Everyone has control over his own actions. In Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn, the main character, Nick, made several terrible mistakes that pro foundly changed his life. He treated his girl friend poorly, and eventually did bad things to her. Nick is responsible for his own actions and should most definitely be held accountable for what he did, even though others in his life may have been bad influences, because in the end it was he who decided to do those things to Caitlin.