Charlie starts out the film as a 17-year-old high school junior who is the star quarterback at Midland High School. He loves playing football, hanging out with his friends, and spending time with his girlfriend Beth. But everything changes when his parents decide to move him and his family to his father's hometown of Evanston, Illinois for the better of their careers, Charlie is opposed to it because it would mean moving from his hometown (where he had lived since he was nine).