"Flash Burnout" by L.K. Madigan is a story about a 15-year-old boy named Blake who is dealing with high school issues. Blake is navigating through life with the help of his supportive parents and an older brother. Shannon is his first girlfriend and he deeply cares for her. At school, Blake takes Photo II with his friend Marissa. For a photography assignment, Blake takes a photo of a street woman who had passed out. Marissa soon realizes however that the woman is her mom and is able to track her down, but does not return to school for a few days. Worried, Blake is relieved to find out that Marissa's mom will begin rehab for her meth addiction.

Back at school, Marissa shows up to school with a black eye, which further alarms Blake. He wants to take photos of her eye and she agrees if she can take photos of flowers in his garden. Marissa intrigues Blake with her angel charm that has mysterious initials "KAT" on them. She worries him by getting drunk at a football game because her beloved cat got ran over by a car. On a Friday night, Marissa takes Blake to the Hurtle where he takes photos of the bikers and meets her brother Gus. Blake is interested in Gus' angel tattoo that also has unexplained initials.

His brother, Garrett, teases Blake about having two girlfriends. He tries to explain that Shannon is his girlfriend and that Marissa is a friend that happens to be a girl. Trouble is stirred up during lunch when the school radio DJ Cappie insinuates on the air that Shannon is jealous of Blake's friendship with Marissa.

Now that Marissa's mom has become clean again, Marissa wants Blake to take another photograph of her mom. Reluctantly, Blake goes over to Marissa's house and does so with her anxious mom.

Right before Blake goes to his grandparents' house for Christmas break, he exchanges gifts with Shannon. A surprise visit from Marissa and her mom is in store after being disappointed in realizing he got Shannon the wrong necklace for Christmas.

After the break, Marissa is missing from school for several days. Blake calls her grandma and discovers that Marissa is again out looking for her run-away mom. Blake's mom helps to find Marissa and they take her home. While at dinner, Dr. Hewson takes a work phone call about a transient woman that was shot. Curiosity peaks about the possibility of the woman being Marissa's mom. Garrett, Blake, and Marissa go early the next morning to see if they can identify the body at the morgue. Fortunately, it is not her mom! Blake and Marissa spend time together; passion and intimacy develop as he ignores calls from Shannon.

Marissa disappears and Blake heads over to her grandma's house. It's for sale. Stunned, the only thing Blake knows is that Gus will be at the hurtle. Gus explains that Marissa left with her mom after she was kicked out of her grandma's house. Finding out who KAT is, listening to Cappie's heartbroken play list, showing Mr. Malloy his photo series, and going on the hurtle appease Blake.