The story opens as fifteen-year-old Cait recounts events occurring a year before on

her small island home, Hale, which is roughly four miles long and two miles across

at its greatest extent. She begins her story by explaining when she first met Lucas, a

mysterious teenager who has traveled to the island to explore and live for a short

time period. On the same day that she first sees Lucas, her brother returns home

and she is nearly assaulted by another islander, Jamie Tait.However, Lucas is not

accepted into the island community easily, due to the discrimination he receives at

the hands of the town folk. He works a few odd jobs, but is the victim of attempted

assault, forcing him to defend himself and earn a negative reputation. Primarily this

comes from Jamie Tait, a university student and popular islander from a wealthy

family. The negative behavior escalates when Lucas rescues a young girl from

drowning during a town festival, but is met with accusations of molestation.Lucas is

forced into hiding. However, he feels an urge to visit Cait one last time.

Unfortunately, Jamie has decided to frame Lucas for the rape, assault and

attempted murder of a promiscuous islander named Angel, who had befriended Bill,

Cait's old best friend. The novel climaxes as the islanders attempt to capture Lucas, who is innocent of the

crime.When islanders came to the McCann's house, knowing Lucas was there, Lucas was told to stay with

Caitlyn in hiding as Dom and John (Cait's brother and father) went to talk to the villagers. Lucas and Caitlyn,

however, can see what's happening through. When Lucas saw the villagers continued to protest and

threaten the McCanns, Lucas decided to take the problem in his own hands. Lucas said goodbye to Caitlyn

and told her to stay in place. Even though, Caitlyn protested, she obeyed.After a few talks with the

islanders, Lucas turned around and looked at the hole where Caitlyn was peeking through and waved

goodbye, and ran, the islanders chasing him. When Caitlyn saw this, she went out of hiding and ran as fast

as she can just to get to Lucas. When Lucas got to the mudflats, which is very dangerous, since one wrong

step can lead to death by sinking, he didn't stopped while the villagers stayed in place. When Caitlyn got

there she took the first step, but didn't get through all the way to Lucas, because Dom and John took ahold

of her, because it was deadly, leaving Caitlyn thrashing around and shouting 'Lucas'.Lucas, however didn't

responded and just stepped in one of the mudflats and sunk, leaving Caitlyn.Caitlyn, depressed, didn't talk

as much and ate as much for days. People visited her like Simon and Bill, though she was still as glum and

didn't mind them much. The police officer came and gave them Lucas' things and his notebook, he said that

everything was clear, because of it and lucas' bad reputation was recovered.in the end, caitlyn never saw

Lucas again, never knew if Lucas had survived or if he was still alive. she never knew what she was feeling

towards Lucas. if it was love or not, since she thought it was impossible to be in love with a guy you had just

met in days, but she knew she will never forget him.