Who is Brewster Rawlins from Bruiser and what is their importance?

Brewster is a fifteen-year-old high school student who goes to the same school as Tennyson and Bronte. Brewster has always been something of a loner, staying out of the main stream, living without many friends. However, when he meets Bronte, he finds himself pulled into her world quicker than he thought possible.

As Bronte and Brewster grow closer and closer, Brewster finds it impossible to hide from her his secret gift. Brewster is an empath. He steals the injuries and bad emotions from the people he cares about, taking them on as his own. This causes Brewster to often sport injuries he did nothing to cause except to care. When Brewster's brother is beaten by his uncle, it is Brewster who bares the wounds. When Cody falls from a tree, it is Brewster who suffers the broken arm.

Brewster allows Bronte to pull him out of his self-imposed shell because he knows it makes her happy. However, being a part of Bronte's world means caring about a large number of people. Brewster is soon covered in bruises and cuts, soon feeling all the dark emotions that surround the emotions of the implosion of Mr. and Mrs. Sternberger's marriage. When Bronte learns the truth, she struggles to deal with the enormity of it. Bronte falls and nearly drowns in the high school pool. Brewster takes it from her willingly, happy to give his life for her.