[Dash Darington]

Joel attacks when he believes someone is vulnerable. He lays in wait to do so. He saw that Simon was embattled and wanted to pile on. He had no idea what the argument was about, but badgered Simon into an argument anyway because it's politically advantageous to do so. He's a vicious, calculating little twerp.

Chloe wants to attack from within the safety of a group. Anytime someone uses the pronoun 'we' in an argument, that is their goal. "We think you're weird." The tears were the cue for the other girls to reinforce her position.

The group conversation in the garden was just a more subdued version of the earlier gang-up. The resolution at the end was "okay you're going to stop being so terrible, right Simon?" Without anyone else's negative behaviour being acknowledged.