“I’d never felt nervous around Paul, and suddenly, just thinking about him made me sweat” (74). Why do you think Quinn suddenly feels different?

The event with Rashad shakes Quinn, especially after he realizes that the police officer is a close family friend, Paul Galluzzo. At first, he tries to distance himself by arguing that the beating is not his problem. However, as his school and community grapple with the fallout, Quinn slowly comes to realize that what he saw was an act of police brutality and racism. With this realization, Quinn feels a moral obligation to stand up for Rashad, even though he may be accused of betraying his mentor and friend, Paul Gullazzo.