This is the other new/alternate character I've been working on, although haven't talked about as much because he kind of represents more of my actual child self.

His name is Hector, and he's around 7-years-old and in the 2nd grade. Like Matthew, he's a bright boy who can read well beyond his grade level and has a strong interest in learning new things. He's very friendly, but has a lot of trouble making friends for various reasons which mainly boil down to him not understanding how to relate to other kids his age, and also because a lot of them think he is weird.

That's probably very vague, but it's hard for me to go into detail because a lot of that is reminiscent of my actual childhood. Still I am hoping to use him as sort of a way to get through some feelings I've been neglecting, maybe.