Phil is 17, a bully and troublemaker who gets a sense of power from making other people feel small.

When Phil encounters Lip outside his house, he immediately notices Lip’s beat-up sneakers. He sees an opportunity.

He starts joking.

His friends laugh.

But this isn't really about Lip's shoes.

It's about control.

Phil wants Lip to react. He wants his friends watching him dominate someone he considers weaker. When Lip ignores him and keeps walking, Phil takes it personally.

That's why he steps directly into Lip's path:

 

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