The narrator is a teenage Dominican American boy living with his family in a New Jersey apartment. He is highly observant and socially adaptable, meticulously curating his environment to hide his underprivileged background and immigrant status. He manages a complex multicultural world by performing different versions of himself. He shifts his behavior based on the racial and socioeconomic backgrounds of his potential dates.

Howie is a physically imposing teenager of Puerto Rican descent who serves as the narrator's primary rival. Weighing two hundred pounds and often accompanied by two aggressive dogs, he possesses a blunt, openly hostile demeanor. Unlike the narrator's social fluidity, Howie relies on intimidation and physical presence to assert himself in the neighborhood.

The girls act as a composite representation of the high-school teenagers the narrator attempts to court. They come from various racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, specifically characterized as being from the local neighborhood, outsiders, white, African American, or multiracial. Each demographic prompts a distinctly different dating strategy from the narrator, reflecting the social barriers present in his community.

This group encompasses both the narrator's immigrant relatives and the parents of the girls he dates. The narrator's family members speak Spanish-inflected English and remind him of his origins in the Dominican Republic. Conversely, the girls' parents act as strict, sometimes judgmental authorities who scrutinize the narrator's suitability as an escort for their daughters.