The Beginning of Everything

Cassidy, a new girl at Ezra’s school, is Ezra’s love interest and the “spark” that helps him resolve the question of who he wants to be. Cassidy is a deep and complicated character, struggling to deal with her own personal tragedy. Cassidy transfers from a boarding school in San Francisco to suburban Eastwood following the tragic death of her brother, Owen. She lives with her physician parents in an expensive house across the park from Ezra. Cassidy is described as beautiful, with long dark hair and dark blue eyes. She often wears boy’s clothes, rides a bike, and doesn’t fit the Eastwood High mold of “blonde hair, lots of makeup, stupidly expensive handbags” (28). She portrays herself as bohemian and mysterious, hiding her true nature, which she says is a “sad, lonely mess who studies too much” (329). Cassidy is well traveled and extremely smart, learning foreign phrases for fun and quoting philosophy and poetry. She breaks conventions: crashing college courses, helping with “positive vandalism,” and wearing witty outfits at debate tournaments, where she a legendary debater. Cassidy is a loyal friend and encourages Ezra to break free from bland expectations, opening his eyes to wider possibilities. Unfortunately, Cassidy is unable to break free from her own self-imposed prison of perfection. She cannot allow others to see her grief and loneliness, so she creates an alternative personality for others to remember her by. Cassidy truly loves Ezra but is unable to get past the painful reminder of Owen’s death each time she is with him.

Toby epitomizes the ideal best friend. He is Ezra’s rock. After Toby’s tragedy, Ezra drops him out of egocentric self-protection. However, after Ezra’s tragedy, Toby is there for him, supportive, kind, and inclusive. To Toby, the value of their friendship outweighs everything else. Rather than fading “into obscurity” as Ezra predicted, Toby blossoms into a self-assured high schooler with a solid group of friends. Toby is a bow-tie wearing self-professed nerd who is smart, articulate, witty, and captain of the school’s debate team. He used to be overweight but is now “a lanky six two” (19). He has dark hair, wears glasses, and drives an old burgundy minivan, known as the “Fail Whale,” that still features a tape deck, reflecting Toby’s frugal and retro style. Toby has no desire for flashy new cars or trendy clubs, preferring spontaneous events like the floating movie theater and silent flash mob dances. Toby suspects that he is gay, but rather than come out in high school, he maturely decides to wait until college. Toby and Ezra remain firm friends after high school, Ezra finally realizing that Toby is an “actual friend, and not just someone with whom I'd shared a lunch table, or competed for the same team” (273). Without Toby for support, advice, and friendship, it is unlikely that Ezra would have fared as well as he did after his accident.

Charlotte, with her coiffed blond hair, perfect makeup, and expensive outfits, is the stereotypical popular high school cheerleader. She dates whomever she perceives to be the most popular boy, and in Ezra’s recollection is “a selfish, reckless girl who thought the world owed her something simply because she was pretty” (282). Charlotte mocks anyone who doesn’t complement her own image, either because of their style or because they are smarter than her. Every year for homecoming, Charlotte nominates a “joke vote” to humiliate and bully two other students. There is no depth to Charlotte’s narcissistic character; she is an archetypal “airhead” who constantly needs to reassure herself that she is superior. Her image is of paramount importance to her, preventing her from forming true friendships or meaningful romantic relationships. This is shown by her desperation to get back with Ezra once she sees that he is desirable again, despite the fact that she is already dating Evan.