling career and “prettier” girls, and how she controlled Annabel into living according to her rules.

One night, Annabel invited fellow model Emily to a party with them, and Sophie mocked Emily when a boy flirted with her. Annabel encouraged Sophie to be nice, but Sophie got upset and stated she didn’t like Emily and accused Annabel of never doing anything on her own. She said that she found all the parties, boys, and experiences, while Annabel simply followed her. Annabel felt at fault and wondered if Sophie was right. She enjoyed the party on her own, then tried to find Sophie, who was likely still pissed. She found Sophie in a room with a senior boy named Will, an attractive guitarist in a local band who attended a different school. Annabel apologized for interrupting their make-out session, and Sophie told her to go home.

The next day, Sophie forgot about their fight and gushed about Will: his talent for music, his hotness, and his intelligence. She fell in love with and slept with Will, who Annabel thought was intense, standoffish, and a womanizer. The rumors about Will resulted in Sophie terrorizing the girls who talked with him. She keyed the girls’ cars and performed other vengeful acts. Annabel thinks that shouldn’t have been surprised when Sophie turned her wrath on her.

Annabel completes the calendar shoot. Her month features the local florist. She hides in the plants and emerges out of the fronds for the photographer while the others watch, including Emily. Later at home, Annabel’s dad, Andrew, asks her to join him as he watches his favorite history channel. Annabel declines as she has the past few months, not wanting to think of the past and its heaviness. She’s also tired from listening to Owen’s radio show at 7:00 a.m. that morning, which featured strange electronica, harp music, poetry, cymbals, and other weird pieces.

Annabel and Owen’s friendship deepens when he asks for her thoughts on the radio show. At first, she wants to be her “nice” self, so she states it was “interesting.” Owen calls that a “placeholder” word that means nothing, and he reminds her that she told him she lies. Annabel clarifies that she doesn’t lie; she just doesn’t share the whole truth because she doesn’t want to upset others. He explains that words like “interesting” aren’t direct and hold no significance and that you can’t hold your emotions and thoughts in forever. After his prompting, Annabel admits that she didn’t like the show. She couldn’t stand the techno music, thought the sea shanty was weird, and the harp sounded like a funeral. Owen takes her critique without hurt feelings, and Annabel is shocked that he’s not disappointed. Owen states he values honesty and opinions and that music is subjective.

The next day, Annabel opens a note from her mom in her lunch. Grace writes that Annabel shouldn’t get discouraged about a job she didn’t get and that she’s proud of Annabel and her accomplishments. Owen sits down closer to her and asks if she’s okay since she looks stressed while reading the note. Annabel reveals she doesn’t want to model anymore, but it would hurt her mom if she quit. She explains she doesn’t do confrontations, and Owen’s eyes slide to Sophie. Annabel admits that she had a falling out with Sophie because Sophie thinks that she slept with her boyfriend, though Annabel swears she didn’t. Owen notices a pattern and tells her to just be honest with her mom and Sophie. He employs role-playing, a tactic they use in anger management. Owen plays her mom, and Annabel tries to say that she wants to quit modeling. She seizes up and hurries off to work on an English project.

At the end of the school day, she sees Clarke and remembers their closeness. Annabel may not be able to fix the past, but she wants to have a better future, starting with apologizing to Owen for abruptly leaving their lunch. She finds him walking home and offers him a ride.

In the car, Owen looks through her CDs because he believes the silence is too loud. Annabel hadn’t noticed she wasn’t playing any music. Owen plays a rock CD, which is Kirsten’s. Channeling Kirsten’s boldness as her songs play, Annabel apologizes to Owen for “freaking out” and walking away over lunch. She shares that role-playing was too much for her, and Owen explains that his definition of freaking out involves anger, not avoidance. Annabel doesn’t get upset in that way, but Owen states she shouldn’t bottle up her emotions. He adds that anger isn’t necessarily bad and won’t last forever, but people need to cope with it in healthy ways to move on. Annabel tells him that in her experience, anger is forever, alluding to her feuding sisters, Clarke, and Sophie. Owen thinks people can work through their anger, but they must be given the chance to have confrontations. Annabel appreciates his guidance.

When they reach Owen’s house, Mallory interrupts their conversation and invites Annabel to see her room. Owen is annoyed at Mallory’s “punk” outfit because she doesn’t know real punk music, but Annabel finds her cute. Their mother calls Mallory inside, but Annabel and Owen talk a bit longer. Surprisingly, she blushes and experiences romantic feelings for Owen as they laugh and smile together, bonding over their shared sister annoyances. She comments on his rings, which he wears on his middle fingers. One ring reads “Go Fuck Yourself” and the other says “Or Not” to celebrate his anger management class graduation. Annabel leaves Owen’s house feeling lighter, and she suddenly needs to play the radio when her CD ends.