Wasn’t he essentially Southern? Wasn’t that the core of his being, his essence, as it were? At least that was how he felt now that he was in California.
-- Narrator (Chapter Two paragraph 1)

Importance: After Daron began attending college in California, he felt that his entire essence was defined by the fact he was a Southerner.

D’aron was just glad to be close to her, and to have friends who were also uncertain about their place at Berkeley, and who were nerds, not that anyone could be a nerd at Berkeley.
-- Narrator (Chapter Four paragraph 26)

Importance: D’aron described how happy he was to finally have like minded friends who were similarly outcast as he was when he met the other 3 members of the Little Indians. This desire to be friends with someone, as well as his attraction to Candice, helped to set up the disaster that was to follow.

Yeah, Daron repeated, nodding, certain that it...
-- Narrator (Chapter Four paragraph 112)