40k. Kellin Quinn is a suicidal eighteen year old boy, ready to end his life. He's in love with his childhood best friend, the gorgeous Vic Fuentes, who has a girlfriend of a year and a half, and is completely, absolutely straight. Or so he thinks.
Oliver appears out of seemingly nowhere just to save Kellin's life (though Kellin is adamant about it; he wanted to die, not get saved by some beautiful boy) and maybe steal Kellin's heart.
Just when Kellin's begun to think he can finally get over his best friend, Vic begins to show interest, including jealousy when Kellin hangs out with Oliver.
Torn between his best friend, the boy he's been in love with since forever, and the stranger who isn't actually a stranger, Kellin has a tough decision to make. Just to add to all the complications in his life, Kellin's depression is only getting worse and worse.
Vic (20) is being sent to a mental institution and is not happy about it. Its for his own good, so his family says. There's so many things that's wrong with him, but doesn't want to believe it. When he's roommates with Kellin (18), a boy who doesn't like to talk to anyone, and is isolated and closed off, spends most of his time drawing; Vic doesn't know what's wrong with his roommate, he simply thinks that Kellin's insane, and that he doesn't belong with someone like Kellin. Vic doesn't think he needs to be in that place at all. But they are forced to spend time with each other.
Until the two boys make an unlikely connection they never saw coming.
Warnings: I'm saying this now, and it goes toward the entire story; there are going to be a lot of references to suicide and self harm and other mental illnesses and things associated with them so if that makes you uncomfortable then don't read. Otherwise enjoy.
Title credits: A Loaded Smile by Adam Lambert