Cal Boyce, a lonely, hardworking high school senior from a struggling family, dreams of earning a college scholarship while navigating the brutal social hierarchy of his school. Tormented by Vic, the school’s star quarterback, and his gang, Cal finds solace only in his dog Runt and a tentative friendship with Cecily. As tensions escalate—from classroom confrontations to personal betrayals—Cal is forced to confront cruelty, loss, and injustice, ultimately testing the limits of his morality and courage. Amid heartbreak and revenge, Cal discovers where his true loyalties lie and learns that standing up for oneself comes at a steep cost.