Twisted

Due to the hot weather, all of the girls at school are scantily clad, causing Tyler to observe, “[b]efore the first bell of the day rang, most guys were semiconscious with lust and most girls were ready to slap someone” (62).

Tyler is disappointed to see Bethany is not in homeroom. He has a momentary pang of empathy for Chip when he recalls a rumor that Mr. Milbury does not allow Chip to bring home any grade below a 95. Tyler has his own difficult grades to contend with when Mr. Salvatore gives him a zero on his bluffed-through paper on Paradise Lost. He has a new deadline of forty-eight hours to write a paper “that proved I read it” (63). 

Hannah and Tyler sit together in the lunchroom when Hannah asks, “Is Calvin hot?” (63). Hannah is trying to win a bet by getting a date with an upperclassman, preferably one with a car. Tyler lets Hannah know that she’s already won, because Yoda is crazy about her.

Bethany appears in the doorway to the cafeteria and Hannah invites her over. Bethany’s relieved to see friendly faces, because her crutches make it difficult to get around. Tyler tries to hide his shock when Bethany not only sits next to him but puts her foot in his lap. He relates, “I was pretty sure the rest of my life was going to be a bitter disappointment, but at that moment, I didn’t care” (66). 

Principal Hughes interrupts afternoon classes to remind the student body of the dress code requirements. Tyler observes the irony of telling the students to cover themselves up while in Art History his teacher lectures on the beauty of the human body. Tyler decides that Yoda may be able to help him pull his grades up and, after school, goes to find him. While looking for him, he hears a familiar scream come from the boys’ locker room.

Tyler enters the locker room and sees five JV athletes standing over Yoda, who is taped down to the bench between lockers. His arms and feet are bound by tape and, Tyler notices, so are his butt cheeks. Due to his new physical attributes, Tyler is not afraid of the players as he would have been in the past. He intimidates them and pushes one named Parker repeatedly into a locker.

Chip enters the locker room while Yoda takes the opportunity to free himself. Chip tries to threaten Tyler, but Tyler holds his ground. Tyler knows Chip is aware of who is stronger from the arm wrestling incident at the pool party. The band disperses. 

Yoda and Tyler drive home in silence. Tyler asks, “[h]ow are you gonna get it off?” (73), referring to the tape on his butt. Yoda replies, “[j]ust leave me alone, okay? Go home” (73).Just as Yoda is about to go inside, he turns around and says, “[d]on’t tell Hannah” (73). Tyler assures him that he won’t. Yoda changes his mind and invites Tyler in for a soda. They reminisce about all of the times in their friendship they witnessed the other being bullied. 

Tyler asks his mother to buy him some more clothes like the ones Hannah chose for him. Linda gently teases him about his crush on Bethany, which he tries to deny. Linda agrees to buy him some clothes Bethany will like. 

Yoda picks the siblings up for school and compliments Hannah’s field hockey uniform. Hannah comments on the irony of her hockey skirt being four inches shorter than the school dress code allows. She insists that Principal Hughes is a fascist, a term she’s learned only the day before. 

In homeroom, Chip and Bethany ignore Tyler, for different reasons. Tyler is late to Calculus, where his grade is dire. Principal Hughes calls Tyler out of class and to his office. He asks Tyler about the altercation in the boys’ locker room the day before. Tyler denies knowing anything about it and gets Hughes to admit he has no proof Tyler was there. Hughes reminds Tyler he is on thin ice due to the Foul Deed. Tyler excuses himself and heads to lunch, where he is delighted Bethany chooses to sit next to him again, explaining, “[h]er arm bumped mine four times” (80). 

After school, Tyler has to report to his probation officer, Mr. Benson. While waiting for his appointment, he reveals that he had a different plan than spray painting the school, initially He wanted to create a bomb and call in a bomb threat so the school would have to evacuate. He planned carefully so that no one would end up being hurt, but soon realized it would be dangerous for all parties, particularly himself.

Mr. Benson lets Tyler know that all of his reports have been good and reminds him to stay out of trouble.