Sixteen-year-old Bryon Douglas is the protagonist and narrator of That Was Then, This Is Now. Large, with dark hair and eyes, Bryon admits that he has a reputation for being a “lady-killer.” Due in part to a previous unpleasant experience with police officers, Bryon struggles with authority figures. Together with Mark, his best friend, Bryon spends his free time pool hustling and prowling the streets. Unlike Mark, however, Bryon has a sense of right and wrong; bartender and mentor figure Charlie vouches for Bryon’s honest actions, though he remains suspicious of Bryon’s words at times. In social settings, Bryon enjoys making wisecracks and likes to be the center of attention.

Bryon’s development throughout the novel follows a typical coming-of-age pattern. As the novel opens, Bryon’s friendship with Mark is firmly intact, with each of them enjoying the simple pleasures of youth; although some of these pleasures come in the form of jokes at others’ expense, camaraderie and loyalty between them are evident. As Bryon witnesses a series of tragedies and embarks on a new romantic relationship, he begins to question and re-examine his life in more detail. As he does so, he becomes particularly critical of the endless cycle of violence that surrounds him and in which he plays a role.