In this section of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, Freddy continues to struggle with the theme of Breaking Toxic Relationship Cycles. Even as she feels neglected and isolated at Laura’s party, Freddy attempts to rationalize her decision to stay with Laura since she remains trapped in a cycle of unhealthy dynamics. The juxtaposition of the seemingly happy and social atmosphere of Laura’s party with Freddy’s feelings of dejection and isolation serves to highlight the discrepancy between the superficial appearance of their relationship and Freddy’s inner turmoil. On Page 144, Freddy is depicted in stark black ink against a pink backdrop, while the other partygoers are shaded in gray, emphasizing her sense of separateness and loneliness amidst the chattering crowd. These scenes are interspersed with caption boxes that contain Freddy’s email to Anna Vice, creating a contrast between her private thoughts and the public facade of the party. For example, on Page 145, a pink back panel features a high-angle shot of the party, juxtaposed with Freddy’s overlaid email, in which she muses, “I bet you that guy with four wives never worries about his wives being flirty because they all live in the suburbs and they have too many kids to feel sexy” (145). This is followed by a close-up of Laura leaning in close to another girl, above another panel featuring Freddy’s continued email: “I wonder what the wives feel” (145). The combination of the visual contrast and Freddy’s internal monologue serves to underscore the emotional disconnect she experiences within her relationship with Laura and the larger social context of the party. In Freddy’s optimistic email to Anna Vice, she suggests that she might be breaking new ground in lesbian relationships, but the image of her dejected and alone amidst the partygoers highlights the disconnect between her hopeful words and the reality of her situation.

Further, Freddy’s impulsive decision to kiss Mo at the gallery event after witnessing Laura flirting with another girl underscores her inability to break free from the toxic pattern of their relationship—in order to get her revenge on Laura, Freddy attempts to hurt Laura in the same way that Laura hurts her. When Laura confronts Freddy about the kiss and asserts that they will always get back together due to their unique connection, Freddy readily agrees, demonstrating her continued struggle to prioritize her own well-being and assert her agency within the relationship.

Freddy’s journey toward Seeing Past Superficial Charm and External Validation remains a central theme. Despite the growing distance between Freddy and her friends, particularly Doodle, Freddy continues to be drawn in by Laura’s charm and the validation she receives from their relationship. The overlapping panels depicting Freddy and Laura’s rekindled romance at school, juxtaposed with Doodle’s observations and her own separate life, underscore Freddy’s inability to recognize the superficiality of her connection with Laura and the impact it has on her friendships. Freddy’s encounter with Vi, who offers a more mature and grounded perspective on relationships, serves as a potential catalyst for Freddy to reassess her priorities and see beyond the surface-level allure of her relationship with Laura. However, Freddy’s decision to agree with Laura’s assertion that their connection is more important than her kiss with Mo demonstrates her continued struggle to acknowledge the superficiality of their relationship and the pain it causes her.

The graphic novel explores the theme of Discovering Agency and Self-Responsibility through Freddy’s gradual realization of the consequences of her actions and the importance of prioritizing her own well-being and friendships. The juxtaposition of Freddy’s seemingly happy moments with Laura and the growing distance between her and her friends, particularly Doodle, highlights the cost of Freddy’s continued investment in the toxic relationship. Doodle’s evasiveness when asked about who she is texting and her abrupt departure from their conversation serve as subtle indications of the strain on their friendship caused by Freddy’s preoccupation with Laura. Freddy’s failure to meet Doodle for lunch after agreeing to talk, due to her confrontation with Laura, further emphasizes her struggle to take responsibility for her actions and prioritize her friendships. Buddy’s pointed comment about Freddy’s lack of concern for Doodle’s well-being serves as a wake-up call, prompting Freddy to begin considering the impact of her choices on those around her and the need to take control of her own life.

The importance of the gaze is a recurring motif throughout this section of the book, particularly in its depiction of Freddy and Doodle’s diverging paths. On Pages 153 and 154, Freddy is shown either daydreaming, phone in her hands, or looking at Laura, while Doodle is shown observing Freddy. Starting on Page 155, Doodle begins to face away from Freddy, with panels depicting only the back of her head before transitioning to scenes of Doodle engaging in activities separate from Freddy, such as playing Dungeons and Dragons, spending time with Eric and Buddy, and meeting up with an unknown person on Pages 156-157. These panels are interspersed with images of Freddy and Laura continuing to interact with each other in an increasingly insular manner, culminating in the borderless image on the bottom of Page 157. This image depicts Laura and Freddy in black and white, heading toward the right of the page, while Buddy, Eric, and Doodle pass behind them toward the left of the page, drawn only in faint pink. This symbolizes the fading presence of these friends in Freddy’s life. Moreover, for Western readers accustomed to reading left to right, movement toward the left of the page evokes a sense of moving backward, while movement from left to right suggests progression. This implies that Freddy believes she is moving forward with her life, leaving her outdated friendships behind. This panel highlights her obliviousness, signaling that Freddy is unaware of the true cost of her relationship with Laura in terms of her friendships and her old life.