The first chapter of When We Collided begins with the protagonist, Vivi, carving “Vivi was here” into the trunk of a tree at a local park in Verona Cove. Although Vivi has only been in Verona Cove for a week, she is already in love with it. Verona Cove is a tiny coastal town in California with “only one of everything” (10), including a grocery store, drugstore, and diner. It is early in the morning when Vivi goes to Betty’s Diner for breakfast. Though there are not any tables available, Vivi chooses to sit with Officer Hayashi, an older gentleman who generally prefers to sit alone. Vivi is convinced that Hayashi is “no curmudgeon” (11). She then discovers that he named his German shepherd dog Kubaba, who “was the only queen of Sumer in her own right” (11).

Vivi eventually wears Hayashi down and sits with him for breakfast. She is designing a dress to reflect the word “wabi-sabi” (12). Vivi is also described as having short, curly, platinum blond hair. After having breakfast with Hayashi, Vivi takes a walk on the beach and throws her medication into the ocean. After flinging the pill into the water, Vivi goes to her job at the pottery shop.