Face Value

Things should not always be taken at face value.

Kaylan Sutorius has been best friends with Charley Green ever since they were young. Charley is well known throughout the school and is aware of the existence of a new girl named Bristol Dodd, who has rapidly gained popularity since her arrival, much like she had lived there for years. Kaylan and Bristol first meet at a New Year's party that Charley hosts at his house. Bristol's rise in popularity causes Kaylan to rise in popularity, giving her the newest spotlight. With the spotlight comes pressure to be perfect and present perfect.
Kaylan, Charley, and Bristol, all living in the same neighborhood, along with some of their other friends, are on the nicer side of Del Mar San Jose; Del Mar Woods quickly becomes a well-known group. Both Kaylan and Bristol are in toxic relationships when they meet, and a couple of weeks after meeting, Bristol begins to develop feelings for Kaylan. Because of her newfound feelings, Bristol does the right thing and breaks up with her partner. The day after breaking up with her ex-girlfriend, Angela, due to one night of having a little too much fun with alcohol at what Kaylan and Bristol thought was going to be an innocent sleepover between their enormous friend group, they ended up sleeping with each other, causing Kaylan to discover her underlying feelings for Bristol. Kaylan pushed past these feelings and continues trying to live as if everything is how it used to be, knowing that developing feelings for someone else would mess her life up more. Throughout all this, Kaylan continues sleeping with Bristol, continuing to dig her own grave.