Colby Brock is one of the most popular jocks at East Wood High School, but Ellie Vanderwaal likes to go unnoticed. She hates Colby and all his jock friends because she thinks they're conceited. Ellie works at The Galaxy Bowling Alley, the place where everyone at school hangs out. That means Colby is always there. Whenever she's on shift and he's there, she tries to avoid him at all costs. One day, when Ellie kicks Colby out of The Galaxy because she wants to go home, unwanted feelings begin to unfold.