Marnie''s really messed up this time - expelled and forced to change schools, the only empty seat in Marnie''s new school is next to Zed, a nerd with zero tolerance for mistakes. Marnie (skilled at art and Spanish, struggles with numbers) can''t wait to lose her virginity. Zed (brilliant at maths and physics, loathes languages) is a loner who can''t stand being touched. They couldn''t be less alike, but they both need good grades in the subjects they hate.

What starts as a trade in tuition turns into an unlikely friendship - and after Marnie has sex with a boy who lies about using a condom, she needs Zed''s help to make the hardest decision of her life.