In recent months, 16-year-old Alex Housman has stolen fourteen different cars. One morning, Alex drives through the Michigan snow in his most recent car, a Buick Riviera, skipping school and heading out to the country. Alex often drives to various country schools, much smaller than his high school in the city, to show off his newest car and find a girl he is interested in. Recently he has been meeting up with a girl from one of the schools named Eugenia. Alex knows Eugenia is still mad at him from a few days ago, when he drove her to the lake and left her to walk home.

As Alex is driving, he passes near the neighborhood where his mom and younger brother live. Alex and his brother Howard both lived with their dad, until their mother showed up one day after five years and took Howard away to live with her. Alex still lives with his father, and he has not seen Howard or his mother since that day three years ago.

Unsure where else to go, Alex drives to Eugenia's school and sees her walking but does not approach her. Eugenia is wearing the coat that he found in the back of one of the stolen cars and gave to her. Alex leaves without talking to Eugenia and without her even noticing he was there.

Alex then drives back to school to attend his afternoon classes. One of his teachers, Mr. Hewitt, calls him into his classroom to talk. Mr. Hewitt has noticed that Alex is often absent from school and checks in with him to see if he needs any help or support. Alex mentions that he is in trouble, but class starts before he gives his teacher any details. Alex then leaves school before Mr. Hewitt can approach him again.

Shortly after Alex arrives home, he receives a phone call from Eugenia. Alex is in a daze and doesn't listen to everything Eugenia says, but he learns that someone found out about Eugenia's coat and called the police, who would soon be coming for him. Alex's father gets home earlier than expected, since he normally stays out late at a bar after his shift at the factory. His father, not aware of any of the trouble his son has gotten into, tries to talk to him, but Alex goes to bed instead of continuing the conversation.

The next day at school, Alex is called to the principal's office, where he is met by two detectives. The detectives escort him out of school and drive him to the police station, where he waits for several hours before being questioned. When Alex does meet with an officer, he confesses to everything, and the officer is surprised to find that he had no accomplices or clear motive. After eventually getting photographed and finger-printed, Alex is driven to a detention center. Once there, Alex reflects and remembers the first time he stole a car, which happened after a high school dance where he grew frustrated when someone was in his way and considered killing them.