Lucas Blye is a 14-year-old high school student in suburban Chicago. While on one of his
entomological quests, he meets Maggie, a slightly older girl who just moved into Lucas' town. Becoming friends, Maggie spends time with him during the summer until high school begins for them both. Lucas, a frequent victim of bullying, has a protector of sorts in Cappie Roew, an older student and a football player. Cappie was one of Lucas' tormentors until he contracted
hepatitis and Lucas brought him his homework every day, ensuring that Cappie did not have to repeat a year of school. Maggie becomes a cheerleader for the football team in order to get closer to Cappie, on whom she has a crush. Angered by her inattention towards him, Lucas chastises her, dismissing her cheerleading as "superficial" and incorrectly believing she will be his date to an upcoming school dance. On the night of the dance, Cappie is dumped by his girlfriend Alise due to his attraction to Maggie. Cappie finds comfort with Maggie at her house to the chagrin of Lucas, who arrives to pick her up for the dance. Even though Cappie and Maggie invite him out for pizza, he rebukes them and rides off on his bike. Rina, one of Lucas' friends, encounters him sitting alone, watching the dance from across the lake. Although she has feelings for Lucas, she puts them aside to console him about he and Maggie being "from two different worlds". On the way home, Lucas rides by the pizzeria and is crushed to see Maggie and Cappie kissing. In an attempt to impress Maggie and gain her respect, Lucas joins the football team. In the shower after practice, he endures a prank from his tormentors Bruno and Spike. At the end of the day, Lucas flees in embarrassment, and Maggie chases him to talk. When she tells him that she wants him to be her friend, Lucas tries to kiss her. Maggie recoils, and a heartbroken Lucas screams at her to leave. The next day at the football game, Lucas sneaks onto the field despite being removed from the team for lack of parental consent. He is seriously injured after being tackled without his helmet and is rushed to the hospital. Maggie, Cappie, and Rina attempt to contact Lucas' parents. Correcting Maggie's misguided impression that Lucas lives in the luxurious house where she has seen him several times, Rina shows them that Lucas' home is a dilapidated trailer in a junkyard where Lucas lives with his alcoholic father, who is a gardener at the large house. Meanwhile, Lucas' schoolmates hold vigil in the hospital as he recuperates. Maggie visits him and sternly tells him never to play football again. Lucas promises, and they reconcile, picking up their friendship. They speculate as to where they will be when the
locusts return in 17 years; both hope that they will still be in touch. Lucas returns to school after his recovery and opens his locker to find a
varsity letter jacket with his name and number on the back. Bruno starts to clap slowly, and everyone else in the hallway applauds in sync as Lucas raises his arms triumphantly and smiles. ==Cast==