Norman Long is a high school loner, a self-aware and darkly funny teen who's just trying to handle his daily existence. In the wake of his mother's sudden death, Norman must now also deal with the reality that his father is starting to lose his battle with stomach cancer. Emily, a magnetic girl with one of those rare enchanting smiles, gets caught up in Norman's lie and struggles with her deeply rooted romantic feelings in the face of Norman's perceived impending death. Ultimately, Norman must confront a burning set of conflicting emotions as he struggles to define his relationship with his father, his love for Emily, and ultimately who he will be as a young man.