An eighteen-year-old high school senior dealing with the sudden death of her father. She is emotionally grounded but struggles with moving to a new state and leaving her memories behind. She feels a deep sense of responsibility for her younger brother, Kel. Her rapid attraction to her new neighbor, Will, hits an immediate roadblock when she discovers a professional boundary between them.

A twenty-one-year-old student teacher raising his younger brother following the sudden death of their parents in a car accident. He is deeply responsible and works hard to provide financial and emotional security for his household. He shares a strong affinity for slam poetry and experiences an immediate, powerful attraction to his new neighbor, Lake.

Lake and Kel's mother, a nurse who recently lost her husband to a sudden heart attack. She pushes her family to relocate to Michigan for a fresh start and a return to her own roots. She offers wise, practical advice to her daughter while privately managing serious, undisclosed health concerns.

Lake's exuberant high school classmate. Having survived an abusive birth mother and the foster care system, she is highly perceptive and unapologetically genuine. She uses slam poetry to process her difficult past and quickly establishes herself as a fiercely loyal confidant to Lake.

Lake's nine-year-old brother. He uses humor and play to cope with the family's relocation and the loss of his father. He finds quick comfort in the move by bonding with his new neighbor, Caulder, serving as an emotional anchor for Lake during the family's shared grief.

Will's younger brother who is roughly the same age as Kel. Having lost his parents, he relies entirely on Will for daily care and guidance. He eagerly welcomes Kel to the neighborhood, and their fast friendship inextricably links the two families.

A high school student and Eddie's devoted boyfriend. He is supportive, friendly, and part of the core social group that welcomes Lake to her new school. He shares a playful, prank-filled history with Will Cooper from their earlier high school years.

A high school friend of Eddie and Gavin. He initially asks Lake on a date, which she politely deflects. He remains a good-natured member of their friend group and helps fix Lake's car when it breaks down.

Eddie's current foster father. He is a loving and supportive presence in her life who actively wants to formally remain her father figure even as she ages out of the foster care system.

A high school classmate of Lake's. He aggressively pursues her at a poetry event, ignoring her clear discomfort and physical boundaries, which leads to a physical altercation.

A family friend of Julia Cohen in Michigan. Julia suggests her as a potential guardian for Kel due to health circumstances, a plan that severely distresses Lake.