Ashley Rivers thought life was about best friends, college dreams, and the playful banter with her bad-boy boyfriend, Nick. But beneath the surface of everyday squabbles and shared secrets, a darker past lurks, ready to resurface. When a move to New York for an internship looms, the careful balance of their lives threatens to shatter, forcing Ashley to confront not only her own hidden demons but also the true cost of loyalty. Will their bond survive the unraveling truths, or are they all destined to be stranded in the shadows of their past?

Margo Henderson's life in Hawkins is a carefully constructed rebellion against small-town conformity, until the arrival of the enigmatic, infuriating Billy Hargrove shatters her carefully guarded peace. He's the king douche, a swaggering jock who represents everything she despises. Yet, beneath his abrasive exterior lies a vulnerability she never expected, revealed in whispered confessions and silent pleas for help. As Margo finds herself increasingly entangled in Billy’s tumultuous world, she’s forced to confront the hidden truths that bind them, and the unexpected desires that threaten to unravel her own carefully constructed identity. Will she dare to peel back the layers of the bad boy facade, or will the secrets of Hawkins—and Billy's life—consume them both?