The eight members of the Chelsea gang who've been friends for over a decade have barely recovered from finding out that Taylor had been brutally tortured by her parents for years, before Jackson's mother gets a cancer scare. As the gang helps Jackson and his family handle the devastating news, and as Taylor seeks professional help for her psychological scars, they continue to be bombarded by life's everyday challenges: difficulties in school, being targeted by a mean bully, getting caught smoking, undergoing an invasive physical exam, dealing with sexuality issues, and a host of other health and life issues. Fortunately, life's everyday pleasures help balance out the difficulties, as friendship and love help guide them through their struggles.