&*DARREN..x)*

Full name: Darren Patterson.

Age: (season 1): 12.

Neighbour: to Ginger and Carl

Brother: of Will.

Key episodes: Never Can Say Goodbye, Far From Home,
No Turning Back, Kiss Today Goodbye,
Battle Of The Bands, The Wedding Frame.

W

hen Darren starts his career at Lucky Jr High, his massive braces place a serious strain on his social life. But he takes it all with a certain cool, deep down he knows his time is yet to come. But first his ever popular brother Will has to be out of the picture. His only other issue is that his father, his brother and anyone who knows those two think he is too soft.

As long as Darren can remember, he has lived next door toGinger and the Foutleys. It's impossible for him to imagine not being able to just go out and climb up the ivy to Ginger's bedroom. They are so close that he thinks of her more as a sister then as a friend. Darren realizes however that at one time Sheltered Shrubs will become too small for her ambitions. To illustrate the tightness of their bond, watch'Summer Of Camp Caprice'(1) and 'Mrs. Foutley's Boys'. This is important to understand what happens later, like in 'A Lesson In Tightropes'.

But when for the first time Ginger moves away for a few months, Darren has to face that what he's feeling might be something more than just friendship. A long-term relationship is new to both Ginger and Darren and it changes everything. Soon Darren has to learn things will never be the same again.

Personality: Darren is balanced, cool and down-to-earth. His remarks often provide an anchorpoint for Ginger's ever-wandering mind. He's not the most popular guy in Jr High but has enough selfconfidence not to care too much about it.

Despite that, Darren has one major flaw. Whether it is Courtney, Miranda or Simone, once he finds out a girl is interested in him he completely loses track. And when that happens Darren becomes nearly oblivious to people around him, making sometimes rash decisions.

Darren also has kind of a double relationship to his brother Will. This is partly caused by outside pressure (from his father for example) to toughen up. Although he wants to be anything but just a sports jock with a loud car, Darren often asks Will for advice. He even follows his footsteps and joins the high school football team. Although reluctant at first, he likes the attention when he's succesful.

Quotes: "Take it from an expert: don't ever listen to Will." ('Piece Of My Heart')
"I'm more of kinder, gentler Patterson. The kind who enjoys walks in the park and intact collarbones." ('No Turning Back')
"I never realised how used I am to having you so close, Ginger." ('The Wedding Frame')