Eric Hayes is Bystander’s 13-year-old protagonist, a brave young man who is struggling to cope with his father’s abandonment. As a newcomer, Eric’s loneliness makes him vulnerable to the charms of Griffin Connelly. He briefly becomes friends with Griffin until he witnesses his bullying. A silent Eric eventually speaks out against the bullying, which results in Griffin turning against him. Eric shows courage and cunning in the way he stands up for himself.

Eric’s hobbies include playing basketball and guitar; his favorite school subjects are English and Social Studies. Eric often turns to music as an emotional refuge when grieving his absent father. At the end of the novel, he tries out for the modified basketball team and makes it, finally achieving a healthy way to fit into his new environment.

Griffin Connelly appears charming and empathetic, but his façade hides an angry, hurt young man. In Chapter 12, Griffin is described as “the group leader, the alpha dog. Depending upon his mood, he could be friendly and funny or dark and distant” (70). He uses his charisma and good looks to assume leadership of a clique at school and exerts power via abuse and theft.