Al

Character Analysis

Al, Min's best friend, is the kind of friend you'd think to call first if you needed someone to bail you out of jail. He's the high school junior treasurer, a position that sums him up perfectly; it's an essential role, but not showy, like student body president or, ahem, co-captain of the football team. (That would be Ed.) Loyal friend and inventory taker at his father's fancy food shop, good old Al is the picture of responsibility.

We know what you're thinking: He sounds kind of boring, right? But he's not, and that's chiefly because he's hilarious. In one of Min's lowest moments after her breakup, Al is the one who can make her smile:

"It's stupid I know," [Min] said. "It's desperate stupid. I'm desperate stupid. I'm a desperado for keeping all of it."

"When it's a girl," Al said, handing [her] a napkin, "I believe the term is desperada." (41.13)

Min might be feeling down, but Al keeps things light by busting out a little joke. Thanks, buddy.

A Heart of Gold

Min describes Al as a "a good, good person" (3.34), with a "true heart" (39.57), and we're inclined to agree. He's the kind of guy whose most fervent birthday wish is for other people to have fun at his party. Plus, he's always whipping up an elaborate gourmet meal for movie night or doing someone—usually Min—a big favor.

Al's so dependable, in fact, that he's the one Min calls at the beginning of the book when she needs a ride to Ed's house to drop off her breakup box. According to Al's mom, he and Min are so close they're like an old married couple. And while it's true they finish each other's sentences and share the same hobbies (mainly watching old films), Al and Min are strictly platonic.

Or at least they're supposed to be. You see, Al has a secret: He's totally in love with Min.

Welcome to the Friend Zone, Population: Al

Al is selfless, perhaps to a fault. For a long time, he doesn't bother to tell Min about his feelings for her. (Instead, he concocts an elaborate lie about an imaginary girlfriend during a summer in Los Angeles with the hope of making her jealous.) As readers, we have a few clues—think deep sighs and pointed remarks—as to what's going on long before Al confesses his feelings. Min, for her part, is oblivious until he tells her directly, and by then it's too late. She's so smitten with Ed she doesn't have room in her heart to think about Al in that way. By the end of the book, though, his chances with Min seem to have improved considerably. For the details, hop on over to "What's Up with the Ending?"