Nolan Brackenbury (Step by Step)

 Arctic Monkeys - Arabella  "We're stuck here, Lyle. We should make the best of this opportunity. Four walls and crowds of dead people trying to get in here. I ain't one for ideas, but don't you think we should start making our own strategies? If we keep on behind the soldiers then we'll get the cold shoulder."

- Nolan to Lyle. Nolan Brackenbury is a main character and protagonist in Step by Step. He worked for an auto repair shop before being transported to Summercreek High School. Unshaken by the rising threats of the pandemic, he tagged along with Lyle C. Jackson. After being a refugee for weeks, he grew a hatred for most of the authority around the refugee shelter.

Background
During his teen years, he was a mischievous young man. Having hot wired a car for a joy ride, he was instantly labelled a juvenile delinquent and started to vandalize walls to spread his views against authority. He lived in an apartment complex within Indianapolis and was hired as a mechanic. He was close friends with a co-worker named Freddie during this time.

He was a local around the city and was a person whose name echoed through the streets. He was a hoodlum in the city, known for his mischief. Nolan broke in and out of gang activity, following his arrest for burglary. Despite being abandoned by his crew members, he was dropped off the robbery charges. Nolan occasionally spent his after hours at a Denny's restaurant near his apartment complex. It was at this time that he became involved in gang activities with Lyle C. Jackson.

Part One
Weeks before he became a refugee, he discovered that his auto repair shop had been closed for the day. The following morning, his apartment building was swarmed by the police and he was instructed to take his belongings and go to Summercreek High School's refugee shelter. He met up with Freddie before he was taken on an army truck to an unknown location. Nolan ended up owning a cot in the school's cafeteria. After the refugees panicked, he helped Carter Jameson recover after being attacked by a crazie. He most likely then alerted guards of the crazies being inside the school. He met up with Frank and was told of confirmed casualties. Thereafter, he escorted Carter to Susie Brown to get him medical aid.

During a final assault, he and Wayne rescued Caroline and held back the crazies. He was later saved, along with the other trapped residents, by Malcolm and his infantry unit.

Personality
Nolan was raised to have faith and show sympathy. To him, he was never taught to not steal for others. With his creative and dangerous attitude, Nolan back stabs people that do not work with him or are what he calls "bad people". On the other hand, Nolan likes to get people to see the lighter sides of things and convince them to do good for themselves and others.