When Dave Lowell was in junior high he took one glance at a popular cheerleader, Mary, who he believes is way out of his league and instantly falls in love. One day out of the blue she hands him an apple stem and walks away. No words are ever spoken between them. He saves the apple stem in the hopes of one day being able to hand it back to Mary and divulge his true feelings. Years later, when Dave is in high school struggling with the death of his father the apple stem girl pops back into his life. Dave is determined to find out the true meaning of the apple stem he has saved all these years and attempts to connect with Mary through glances in the hallways, at pep rally's, and through parties with his friends. His goal veers off through an unexpected connection with his best friend Debra and his troubles with his brother Johnny. Dave's tight knit family connection forces him to stand up for his gangster brother and in the process get himself hospitalized. It is then that Debra's true feelings are revealed to him. Ultimately, he reaches out for Debra and saves her life discovering that the true meaning of the apple stem lies with her.