“Where are you going, where have you been?” begins with a young fifteen-year-old named Connie who is reckless and admires her looks despite her mother's comments. Connie was a typical disobedient teenager, however, things started to get worse when Arnold Friend notices Connie for the first time. When Connie notices his gold convertible, "He stared at her and then his lips spread into a smile, he moved a finger and said I'll get you, baby" (Oates 129), this clarifies his desire and goals with her. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Connie rejects his comments suggesting she doesn't like him, but he still doesn't understand it. Joyce Oates paints an unforgettable character picture of her friend Arnold when he reveals that he is very obsessive, controlling and shows signs of being a psychopath. Connie was singing a program interspersed with Bobby King exclamations in front of her friend Arnold who showed up at her house. When friend Arnold got there, he started talking to Connie as if they knew each other. He began pointing to his friend, Ellie's, new radio, and she noticed that she too was listening to the same program. “Bobby King? He said I listen to it all the time. I think it's fantastic. It's really great, Connie said reluctantly” (Oates 131). His reluctant response was as if he was hesitating because it was probably unusual for a guy to not like a gospel singer. It could be a coincidence or he knew on purpose that Connie really adored Bobby King and wanted him to feel more comfortable since they had something in common. This factor suggests that he was watching her, obsessing over her likes and dislikes without even talking to her. his. He wants her to like it, that's why she says it's great and listens to it all the time. Another behavior that becomes clear that he is obsessive is when he excessively tries to talk to Connie and shows up at her house without being greeted. She can't help but talk to him because he has imposed himself. One interaction that shows Connie isn't interested in him is when she says, “I'm not late, am I? he said. Who the hell do you think you are? Connie said. You said I was going out, right? I don't even know who you are. She spoke sulkily…” (Oates 131). This conversation explains how fascinated he is by her. She doesn't even know him and yet he still knows where she lives, communicates to her like he knows he's coming, and acts like she's waiting for him. However, he said he would "get her" at the beginning of the story and that may be what he meant when he said that. That still isn't taken into account because he would know where she lives if they had never met before. His one encounter with her at the restaurant made him fantasize about her. In the story the friend Arnold seems so secretive, mysterious and single-minded. With Connie being the target, you can tell he wants her more than someone who has a crush. Oates makes it sound like he wants to take control of her and he'll like it. This is worrying for Connie because her obsession could lead to a worse situation than she thinks. While Arnold's friend lingers in trying to convince Connie to let him take him for a ride. He asked, “Connie, you are not telling the truth. This is your day for a ride with me and you know it, he said still laughing. How do you know my name? she said suspiciously. I'm Connie. Maybe and maybe not. I know my Connie, he said, wagging his finger. Just for a ride, Connie darling. I never said my name was Connie, she said” (Oates 132). It's intriguing that he shouldn't know her name since she never told him. This is where an image of comes into play.