An awkward teenage girl, Sam(Hilary Duff), who is bullied at school and oppressed by her wicked stepmother after her father's untimely death, develops a secret relationship with a stranger over the internet (Chad Michael Murray). She and her mysterious friend arrange to meet for the first time at the school prom. When Sam realises who the mystery man really is, she tries to hide her real identity as she believes he won't want to be with a girl like her.