"I was more or less forced to invite all my 'school friends', i.e the ragtag bunch of drama people and English geeks that I sat with by social necessity in the cavernous cafeteria of my public school, I knew they wouldn't come" (Green 1).

Pudge keeps to himself for the most part and because of that , he does not have many friends. His mother wants his "friends" to come to his going away party, so that he will feel missed while he is away at Culver Creek boarding school, however Pudge knows the reality: friendless.

"I'd joke. I'd make a good first impression. Oh he's funny. That guy Miles is a riot. That didn't happen, of course. Things never happened like I imagined them" (Green 8).

Pudge is trying to make a good impression at his new school. He wants to start off on the right foot with his new classmates and hopefully have a good social stance at Culver Creek. Although he tries to make the best of it, he doubts himself and expects himself to go another year without friends.

"I wasn't sure whether I liked her, and I doubted whether I could trust her, but I cared at least enough to find out" (Green 75).

Pudge begins to explore new things, like falling in love with Alaska. He is not used to feeling like he does for Alaska and does not know if it is a good idea to like her. Nevertheless, he puts aside all his worries and doubts and begins to let himself shake off his reserved personality.

"Why did we drink. For me, it was just fun, particularly since we were risking expulsion. The nice thing about the constant threat of expulsion at Culver Creek is that it lends excitement to every moment elicit pleasure" (Green 111).

Pudge let's go of his reserved personality and becomes more open to new things, even if they aren't the right thing to do. He helps his friends with the prank while he knows he could get expelled. Pudge does not care about what would happen if he got expelled or what his parents would think.

Quote- "She's not dead. She's alive somewhere. She's in the woods. Alaska is in the woods and she is not dead. She's just playing a trick on us" (Green 140).

Pudge is denying that Alaska has died. He puts the blame all on him for something that he probably couldn't have stopped even if he tried. This proves Pudge's love for Alaska and shows how he blames himself for bad things that happen.

Quote- "He was gone and I did not have the time to tell him what I just realized: that I forgave him, and that she forgave us, and that we had to forgive to surive in the labyrinth"(Green 218).

Pudge finally came to peace with Alaska's death and that he could feel satisfactory with letting her go because there was forgiveness. Pudge's character changes and he becomes content with his situation after months of constant melancholy and confusion. He evolves by the forgiveness given by his friends.