Paul

Paul is an openly homosexual high school sophomore, who is the first-person narrator of the novel. He is the younger brother of Jay, and his mother and father have been incredibly supportive of his homosexuality since he first came out as a kindergartener. Paul has been lifelong friends with Joni, and also has struck up a platonic but deeply meaningful friendship with Tony, a boy of the same age who lives in the next town over. Paul is incredibly involved in his school's social events, and also regularly goes out and about around his local town.

The events of the novel reveal both Paul's deep passions, and also his erratic nature. Paul and Joni's long-lasting friendship begins to fracture when Joni begins a relationship with a new boyfriend, Chuck. There is no primary reason for the split between Paul and Joni, perhaps other than Paul is persuaded to...