Dressed in clothes from his homeland and speaking with an accent, little Naveed Alzahari starts his new school in the States apprehensively. Determined not to fall victim to the obscurity of nerdom, he carves out his niche as the class clown. With his charismatic smile, quick wit, and unique sense of style, Naveed finds himself having achieved the American teenage dream: a disciple of the "in crowd" and dating one of the hottest girls in school, Cassie York, his crush of almost ten years. However, not long into his senior year his charmed life is obliterated by a sudden tragic event. Dumped by his girlfriend and left with only one friend, a confused and angry Naveed impulsively casts aside his father's plan for his future and instead enlists in the Air Force. Outraged by what he considers an unacceptable decision, Naveed's father severs contact with his only son. After two and a half years in the Air Force, without any communication with his family, and the memories of high school faded, Naveed is deployed to the country he once called home. It's there that he forges a friendship with his new commanding officer, the man who changes his life in three ways and in return expects an important favor of Airman Alzahari.