All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

Wavy’s college roommate observes that Wavy does not look like an adult. She complains to her RA about the 12-year-old assigned to her room, only to find out Wavy is 18. Soon Renee finds Wavy oddly compelling, if quiet. Renee manipulates new friends by pretending her best friend died in high school. Wavy takes no interest in Renee’s pretend shrine, but Renee starts to acclimate to Wavy’s behavior.

When Renee discovers Brenda—visiting for Parents’ Weekend—rifling through Wavy’s belongings and finding Kellen’s photo, she tells Wavy about it. Wavy checks to make sure the picture is still there. Renee asks, so Wavy tells Renee Kellen is her fiancé and that he is in prison. When she asks if Wavy’s parents will be visiting her, she finds out they have been murdered. She realizes she will be taking down her pretend grief shrine. Though Renee sees Wavy at first as a curiosity—a good story—they become close the next year. When Renee goes through a difficult breakup, Wavy resurrects her old behavior of stealing food, breaking into the cafeteria kitchen late at night and setting out pudding, cake, and ice cream for Renee.