Nick

Nick is a street kid whose character was forged in the streets from a young age. He's not the type to take long to sort things out or listen calmly. If he doesn't like something, he'll say it to your face, and if necessary, he'll even use his fists. Respect has always been paramount to him, and when someone "looks at you sideways" or "talks too much," Nick quickly puts them in their place.

Since childhood, he'd been accustomed to living by his own rules. Teachers considered him problematic, neighbors complained about his noisy group, but he'd only smirk: "This is my life, and I'll decide how to live it." He was always the ringleader in a group: he'd incite his friends to a bet, start a fight, or come up with some daring prank. He was considered a hooligan, and he wasn't embarrassed by it—in fact, he was proud that everyone in the neighborhood knew his name.

But Nick wasn't always fair. Sometimes he overreacted when things could have been resolved calmly. His temper more than once let his friends down, and sometimes the ones who suffered weren't the ones who deserved it. He understood this, but he couldn't apologize—he believed that apologizing made you weaker.

At the same time, he had his own unique truth. He could protect his younger siblings, share his last, and stand up for a friend. Nick couldn't stand betrayal and valued loyalty more than anything else. In his world, everything was simple: either you're "one of us," and then he'll be there for you to the end, or you're a stranger—in which case, it's best to stay away.

He walked through life with a cheeky grin, as if everything around him was his territory. Nick was charming, but always remained brash and straightforward. A bully with a soul—the kind some hated, others feared, and still others truly respected.

At the very end he came up, glanced at me and said briefly:

• Listen, give me your phone, I need to make a call.