Magnus Kroft is chosen to attend an exclusive boarding school called the Institute established to develop the various talents of exceptional high school students. A serious student of ballet, Magnus is hopeful about escaping the oppressive, bullying high school environment of his Gulf Coast hometown to concentrate on his true love of dance. At the institute, Magnus quickly makes a new set of friends, friends he quickly learns share the same secret that he has been hiding--all are gay-or at least gay-ish as his friend Tommie would say. The Institute is high school with a twist-- a place where Tommie has to hide the fact that he's straight or else he'd be kicked out. Tommie's girlfriend, Allison, is a tennis player who pretends to be with Gayle, a talented cellist and proud dyke. Tommie's best friend is Kieran, an exceptionally talented pianist and presumed leader of the Tribe as this group of friends likes to refer to themselves. Magnus quickly captures Kieran's eye and must learn to cope with a blossoming first love. With the help of the Tribes computer nerd, Sammy, they discover the real reason for the Institute's existence and its interest in gay teens. As they each try to find themselves and define their various relationships, they soon find themselves the subjects of a deadly experiment. Their safe haven quickly becomes a prison of terrors they never dreamed of-a place where the only way out is death.