Tangerine

The Fisher family moves to Lake Windsor Downs. Paul enrolls in middle school, joins the soccer team, and is pulled from the roster when his IEP is discovered. Erik begins football practice as the star kicker. The sinkhole opens.

Paul transfers to Tangerine Middle School, earns a spot on their dominant soccer team, and begins forming friendships with Tino, Theresa, and Luis Cruz. The class and racial dynamics between Lake Windsor and Tangerine become visible.

Erik and Arthur Bauer's criminal behavior escalates. Erik runs a robbery ring targeting homes during funerals. Paul observes but cannot yet act, trapped by the family's code of silence.

Tino confronts Erik at a school event and is struck by Arthur on Erik's orders. Luis Cruz later confronts Erik about the attack on his brother. Arthur hits Luis in the temple with a blackjack. Luis collapses days later and dies from an aneurysm.

Paul's suppressed memory of the spray-paint attack surfaces. He remembers Erik and Vincent Castor holding his eyes open while Erik sprayed white paint into them. His parents knew and chose to protect Erik.

Paul reports Arthur's attack on Luis to the police. Erik and Arthur are arrested. Paul confronts his parents with the truth about his eyes. The family mythology collapses.

Paul visits the Cruz family after the arrests. The tangerine groves face an approaching freeze. Paul helps protect the Golden Dawn trees. The community begins to reckon with what it enabled.

Paul reflects on his family, his identity, and the meaning of sight. The journal ends with Paul choosing truth over comfort, uncertain about his family's future but certain about his own integrity.