Sasha a popular senior in high school with excellent grades finds herself increasingly attracted to Duane Banks a boy who stands out not because he flaunts his good looks & his achievements at the school like so many but because he is shy & somewhat withdrawn. He's one of the few good-looking boys who pays little attention to her & that makes him more interesting. When auditions for the new school play begin she & Duane both get parts & Duane slowly seems to be coming out of his shell permitting himself to hope & succeed at something. But when neither of his parents show up to see the play Duane goes into depression. When one morning Duane doesn't show up for school Sasha is distraught to learn that he has taken his own life. Blaming herself for not working harder to make him happy Sasha too begins a downward spiral into depression. But Sasha finds support & comfort from an unexpected quarter.