Having left behind the melodrama of her solitary high school days--and the beheaded martyrs in her paintings--Ellie arrives at the New England College of Art and Design. Looking forward to the opportunity to recreate herself and her art, she begins her first day by dirty dancing with the Devil. Then she makes out with him. Ellie soon learns a lot about herself in this story about independence, trust, and boys.

After he opens his big mouth in a fight with his best friend, Jake concludes that talking equals trouble. He decides that communicating through writing is safer. Through notes scribbled on napkins and in notebooks and on upside-down calculators Jake explores new ways to express himself.