The story follows Deanna Lambert, a 16-year-old girl from Pacifica in the San Francisco Bay Area who struggles with slut shaming, gossip, and sexuality.

The story centers around Deanna Lambert, a 16-year-old girl troubled by social exile and branding rumors.

Her affair with Tommy Webber is still a popular gossip topic and her older brother, Darren, and his girlfriend, Stacy, now live in their basement with their child, April.

Keeping a fantasy of moving out of the house with Darren, April and Stacy in her mind and coming to a happy home, Deanna gets a summer job at a ratty pizza parlor, Picasso's Pizza, while also dealing with inhibited feelings of affection for her best friend, Jason, who is dating her other friend, Lee.

The story ends with Deanna explaining to Darren and Stacy (who have found an apartment and are going to move in there with April) that she has worked with Tommy for the whole summer.