They Both Die at the End

They Both Die at the End

by

Adam Silvera

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They Both Die at the End: Rufus, 2:21 a.m. Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Aimee shoves Rufus against the fridge and asks what he was thinking. Jenn Lori presses ice to Peck’s face and can’t hide her disappointment in Rufus. Aimee drags Rufus to the living room, where Rufus admits that he only went for Peck because he didn’t feel like he had a future anyway, and Peck had voiced these fears. Aimee replies that Rufus isn’t a nobody. They sit on the couch like they did back when Aimee told Rufus that she was leaving Pluto and broke up with him. Rufus holds Aimee and leans in to kiss her, but Tagoe walks in and interrupts. Everyone else comes in for the funeral—even Peck. This is Rufus’s first Decker funeral; his family didn’t throw one after they received their calls. Jenn Lori speaks directly to Rufus and about how he transformed as he found friends.
Jenn Lori makes it clear that Rufus is the person he is at this point because of his relationships with Malcolm, Tagoe, and Aimee. His friendships have helped him grieve for his family, and now, they’re helping him feel loved as he stares down his own death. For Rufus, his choice to beat up Peck looks even more meaningful now that it might be the last significant thing he does. There’s no telling what anyone’s last big act might be—but that’s no excuse to hurt others.
Themes
Mortality, Life, and Meaning Theme Icon
Choices and Consequences Theme Icon
Friendship and Chosen Family Theme Icon
Francis speaks, and then Malcolm steps up. He says that Rufus matters more than most people. Tagoe cries and says that Rufus was supposed to be a lifelong friend, which makes everyone else cry. Aimee steps up and says that this feels like a nightmare—then, she squints and asks if someone called the cops. Peck is the only one who doesn’t look surprised. He shouts that Rufus assaulted him; Aimee shrieks that Rufus is a human, not expired meat. Tagoe and Malcolm tell Rufus to leave out the back while they slow down the cops. Rufus takes a long look at his friends, sneaks through the backyard, and grabs his bike when he sees that the officers are inside. He rides away, wishing he was already dead.
For all of Rufus’s friends and chosen family members, it’s clear that Peck is taking a low blow by calling the police. This is part of the reason they decide to possibly get themselves in trouble with the cops to help Rufus get away—in comparison to what Peck did, getting in a bit of trouble might not seem so meaningful, especially if it helps Rufus live his last day as a free person rather than in jail..
Themes
Mortality, Life, and Meaning Theme Icon
Human Connection and Social Media Theme Icon
Choices and Consequences Theme Icon
Friendship and Chosen Family Theme Icon