The novel opens with a dedication to “Jay and Daisy” and a quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (6). In that quote, the character Jay Gatsby reaches for his dream but fails to realize that the dream is already behind him.

The first chapter opens with two teenagers—Rick Paradis and Todd Buckley—arriving at a house party hosted by another teenager from their school named Jake Garrett. Rick, who narrates the events in the novel, rates the party at least an eight out of 10, since there is plenty of alcohol, loud music, and dancing, and many of the popular kids from school are there. Rick and Todd are teammates on the school’s football team, and since Todd is the quarterback, the other party attendees treat him with respect. For example, when another of their teammates—the enormously strong Nelson Jaworski—tries to pick up a keg of beer and throw it out the window, Todd is able to talk him down.

Rick is the kicker on the football team and feels like he is always “second fiddle to Todd” (9). Even though they are at Jake’s party, neither Rick nor Todd really knows anything about their host, except that he will be the football team’s long-snapper this year.