Charlie Conrad is a 19-year-old history buff with the world on his shoulders. Following the death of his mother, Charlie sets aside his college plan to raise his highly imaginative younger brother Ben on his own. Isolated from his peers, Charlie accepts his responsibility yet secretly yearns for the freedom and carefree times associated with youth. Charlie suddenly gets his chance when he meets Jordan Rivers, a charismatic drifter and fellow lost soul. The two of them hit it off immediately, and they soon embark on a tumultuous romance that gives Charlie a taste of freedom he's been craving. Just as their relationship intensifies, however, so do the pressures bearing down on Charlie's life. Charlie's long-absent father, Doug, returns to town with his own plans to take care of Ben. Wary of Doug from past painful experiences, Charlie is adamant about keeping Ben away from his father. But when Jordan's on-the-edge behavior starts throwing Charlie's own loyalties into question, Charlie must finally search his soul and make momentous decisions regarding the future of his family.