Character Analysis
The Girl of Summer Has Gone
Rachel is Grace's “tremendously freckled” (4.18) and tremendously hyperactive friend. It's hard to follow her rambling train of thought sometimes. But we don't have to worry about that too much because, despite being Grace's BFF, they don't actually talk much.
Practically speaking, this is because Grace is obsessed with Sam. There's a symbolic reason too, though. Rachel is representative of summer, with her bubbly attitude and freckled skin. Sam and Grace, well, those two are preoccupied with the chill of winter. This makes Rachel the outsider in the their little group.
But she doesn't ever let it get her down. Or if she does, she doesn't show it. Maybe, like summer the season, she realizes that she has her place in Grace's life, and it will always come around again.