A 15-year-old whose family moves from Oregon to Boston misses the girlfriend he left behind, so he runs away to see her. On the way he hooks up with a female art student in her 20s who is also hitchhiking across the country, from whom he learns some valuable lessons about life.

James throws a party to make new friends -- among them, Sly and Marlene.

When even the girl with the bad rep turns down James, he brags to Sly that they made out anyway.

James is pursued romantically by both Sandy's friend and one of Paul's students.