After We Collided

Each time Tessa and Hardin have an argument, Tessa packs her bags and leaves. In the beginning of the novel, Tessa packs her bags because she learns about the bet Hardin had with Zed on who would take Tessa’s virginity. The second time she packs her bags, she leaves Hardin again to spend Christmas with her mother, only to quickly return to Hardin after arguing with her mother over her father’s return to Washington. Tessa packs her bags again after learning Hardin spent the night with a former acquaintance, Carly. Finally, Tessa’s baggage is seen again when Hardin returns from London and tries to convince her to come back to him again. Tessa’s baggage becomes a visible symbol of the emotional baggage Tessa and Hardin carry around with them that leads to these disagreements and separations—a manifestation of the novel’s up-and-down structure.

Although Tessa and Hardin are not together on her birthday, he arranges for car repairs and gives her an e-reader for her birthday. The e-reader contains all the books Tessa and Hardin have ever talked about, invoking the early days of their relationship. Tessa accepts the e-reader despite not having forgiven Hardin yet. Though she dislikes e-readers—which makes Hardin giving one to her another gesture of control disguised as romance—this gift becomes a source of comfort to Tessa, a way to pass time when she is bored or unhappy. The e-reader takes on a role that Hardin, as her boyfriend, would occupy. The e-reader symbolizes the one thing Tessa and Hardin can share without conflict—literature.

Hardin buys a charm bracelet for Tessa for Christmas, with custom charms matching an infinity symbol Hardin has tattooed on his body and carrying an engraved quote both Hardin and Tessa like. The bracelet is one of several seemingly romantic gestures Hardin makes throughout the novel to make up for the lies, secrets, and jealousies that often cause Hardin and Tessa to break up. For Tessa, this bracelet shows thoughtfulness and care that Hardin could put into their relationship—a sign that there might be a softer side under his normal behavior.

However, the bracelet also has darker undertones, evoking shackles or manacles as it connects to Hardin’s deeply controlling personality. It also becomes a trigger for Hardin’s anger: When Ken and Karen get Tessa a more expensive bracelet, he is enraged, worrying that Tessa will like theirs better and forcing her to tell him she prefers his one to the nicer one.