yeah, i watched it again, and concluded that they are typical teenage grommets, and were just torturing him. but his gang probably tortures their mates that bad in any case.
there is no way to estimate the value of an ACCEPTING circle of friends and family, they keep us from isolating with this and then just giving up.
if this is the most acceptance one person can get for now, it is better than nothing. besides, one hopes they are all maturing.
one or more true friend may emerge on the other side of legal age with him, and that would be wonderful. they will have this to look back on and cuss and laugh about it.