It's Friday, and Arlie and his two best friends await the big dance at their Southern middle school, filled with erratic hormones and clueless administrators. When his friends realize Arlie hasn't found a date, they provide him with a few options of untaken girls. But Arlie has his own idea: Josephine, the beautiful new addition to their 8th grade class. When he learns that Josephine has already been asked by his nemesis, Arlie creates a plan to ensure she'll dance with him, which involves a little courage and a lot of balloons. As the day progresses, Arlie calls on an outsider's assistance while circumstances threaten to deflate his balloon-filled journey.