Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda: Chapter 5 Summary & Analysis

Simon feels as though the energy at school on Halloween, which is conveniently on a Friday, is infectious. He wears cat ears and a tail, and Abby comes home with him after school so they can carpool with Nick and Leah to Garrett's party. As Abby cuddles with Bieber in her Cleopatra costume, Simon notices that she seems unconcerned that her dress has ridden up to the tops of her thighs, and wonders if she knows he's gay. They make grilled cheese sandwiches and then sit with Nora in the living room. Nora makes herself a grilled cheese, and Simon beats himself up for not asking her if she wanted one.

When they arrive at the party, Simon feels immediately alienated—kids are drinking alcohol, while he's used to parties with junk food and the game Apples to Apples. Leah declines Garrett's offer of alcohol, while Simon accepts a beer and Abby asks for vodka and orange juice. Nick runs to find a guitar, leaving Simon standing awkwardly with Abby and Leah. Leah is extra sarcastic in Nick's absence, and Simon feels as though the girls are showing off for each other. Garrett returns with drinks, teases Simon about his costume, and looks extra confused when Leah tries to explain she's dressed as a manga character.

Two drunk girls slam piano keys and laugh, and Simon almost wishes he were home watching TV and eating candy with Nora. He finds his beer disgusting and marvels that people get fake IDs in order to drink it. Simon thinks better of Garrett when he goes and pulls the lid over the piano keys. Nick returns with a guitar and sits down. Simon, Abby, and Leah sit on the floor nearby. As Simon drinks, he thinks his beer isn't so bad. He watches people come over to listen to Nick and thinks about Cal Price, who he's pretty sure is Blue—when they look at each other, he feels as though they get each other.

Simon starts twisting Leah's hair. He thinks it's pretty and smells wonderful, thanks to the beer—which he now thinks is wonderful as well. He tells Leah her face looks Irish, and proceeds to drunkenly remark on how crazy it is that everyone's ancestors are from all over the world. He tries to talk about where Abby is from and wonders if knowing nothing about Africa makes him racist. She answers that her ancestors were probably West African and they ended up in the U.S. thanks to slavery. Simon stops talking, and Martin awkwardly jumps up to get people more drinks. Simon muses that he and Leah don't drink and have never had sex, and he thinks that Blue is just like them.

Abby pulls Nick up to dance. Martin jumps up too and insists that everyone needs to admire his dancing, which is extremely awkward. Abby tugs both boys onto the dance floor and then proceeds to dance by herself, leaving the boys to bob and sway near her. Leah watches this and tells Simon that this is more painful than what happened at Nick's bar mitzvah.

At midnight, Leah drops everyone off at Nick's house and Abby and Simon walk to Simon's house. He observes the smashed pumpkins and toilet paper littering the sidewalk. Abby tells Simon that earlier that night, Martin brought up homecoming several times as though he was trying to ask her to the dance. Abby says she's already going with someone else and asks Simon to tell Martin. Simon agrees, and when Abby suggests he ask Leah to homecoming, Simon laughs and considers telling her that he's gay.

Mom greets Simon and Abby when they arrive with a plate of snacks. Abby tells her about everyone's costumes, and Simon quickly excuses himself to his bedroom to lie on his bed and listen to Elliott Smith. Simon decides he won't tell his parents about the party, since his parents are always shocked whenever he expresses a new interest or changes a little bit. He thinks that his parents make everything into a "big coming out moment," which he thinks isn't normal. Simon thinks that he's tired of “coming out” over and over again as he experiences small changes.