Barry

Barry is the kind of kid most people overlook—until he opens his mouth. He has a habit of explaining things no one asked about, blurting out facts or backstories like he's trying to make sense of the world before it slips away. One thing he'll never do is lie; Barry tells the truth even when it makes situations harder, which, for a middle-schooler, is saying a lot. At home, things aren't easy, though Barry rarely talks about it directly. He's learned to shrug off blame, laugh at the wrong times, and keep going no matter what. That quiet resilience is what makes him unshaken by Jeffrey—next to the chaos Barry already knows, a sarcastic monster isn't nearly as scary. Most kids don't get why Barry insists Jeffrey is his best friend, but Barry doesn't care. Loyalty, to him, isn't optional. He may not be the loudest, the smartest, or the most popular, but he's the one who sticks around. And in a world where most people look away, that makes him one of a kind.