basically his home life was pretty bad and he never knew his dad so he ran away and found this house that was abandoned he lived in there for a while until a family who lived on the same street heard his situation and took him into their family with them he got an education and went to college wear he would meet (already dead) ronnie they were dorm mates he fell in love with him after a very awkward talk of sal trying to confess his love they then started dating and yeah thats about it