Dustin Rivers

**Dustin Rivers** is a Class of 2017 graduate at Webster Community School as he started the series on the first episode of Webster and was a main character from season one to season four and was a recurring character on season five. Reserved, troubled but smart, Dustin is someone that's been though some hard stuff in his life. His home life is more complicated than most but he would rather talk about anything else other than that. Dustin has a half sister named Kacey Boswell, who he found out about when he was 18. Dustin is best friends with Miller Park and Garrett Davenport and good friends with Sam Burge, Macy Gonzalez, Amber Collins, Devin Piper, Chastity Burge, Garrett Davenport and Topher Potter.

## Character History

### Season 1

Dustin started on the series on the first episode **Can't Tell Me Nothing (1)** as a freshman. Dustin and his best friend Miller Park goes to sit with their friend Jess Arnold at lunch when they discovers that she's sitting with the school outcast Macy Gonzalez. Dustin has a crush on Jess and he is visibly upset when Jess is comforted Danny Magana as he walks away when he sees them hugging. Eventually they start dating and this angers him and he even considers breaking them up after Amber asks him to since she likes Danny and he likes Jess but he ultimately declines because he's still friends with her. Miller tells Dustin that he needs to move on from Jess and he decides to go after Miss Popularity Heather Watson herself and she accepts his offer as she thinks he's cute. Dustin's home life is seen as he discovers his mother is still smoking weed after she already has a bad history with drugs. Dustin is pissed at her and he decides to steal her weed and smoke it himself. He goes to school high as Miller and Macy notices it. He starts acting weird with Heather and as she's trying to figure out what's going on he kisses her. Heather, who doesn't like drama decides to break up with him. Dustin is still rebelling against his mother and he ends up befriending Amber who been

    recently exiled by her classmates. The two of then smoke together and the stresses of life for once feel like they are gone. The two of them go to buy more weed and they discovers a guy in the park who sells weed. He reveals to them that he also sells to a woman named Ronnie Rivers, Dustin's mother. Dustin is pissed with his mother and just as he is about to confront her about this she reveals to him that she knows that he and Amber bought weed. She also reveals to them that she called Amber's parents and they the two of them will go to rehab during winter break. Dustin doesn't think that it's fair because she does drugs too. Ronnie tells Dustin that she plans on going to rehab with them so she can finally be clean for not only herself but for Dustin too. Dustin and Amber go to the winter formal together and everyone watches shocked.

### Season 2

In **You Keep Me Hangin' On (2)**, Dustin has started his second semester of his freshman year. He is shocked when he discovers that Miller has changed his look to resemble basketball star and Webster student Houston Nicholas. Dustin makes fun of him and thinks that he should go back to his regular look. Miller has done this to impress Macy who he thinks likes Houston. In **One Last Time**, Jess has just gotten cheated on by Danny. Dustin finds out about this and wants to ask her out. However after seeing how sad and upset she is he decides to wait to go after her until she's ready. In **What Do You Mean (1)**, Dustin is

now a sophomore. He finds out that Garrett is having trouble working with Jess on a project due to her not opening up. Dustin gives him great advice. In **What Do You Mean (2)**, Jess tell her friends that she has dyslexia, after being encouraged by Garrett. Jess also gets the courage to tell Dustin how she really feels about him and he tells her that her likes her too and they begin to date. In **Under Control (1)**, Amber runs into Dustin and tells him she misses their friendship as they haven't hung out since rehab. Amber invites Dustin to hang out with her and her friends. Dustin, who doesn't like her boyfriend Danny is reluctant to go but Amber talks him into going. Dustin actually has fun but he starts ditching Miller to hang with them and he starts to feel neglected by his best friend. Dustin comes to senses and apologizes to Miller, telling him that he'll never do that again. In **Under Control (2)**, Jess finds out about him hanging out with Amber and becomes upset. Dustin finally understands why and tells Amber that right now isn't the right time for them to strike up their friendship and she understands.

### Season 3

In **Good For You (1)**, Dustin is now in his junior year. Dustin is running late for school but he notices that Ronnie is up unusually early, as she doesn't usually wake up until noon due to her job. Dustin questions her about it and she tells her that she's up doing adult things. Jess asks Dustin if he wants to catch a movie with her but her tells her that he has to get home early. His mother has a surprise for him. Dustin thinks that he might be getting a car and Jess is so excited for him. Dustin gets home excited to find out what the surprise is. He is disappointed when he finds out that the surprise is Ronnie's new boyfriend and that she's ready to share her new relationship with her son. However her new boyfriend Ben give Dustin bad vibes.

In **Good For You (2)**, Dustin tells Jess that the big news is that his mother has a new boyfriend. Jess thinks that this is good news but Dustin tells her that he has a bad feeling about him. He talks about his mother's bad history with men, including his dad. Jess mentions that Dustin doesn't ever talk about his father. Dustin tells her that he's been in and out of jail for most of his life. Dustin is running late for school when he he sees weed in his house. Knowing that is mother quit smoking he's taken back. Ronnie's boyfriend Ben tells Dustin that it's his weed. Dustin tells Ben about his mother's history with drugs and she doesn't need him in her life. Ben assures Dustin that he's not going anywhere no time soon. In **Poetic Justice (2)**, Dustin joins a band that Devin Piper started along with Macy and Chastity Burge as the band's drummer. However while practicing Chastity goes missing.

In **Hold It Against Me (1)**, Jess and Dustin have starting hanging out together more lately. Jess' best friends Sam and Kali start to notice so they find them and asks Dustin to let them alone with Jess. In **I Gotta Feeling (1)**, Dustin's 17th birthday is coming up so Jess decides to get their friends together to help throw him a surprise party. Dustin is talking to Miller in the hallway however Miller is acting weird and then leaves. Dusti goes up to Jess who is sitting with Sam and Jess to ask them if Miller's been acting weird. Jess starts acting weird as well but Sam covers by saying that they're having a study session at her house tonight before inviting him to join. Dustin declines but Kali help push him into coming. Dustin and Miller arrive at Sam's house when the girls come out and yell "surprise". Dustin is confused but Jess tell him that they are yelling surprise for him. She also calls Dustin an "amazing boyfriend". Just then Dustin's mother and Ben comes into the room. Ben wishes Dustin happy birthday. Dustin asks his mother why Ben is there. Ronnie tells Dustin that she has big news and Ben blurts out that they're engaged. Dustin is left angry and confused.

In **I Gotta Feeling (2)**, Dustin's friends are all talking in class about the party expressing how bad they feel for him. Dustin thanks them for caring. He however tell them that he'll handle it on his own. Miller tells him not the be reckless but Dustin assures him he won't. Dustin and Miller are are Dustin's house talking when Ben comes in. He gives Dustin a message to tell him mom before leaving. Miller discovers that he left his backpack at the house. Dustin decides to look inside of it and he finds cocaine. Ronnie is ready for a date with Ben but Dustin decides to tell her the truth about finding the cocaine in Ben's bag. Ronnie is reluctant to believe that Ben would that. Dustin tries telling her but she then says that they can get him some help. Dustin talks about her terrible cycle with men and he tells her that she should be with someone who treats her like a queen. Ronnie and Dustin then share a nice moment together. In **Poker Face (2)**, Dustin is talking to Macy in the hallway about their love for rock music. Miller walks up to them and greets Macy however she walks off without saying anything. Miller is confused but Dustin shows him Macy's perspective as he broke up with Macy over the summer and began dating Angel only a few weeks later. This gets Miller to want to fix his friendship with Macy. Angel is looking for Miller so she asks Dustin if he's seen him. Dustin tells her now before leaving.

In **You Get What You Give (1)**, Jess notices a strong smell on Dustin. Dustin says that his cousin borrowed his shirt and he possibly got strayed by a skunk or something. Sam some towards them and announces that she’s running for class president. Dustin tells her that she has his vote before leaving. A few days later Jess confronts Dustin about lying to her. Jess knows that he was lying about his cousin borrowing his shirt and that fact that the smell was of weed. Dustin admits that he smokes weed again but doesn’t think it’s a big deal. Jess tries talking to him about it but he tells her that he has to leave. In **You Get What You Give (2)**, Jess tells Dustin they need to talk about his drug addiction. Dustin doesn’t think he’s abducted to drugs. After Jess shows concerns of how it might affect his life Dustin agrees to stop smoking. Dustin attends Topher Potter’s class president campaign. There smokes weed in the basement, much to Jess’ dismay. At school Jess confronts Dustin about lying to again. It turns into an argument between the two of them. Jess gives Dustin an ultimatum, either weed or her and he chooses to continue smoking weed. This causes the two of them to break up as Dustin walks away from her. In **Webster Summer Break**, he attends Jordan Piper’s 15th birthday party at the beach where he sees Jess. He tries apologizing to her but Jess tells him he doesn’t want to talk to him.

### Season 4

In **99 Problems**, Dustin is now a senior. Dustin comes into class and greets Jess and Kali. However Jess tells him that he lost the chance to talk to her when they broke up. Dustin tries to explain himself but Kali shuts him down. Houston notices how cold Kali is acting towards him. Kali exposes the reason why Dustin and Jess broke up, leaving Houston and Topher is disbelief. Dustin apologizes to Jess before taking his seat. He is left lonely due to Miller transferring schools and Garrett still being in New Jersey for summer break. Dustin gets to Ms. Benson’s late. She tells him now to make a habit of it and he assures her that he won’t. Houston makes a joke about his being late because he left his weed at home. This causes the boys to get into an argument. Ms. Benson becomes annoyed with Dustin and tells him to sit down. Dustin sits next to Angel, who skipped her junior year and is now in class with him. Angel notices how hard of a time Dustin is having. Angel feels the same way due to her not having any senior friends and she doesn’t have many classes with her friends. Dustin offers to sit at lunch with Angel is she’s happily accepts. Dustin and Angel are hanging out together at the Coffee Cup. Dustin shares the reason his friends stopped talking to him with Angel. Dustin tells Angel that he understands if she doesn’t want to be friends with him but Angel tells him that they’re all a work in progress. Dustin is shocked Garrett shows up at the Coffee Cup because he wasn’t supposed to return until next week. However Garrett knew that his friend needed him due to him having conflict with most of their class. Dustin is happy to have his friend back.

In **Cheap Thrills**, Dustin has moved to a brand new house and he invited Angel and Garrett. Dustin shares that his Ronnie got a promotion and it came with a lot of money. Garrett and Angel are both happy for him. Dustin decides that bring up to Angel that knows that she and Miller broke up. Angel feels like the distance between her and Miller since he moved away caused problems in their relationship. Dustin wants to cheer her up so he suggest that they go to junior Wes' party. Angel is reluctant but Garrett convinces her to come. Dustin, Garrett and Angel are at the party when Garrett talks about the drugs that are at the party. Angel tells the boys that they better not take any of the drugs at the party. Dustin shares with Angel about previously going to rehab for drugs and that he doesn't plan on doing any drugs. Angel is shocked to learn this news and Dustin talks about how drugs ruined his relationships. Angel shows support for Dustin's growth. Kali comes up to Garrett and he tells them that he's going to hang with Kali. Dustin tries to make a joke with Kali but she shuts him down again before they both leave. Dustin wants to get to know Angel more but when she shares details about herself at everyone know he asks what she wants to be when she goes up. Angel reveals that she wants to be a veterinarian due to her love of animals. She shares a story of getting first first puppy and how much it made her happy, being one of the best days of her life. They two of them continue talking until Dustin asks if she wants him to drive her home. Angel thinks that's wonderful so Dustin goes off to get their stuff so they can both leave the party.

In **True Colors**, the class is getting the results for an aptitude test that they took. Dustin is shocked to hear that Garrett is disappointed about getting baseball player as he thought Garrett loved playing baseball. However Garrett shares that it was his father’s not his’. In **Pompeii (1)**, Dustin meets with his friend from another school, Liam to go skateboarding. In **Teenage Dream**, Dustin is talking in the hallway with Garrett when Gibson comes up with Garrett and ask if he has a problem with him. Garrett and Gibson had an awkward encounter when Gibson came into the Coffee Cup with Chastity the previous day. Garrett assures Gibson that he doesn't have a problem with him. When Gibson leaves, Dustin questions if he really does have a problem with Gibson as he believes that he might have something to do with Chastity. Garrett him that he doesn't care who Chastity dates because he's with Kali now. Dustin is still skeptical about Garrett's feelings but decides to let discussion go.

In **Treat You Better**, Dustin is in the hallway talking to Topher about catching food in their mouths. Just as they are talking, Topher's girlfriend Robin Rzewski comes up to them requesting if "Justin" can let her talk to her boyfriend. When he tries to correct her, she cuts him off to ask to talk to her boyfriend alone. Later Angel and Garrett are talking doing there college applications. Angel asks Dustin about his college applications and he reveals to them that he doesn't plan on going to college because she doesn't think he's college material. They are both shocked to hear this news. Angel upsets him when she tells him that he doesn't want to be a "deadbeat loser", which causes him to leave the conversation and walking away. Dustin gets home and when he gets inside he sees Ronnie, Angel and Garrett sitting on the couch waiting for him. Ronnie wants to talk to Dustin about his future but he's defensive about it. Dustin expresses for them that doesn't think he'll fit in at college due to his upbringing and because they'll be a bunch of smart people. Ronnie tells him that he smart too and he shouldn't count of college as an option. When Dustin asks how are they going to afford it Ronnie tells him that he has a college fund that she never told him about. Dustin decides to go forward with college and his thanks them pushing so hard on him to go to college. In **Hype**, Angel and Dustin are working together after starting doing to school news show, Webster News together. Dustin is complaining about the room they are working in but Angel tries to make him see the brighter side that at least they are alone. Just as she says that, her step-brother Joaquin comes in asking if this is a Webster News meeting. When Angel asks what he's doing there, he tells her that he wants to join. Angel doesn't want him to join but Dustin says that they would love if he joined. Angel looks angry as Dustin and Joaquin talk about the topics they are covering for the show. Dustin is at the school talent show when Angel comes up to talk to him. Before Dustin really gets the chance to say anything Angel quickly tells him that she likes him so she won't chicken out. Dustin shares that he likes her too but he wasn't sure if she felt the same way. Angel reveals that she liked him since Wes' party. Dustin and Angel share their first kiss as Chastity continues to play her new original song "Hype".

## Trivia

* He is the first character to use drugs on the series.
* Dustin has been friends with Miller since they were little.
* He is the first male to date an older female.
* Dustin’s first line was spoken to his future girlfriend, Jess.
* He is the first character to date a recurring character.
* His father was in jail for a long time and has been in and out of his life.
* Dustin’s mother has a bad history with drugs and men.
* Two of his relationships ended because of drugs.
* All three of Dustin’s girlfriends were originally from different graduating class. Heather is from Class of 2016, Jess is from Class of 2017 and Angel is from Class of 2018.
	+ However Angel skipped a grade is now part of Class of 2017.
* He is the only character from class of 2017 to have a recurring role on the series after graduating.
* Dustin is the first character (along with Amber and Ronnie) to go to rehab. Others being Sam and Alicia.

## Relationships

Main article: Dustin-Heather Relationship

* Heather Watson
	+ Start Up: New Flame (2) (106)
	+ Break Up: I Want You to Know (1) (109)
		- Reason: Heather didn’t like how Dustin was acting as he was high and kissed her when she didn't want him to.

Main article: Dustin-Jess Relationship

* Jess Arnold
	+ Start Up: What Do You Mean (2) (217)
	+ Break Up: You Get What You Give (2) (320)
		- Reason: Jess didn’t want Dustin smoking weed but he didn’t want to give it up so they broke up.

Main article: Angel-Dustin Relationship

* Angel Moon
	+ Start Up: Hype (413)