Character Analysis
Anger Management's Poster Child
When Annabel first meets Owen, she's a little afraid of him—after all, the rumor is that he's a pretty volatile and violent guy. As she gets to know him though, she finds out that some of these rumors are true—he's gotten in trouble for fights in the past and is in an anger management program. But that doesn't define everything about who he is, because Owen is actively working on becoming a better person.
In fact Owen is one of the more patient and considerate people that Annabel knows. He is always there for her and encourages her to let go of some of her negative emotions too, so she doesn't keep everything so pent-up inside. As she gets to know him she realizes that he's not some kind of unpredictable monster—nope, he's a really good guy who's just trying to manage his feelings and improve as a person.
Painfully Honest
As a part of his anger management program, Owen is working on never telling a lie. This is shocking to Annabel, who keeps a lot of her feelings inside and isn't comfortable sharing everything—especially when she knows it might hurt someone's feelings. But according to Owen, it's better to be honest:
"Look," he said, "like I said, for me, not saying how I feel when I feel it is a bad move. So I don't do it. Look at it this way: I might be saying you're fat, but at least I'm not punching you in the face." (5.241)
Because of his complete and utter honesty, Annabel comes to trust him—after all at least she knows he'll always be honest and open with her, unlike some of the friends she's had in the past. She doesn't have to worry about him playing games or manipulating her in the way that Sophie has, and as she hangs out with him more and more, his honesty starts to rub off on her. She starts to feel like maybe it's not so bad if she expresses her true emotions. Maybe it makes sense to put her real feelings out there.
Not-So-Typical Knight in Shining Armor
Sure Owen's not exactly your typical Prince Charming—he's a loner high school student who works at a grubby community radio station and drives a car with a seat belt that doesn't exactly work. He doesn't have girls swooning left and right over him like Will the jerk does. But he is Annabel's savior—and from the very first time she really interacts with him, he's there to make sure she's okay. After she and Sophie get into an altercation at school, she runs off and Owen comes over to help her. Check it out:
Owen Armstrong looked like a giant, his hand enormous as it stretched toward me. Somehow I found myself extending y own back to him, and then he was folding his fingers over mine, pulling me to my feet. I stood steady for about a second before my head went light and woozy and I stumbled.
"Whoa," he said, reaching out to steady me. "Hold on. You better sit down." (5.1-2)
Even though he doesn't know Annabel, he's unfailingly caring and patient with her. And for the rest of the book, he's always there for her. He listens to what she has to say and assures her that her opinion is valid; he keeps her company when she's dealing with utter loneliness; he listens to her family problems and is even the first person that she trusts with the story of her rape. He may not look like a prince, but Owen is dependable, caring, and an incredibly patient listener. It's no wonder that Annabel ends up falling in love with him. He's just what she needs.