HI just on what binds the characters as friends....a couple of ideas ...one they have all been friends since the start of elementary (primary)school and grew up within minutes of each other and despite the pressures high school can bring have maintained that friendship .....of course those pressures are being ramped up (as an example and something I alluded to ..my character is getting noticed and being the school quarterback almost qualifies him as head jock...the pressure on him to dump his friends is going to be immense (something others in the group will realise before my character does))...maybe there is a fear this is the last summer 'the group' will have together<br/><br/><br/><br/>or<br/><br/>We all met and become friends at the very start of high school thanks to a few bullies...all the various character flaws (with respect ) would have been a target for bullies so we bonded over that....those who perhaps don't wish to have there characters be bullied could have stood up for the others and therefore been part of the group<br/><br/>that's just really off the top of my head ....maybe it could just be boy A is best friends with Boy B who is neighbours with girl C who is friends with girl A , b and D who is related by marriage to boy C and they just all came together one day and clicked.