Character Relationship Map: Growing Fangs

Characters

• Val Garcia (played by Keyla Monterroso Mejia) — protagonist

  Mexican-American teen protagonist who is half-human/half-vampire and has kept her supernatural identity secret from both worlds.

• Lupe Garcia (played by Cristela Alonzo) — protagonist
• Elsie (played by Grace Song) — supporting
• Dora (played by Olivia Sullivent) — supporting

  Val's human best friend who unexpectedly shows up at the monster-infested school, triggering Val's internal conflict and journey of self-discovery.

• Jimmy (played by Gilberto Ortiz) — supporting
• Javier Garcia (played by Yonas Kibreab) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Val Garcia → Elsie (Romantic Crush) — Val has a crush on Elsie, though the plot gives no indication that it is reciprocated.

  At school, Val develops a crush on Elsie, the star of the basketball team.

• Val Garcia → Javier Garcia (Family Members) — Javier is among the family members concerned about Val disclosing their secret.

  The plot identifies Javier Garcia as part of Val's family, which remains cautious about revealing their vampire nature to Jimmy.

• Val Garcia → Lupe Garcia (Family Mother And Daughter) — Lupe is Val's mother and provides food that becomes important during the school confrontation.

  Val is part of the Garcia family, and Jimmy brings her enchiladas from her mother.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jimmy → Lupe Garcia (Social Receives Food From) — Jimmy brings Lupe's food to Val, providing a concrete connection between him and her family.

  Jimmy arrives at the school with enchiladas from Val's mother.

• Val Garcia → Dora (Social Shared Mixed Heritage) — Their shared experience of being part human and part supernatural helps Val feel understood.

  Val learns that Dora is also part human and half-werewolf. This discovery helps Val feel less alone, and both girls are welcomed at school.

• Val Garcia → Jimmy (Social Best Friends) — Their friendship is strained by Val's secrecy, then begins to rebuild after she tells him the truth.

  The plot calls Jimmy Val's human best friend. Jimmy says he misses her and that she is the only person he can talk to.

Story Analysis

Val navigates her mixed human and vampire identity, risking her friendship with Jimmy as she searches for acceptance among supernatural peers.

Plot Progression

1. Between Family and Friendship — Val wants to tell Jimmy that she is part vampire, while her family fears the risk of exposing their nature. Jimmy's loneliness strengthens Val's desire to reconnect, even as she feels isolated at her...
2. Belonging at the Rally — Val develops a crush on Elsie and volunteers as a mascot, hoping to fit in. Her discomfort with the rally's hostility toward humans grows, and Gatorbleed makes her violently ill.
3. The Truth in the Open — A medical examination reveals Val's mixed human and vampire characteristics. When Jimmy arrives, the students target him, and Val protects him by confessing her identity; garlic in the enchiladas help...
4. Finding Her People — Jimmy accepts Val's revelation without horror, allowing their friendship to begin recovering. Val then learns Dora is also part human, and both girls are welcomed at school.