Bright Spots: A Coalfield Romance

Eighteen-year-old Hunter Lee is autistic. He is kind-hearted, but blatant lies that he assaults girls has ruined his reputation. Branded as the school pervert, he wants to survive his last year of high school, then move to California and persist with his career as a graphic novelist.

Newly-outed seventeen-year-old Tyler Maddison dreams of California too, and making it as a fashion designer. After photos of him in skirts are leaked, his father kicks him out, and he finds a haven with his best friend, Claire. He can handle the random shoving and slurs. It's Greg's groping that causes him to dread going to his locker.

Hunter's shy smile and soft voice comfort Tyler. He takes a chance and asks Hunter out, brightening both their lives. But Hunter's anxiety and autistic meltdowns keep them from going public and provokes strain in their relationship-as does Claire's belief in his guilt. When Tyler is sexually assaulted, Hunter feels the need to react.