Fifteen-year-old Frankie Weaver lives with her online-poker playin’ mom in a house full of cats, while across town her alcoholic father runs reels at the local movie theater. Frankie’s afraid her dad will drift into stepmother suburbia, leaving her behind forever. She misses his warm hugs and easygoing persona. But he’s too busy with his new wife, the blonde clinger, and things will never be the same.

At school, Frankie’s an honorary member of the Freak Table—a culinary trap where the misfits of Hell, er, Haleman High congregate for lunch. While Frankie thinks of escape, strange letters begin appearing in her gym locker—love notes, all signed by a mystery ‘X.’ The notes gush, and one thing is for sure, no one could ever love her that much. It’s gotta be a joke, maybe by Talia Dodd the bitch queen of Hellman, or perhaps it’s from Steve, another member of the Freak Table whose only goal in life is to shed his virginity because he’s too scared to accept his father’s transition into being a woman.

And then there’s Carl Yeager, the sweet popular jock who actually likes the silent movies Frankie’s dad shows every week. Frankie would love it if he were ‘X,’ but let’s face it, she ain’t that lucky. When Carl asks her to partner and star in their own silent movie filmed at school, Frankie cautiously says yes. But what happens when Dad jumps off the wagon, his new wife has a miscarriage, and the notes from ‘X’ take a suicidal twist? Frankie and Carl’s project—and romance—may have to take a quick Chaplinish walk into the sunset. Forever.