a kind of timeline of their meeting each other
--
scott:

7 (hasnt met victor yet but has met helen (childhood bully); miserable) > 12 (is aware of victor; slightly less miserable) > 14 (best friends with victor; no longer miserable)

victor:

7 (hasn't met scott but has met sidney (doesn't remember though??); kinda too happy) > 12 (is aware of scott; miserable and neurotic at this point) > 14 (best friends with scott; less miserable more neurotic)

sidney:

7 (has met victor but he "disappeared") > 12 (still at old school; miserable) > 14 (has met victor again; less miserable more happy--friends??)