's adoptive mother, Abby, is a child-abuse lawyer, and his adoptive father, John Paul, is a community volunteer and guardian "ad litem", who is still haunted by his youth, when he accidentally killed a child after a one-night stand with the child's mother.At Cutter High School, T. J. is a physically impressive senior who has refused to join any sports teams as a form of anger management, due to his anger issues since early childhood.