Seventeen year old Jesse hasn't even tried to get along with his mom since his dad left them because he blames her for his dad's leaving. Desperate to have a relationship with her son again, his mom takes a plane on September 11, 2001 to work things out with his father, and never returns. The father Jesse has always hailed as a hero can't be bothered with his own son, and sends him to live with his grandmother, whom he has never met. While trying to deal with his hurt and anger, he has only two people he can turn to: his best friend Nicky and his girlfriend, Shandy. During the darkest hour of his life, Jesse discovers the only people he has left are hiding secrets, and he is forced to make decisions that will change all of their lives forever.