In their affluent San Francisco high school, Flannery Culp's group, the Basic Eight, are dismissed as a pretentious clique, but to Flan they are indispensable. She needs Kate, despite her incessant gossiping. She needs Gabriel, even though he has a barely requited crush on her. She needs V""""", whose name has been changed to protect her wealthy family. She needs Douglas, procurer of absinthe. She needs Lily. She needs Jennifer Rose Milton, but most of all she needs Natasha - beautiful, brave Natasha, who gives her confidence and strength. Flannery needs them all because sometimes school can get so stressful, you just want to kill someone...