Better Than the Movies

Wes makes plans with Liz to grab food before the movie the following night. Liz makes sure he knows it is not a date, which Wes denies ever implying. They hang out in the “Secret Area” again that night, making s’mores and waiting for a meteor shower while listening to music. Wes is surprised but impressed when Liz shares her plans to study musicology at UCLA in the fall. She wants to be a music supervisor, someone who curates music for movie soundtracks. Wes admits that he wants to continue playing baseball in college but is unsure where. He only knows that he wants to leave home; he claims nothing is keeping him in Nebraska, which Liz finds offensive. Suddenly, Liz’s father appears, and he joins them to watch the meteor shower.

The next day, Liz and Wes head to their favorite greasy spoon. She has once again straightened her hair and is wearing a new outfit. Wes appreciates that Liz eats enthusiastically and unabashedly with him. When Liz realizes Wes is a knuckle-cracker, she is surprised it does not bother her as much as it usually does when people crack their knuckles; she finds it endearing, which confuses her. She asks if he thinks men and women can be just friends and is disappointed when he claims she and he are not friends. He tells her they are merely co-conspirators, and Liz worries about what their relationship will be like when the scheme ends.

Wes and Liz head to Michael’s house for movie night, where others, including Laney and Alex, are already waiting. Liz sits beside Wes on the floor. As the movie plays, she sorts through her confusing feelings for Wes. When he turns to her in the dark, they share a moment where they almost kiss. She realizes then that she wants Wes and not Michael. When Liz comes back from the restroom, she spots Wes outside with Alex and is crushed.

After the movie ends, Michael invites Liz to play his father’s piano. Still upset about her complicated feelings, she plays her favorite Adele song, which attracts the rest of the group to the piano room. Wes suggests they order a pizza, and the others leave Michael and Liz alone again. Michael claims Wes told him he is planning to ask out Alex. This was part of their scheme, but Liz is dismayed. Michael also confides in Liz about his confusing relationship with Laney; he wants to take things slow, but also wants something meaningful with whoever he takes to prom. Liz sympathizes with him and realizes she is completely over him. The group appears again suggesting they play Cards Against Humanity, and Liz is desperate to find Wes before he can talk to Alex.

The group quickly abandons the game, so Wes and Liz head home in heavy rain. The car in front of them stops abruptly, and they skid and veer into the forest as Wes struggles to regain control of his car. They end up getting stuck on a large rock and are forced to call Wes’s father for help. While they wait, Wes comments on Liz’s hair, which has become curly again due to the rain. He admits that he regrets telling her to change her look because he thinks she looks better as herself. Liz decides to just go for it and kisses him. He kisses her back before they are interrupted by his dad approaching. As Wes’s dad drives them home, Liz wonders if Wes truly feels the same way about her.

Liz gushes to Helena about the kiss when she gets home. She now regrets chasing after Michael and considers the possibility of Wes asking her to prom instead. She texts Joss about her feelings but omits the kiss. Before bed, she officially creates the playlist for her and Wes, replaying the kiss in her mind.

The next morning, Liz is hopeful about her budding relationship with Wes, but worries that she was not clear about not being interested in Michael anymore. After school, she is shocked when Michael asks her to prom in an extravagant promposal: He has decorated his car with giant boggle pieces. A crowd gathers as Liz nervously thinks of how to respond and regrets her convoluted “comedy of errors” (276).

In the crowd, she spots Wes. They stare at each other until he looks away and Alex joins him. He puts an arm around her and gives Liz a thumbs-up, which breaks Liz’s heart and makes her think their kiss was a fluke. She accepts Michael’s promposal. Joss is confused and confronts Liz, who reveals the entire scheme. Joss is angry about Liz’s lies and walks away. At home, Liz tells Helena about the promposal. Helena tries to give Liz advice about her “overromanticized ideas,” but Liz lashes out at her.