Valentine's Day is growing near and Hector ("Hec") Anderson feels like a sci-fi visitor abandoned on an alien world. His sister Chloe abandons her black Goth style for pretty pinks after getting roses from an anonymous admirer. Dad's long work hours makes Mom trade in her no- nonsense pony tail and sweatpants for capris and curlers. Calvin's hand puppet Mr. Buttons falls in love. Only Stevie, who loves Valentine's Day because of the sweet tarts and lollypops he gets at preschool, seems sane. Life outside the Anderson household is no more stable. Hec's best friend shamelessly capitalizes on a bad situation as his parents seem headed for divorce. All of Hec's confusion comes to a crisis point when the girl of his dreams moves to town and he must challenge the most popular boy in school for her attention at the school dance.