Say You Swear (Boys of Avix, #1)

Content Warning: This section discusses miscarriage, the death of a parent, and a car accident.

“New people will come into our lives. I know this. Some might be for the better, others for the worse. But what happens if one of our worlds is flipped upside down? What if we drown from the capsize? If we lose each other along the way, who will be there to pull us from the water? Maybe that’s a little dramatic, but it’s a real possibility. A shitty one. Less than a month from today, the future begins.”

Arianna’s musings on friendship capture how important her friend group is to her. She is nervous about starting college in the fall because she anticipates that life at Avix University will challenge her relationships. Her use of metaphor in this passage also conveys her emotional state and underscores her attachment to Mason, Brady, Cameron, and Chase.

“I admit, I woke up a little embarrassed the next day, but not enough to regret it. Had he shown any sign of anger or ignored me after, I likely would, but he hasn’t. He hasn’t exactly met my eye, but he hasn’t avoided that either. He is right now, though, the tension in his shoulders doubling with each passing second. He’s trying to focus on the others goofing off in the ocean before us, but I know he’s not seeing what’s in front of him. His mind is muddled by me. Or more because of me.”

Arianna’s emotional response to her encounter with Chase at the club illustrates her intense feelings for him. Arianna has loved Chase since he joined her friend group. Her feelings remain unchanged even after Chase pushes her away while dancing. The use of anaphora in this passage also conveys Arianna’s deep attachment to Chase. By repeating Chase’s pronouns at the start of each sentence, Arianna is showing the important place that Chase has in her heart.

“I don’t know if all twins feel the same, but me and Mase? We’re a bit codependent. The thought of being alone doesn’t sit well with either of us. It could be because we’ve never really been alone. It could be because we have a large, loving family, one that Cam and Brady have been a part of since birth and Chase joined when he was twelve.”

Arianna’s descriptions of her close relationships develop the novel’s thematic exploration of The Importance of Friendship and Family. Arianna is devoted to Mason, Cameron, Brady, and Chase because she understands herself according to these relationships.