High school senior River Ellison is used to death. He’s the third generation to the Ellison Funeral Home and Crematory, a modest northeast Ohio mortuary spearheaded by his father. But nothing in the family business prepares him for the crushing grief of his mother’s recent death. Already battling major depressive disorder, River finds no solace in his devastated father, who escapes his own guilt and sorrow through work and whiskey. 

Hope comes in the unlikely form of Jeremy Becker, resident lockpick and drug dealer of St. Jude’s Academy (for troubled youth). Their intense new relationship makes River question his sexuality as well as Jeremy’s, who insists he’s as straight as they come. Meanwhile, the emo and intuitive Maggie Hornack becomes close friends with River despite Jeremy’s jealous intervention. All is bearable until River unintentionally and deeply offends Drew Owens, the violent swim team captain who has history and unfinished business with Jeremy. 

River must decide whether to remain at the academy and face Owens’ deadly threats, or retreat home to the grief-haunted shelter of his collapsing family.