Violet Ferrari is at breaking point. Moving out of home was supposed to fix her problems, not exacerbate them. All the shit she tried to escape, came right along with her - the grief, the guy, the pain. It won't go away. She's spiralling. One misstep, and it's over for her. Rio Valenti has fought his whole life to make it to this point. The start of his professional basketball career is just around the corner. He can't lose focus now, not with his criminal ties hanging over his head. He's on the edge. One misstep, and it's over for him. The rainy college town should have been their safe haven - the wetlands surrounding it a moat separating them from their pasts. The two meet in their freshmen year, with little in common but their social circles. Violet spends her days numb - hiding from the pain in any way she can. Rio runs from his. He's out from dawn to dusk, if not on the court, then scrounging up money for food or finding somewhere to sleep other than his car. What divides them most... is hope. Rio has it. Violet doesn't.