At the start of the novel, Sandra is introduced as a small-time singer who encountered a road block in her career. She returns to her hometown and reacquaints herself with her old home. While out shopping, she meets old friends, including Thomas - who is now a policeman. The next day, she visits her old school and takes up a job as the substitute art teacher. Her childhood friend, Elise, is now married and the principal of the school.

Sandra decides to catch up with her best friends, Mark and Lynn, who are now married with a child, Ray. Although Sandra still harbors feelings for Mark, she tries not to let it show and wishes the best for her friends. During a dinner with the couple, she notices that there are cracks forming in their relationship. Despite wanting to help them mend their fractured relationship, she's happy that she may now have a chance - no matter how slim.

When Thomas visits her home to verify her neighbor, Dina's, complaints about noise levels, he ends up asking her out on a date - which she accepts. That evening, she walks to the bar, where they planned to meet. Along the way, a chilling incident with one of her students, Percy, makes her question whether her young student is truly the quiet, bullied boy. At her date with Thomas, she enjoys herself until a fellow colleague, Bartley, intrudes. He mocks her by telling her that he found out her whereabouts through a geo-tagged photo of her meal. Childhood memories flood back and she immediately ends the date with Thomas after Bartley leaves.