Eban, a 29 year-old, socially awkward ex-soccer coach, returns to his hometown in the Pacific Northwest. He has a difficult time fitting into the sleepy surroundings until he meets Charley, a 15 year-old with whom he shares similar interests in guitars, bike riding and poetry. The two also commiserate over similarly uneasy home lives: Eban's relationship with his parents is icy and strained, while Charley, following the death of his deaf mother, is forced to live with his distant father. After a day spent playing music and walking on the beach, their friendship leads to a deeper emotional intimacy that they both desperately need. When both of their families discover the nature of their relationship, the growing bond between them is put to the test. Eban's father confronts him, while Charley's stepfather threatens to have Eban arrested. The two must decide whether to continue their relationship or risk their families's - and society's - condemnation.