Ethan has lived with the aftermath of his parents' divorce since he was two, so it’s all he knows. He has two large families, which he juggles as best as he can, but the experience has left him feeling somewhat detached and isolated from both worlds. On the surface, he is friendly, charismatic, and the type of kid who can easily make friends by cracking jokes and staying upbeat. His sense of humor is his defense mechanism, always using sarcasm to keep people at a distance so they don't see how much he is struggling on the inside.

While Ethan presents himself as carefree and full of energy, he’s secretly falling into the grip of drug use. This has been a way for him to cope with the emotional neglect and confusion that comes with growing up between two families, as well as the pressures of school, social life, and trying to live up to expectations that are placed on him. No one knows about his secret addiction, he’s very good at hiding it, slipping away to use when he feels overwhelmed or when the tension from his divided family becomes too much.

Ethan’s vulnerability and internal struggle are kept hidden beneath his outward demeanor. He may make everyone around him laugh, but deep down, he’s afraid of being alone, of not fitting in anywhere, and of being trapped by the cycle of his life. As he interacts with Ava, their friendship begins to show him a different way of coping with problems, even if it takes him some time to realize it. Despite his issues, Ethan doesn’t push Ava away—he’s there for her when she needs someone to talk to, even if he’s unable to fully be open about his own struggles. Over the course of the arc, Ava begins to notice subtle signs of his struggle, though she doesn’t yet understand the full extent.