Asher is a 17 year old male transgender teen. He is often seen as cold by people who aren't close to him. Throughout the story he learns how to move on from the pain his mother has caused and he grows to become a strong leader.

ASHER: Hey.

[FINN playfully bumps shoulders with ASHER.]

FINN: What’s wrong? 

ASHER: [shrugs]

FINN: [more serious, but still gentle] What’s wrong?

ASHER: It’s my mom.

FINN: What has Neve-r done now?  Is she gonna give you 

up? Is she gonna let you down? Ha ha ha? [rick roll drum]

ASHER: [serious] She just—[he starts but sighs] You can be so annoying.

[ASHER unseriously rolls his eyes.]

FINN: [encouraging] It’s just you and me.

[ASHER stands, FINN watches. Asher kicks at grass, pebbles, etc, hands starting in his pockets and then come out, slowly falling into motion the more he thinks, the more he talks, the more his frustration reaches the surface.]

ASHER: I get that I need to do more, I get that I don't do enough. But I don’t get why she has to yell at me at 5 o'clock in the morning. I'm trying so hard, but I dont get why nothing I do is enough for her. I forget one thing and she freaks out. I worked a 12-hour shift yesterday, a job I only have to work because she refuses to get me the basic necessities that I need. I mean, I've had to buy everything myself the day I turned 16. 

[ASHER takes a beat and his body language relaxes, calming down as he returns to his seat beside FINN.]

ASHER: I get I should be grateful for what I have, but I can’t help but grieve what I don’t have.