High school misfit Norman Long (Dan Byrd) gets caught up in an elaborate lie that gets the attention of a pretty classmate as his father wages a losing battle with stomach cancer. Shortly after his mother is killed in an unforeseen tragedy, Norman's casual cynicism grows caustic with the knowledge that his father (Richard Jenkins) has fallen gravely ill. Contemplating suicide, Norman begins telling others that he has stomach cancer and goes to great lengths in order to mimic the symptoms. Meanwhile, Norman's classmate Emily (Emily VanCamp) finds herself increasingly drawn to the eccentric, troubled teen. His life now at a crucial turning point, Norman struggles to come to terms with his feelings for Emily, and the painful prospect that he may soon lose the only parent he's got left.