Danielle fakes a shoulder injury to avoid swim practice, not wanting to ruin her hair and makeup before meeting Andrew. A flashback reveals her motivations: Earlier that day, she dressed up to tell Andrew that she made the varsity swim team, but he was distant. He reluctantly invited her to get pizza with his friends, insisting that she bring her friend Hope so that she wouldn’t be the only girl. Back in the present, Danielle and Hope wait for Andrew at the corner and then walk to the field to look for him, but they find it empty.

They then locate him and his friends at Tripoli’s Pizza, where the boys have already finished eating. Chuck mockingly calls Danielle “Dan the Man” (233), and Andrew does nothing to defend her. Danielle then overhears Chuck announce that Andrew admitted to fantasizing about another girl, Abby, prompting Andrew to throw a pizza crust at him. Humiliated, Danielle is pulled from the restaurant by Hope. Outside, Andrew makes excuses, claiming that he was trying to protect her from his friends’ judgment. Realizing that he’s a coward, Danielle ends their relationship.

After dinner, Bridget compulsively rakes the yard to burn calories. Lisa joins in to help, which irritates Bridget. Their mother gives them money to buy supplies for ice-cream sundaes. At the grocery store, Bridget becomes self-conscious and angry when she notices a bag boy who appears a few years older than her staring at her body. When Lisa mentions that the boy was checking her out, Bridget snaps at her for fishing for compliments.

Back home, Bridget tries to avoid the sundaes by pretending to be on a phone call. Lisa confronts her in her room with a large sundae and two spoons, telling Bridget that she knows she hasn’t been eating. Bridget admits that the pressure of being named “prettiest” is overwhelming but promises she will eat normally after homecoming. Lisa, crying, says that Bridget’s behavior is making her feel bad about her own body and eating habits. She threatens to tell their parents about Bridget’s eating disorder if it continues, leaving the bowl of melting ice cream behind as a silent ultimatum.

During a silent family dinner, Abby is grounded and forbidden from attending the homecoming dance for forging her mother’s signature on her progress report; Fern told their parents about this. As an additional requirement, Mr. and Mrs. Warner order Fern to tutor Abby for an upcoming test. Fern protests, saying that she has plans to see the Blix Effect movie with friends. In retaliation for being tattled on, Abby loudly suggests that Fern has a romantic crush on their married teacher Mr. Timmet. The accusation deeply embarrasses Fern, who flees the table in tears. For her cruelty, Abby’s parents extend her punishment. Later, Abby watches Fern get ready for the movie and briefly considers offering her fashion advice but decides against it, concluding that she and Fern are no longer sisters.

Candace goes to dinner at Lauren’s home. She finds the house plain and Mrs. Finn tired looking, believing that she appears to put little effort into her appearance. The dinner is awkward and tense; Mrs. Finn serves undercooked spaghetti and subjects Candace to a series of interrogating questions about her mother’s job, her superficial reading habits, and her social life. Mrs. Finn finally asks why she thinks Lauren has become so popular, and Candace surprises herself by answering, “Because she’s nice” (254). As she leaves, Candace realizes that Mrs. Finn’s goal was to prove that Candace wasn’t a suitable friend for her daughter. Lauren walks her to the door and promises to advocate for her with her old friends. For a moment, Candace feels a strong urge to apologize for her past behavior and befriend Lauren, but the moment passes as Lauren closes the door.

Jennifer arrives late to the party at Margo’s house. Margo arrives by car while Jennifer is standing outside, steps past her, and twists the doorknob, but the front door is unlocked. When Jennifer goes upstairs to find the bathroom, she accidentally walks in on Margo’s parents; Mrs. Gable is warm and says they have missed her, while Mr. Gable is more deadpan and signals Jennifer to leave. Afterward, Jennifer sneaks into Margo’s bedroom. After looking at Margo’s homecoming dress, she begins rummaging through her armoire. Margo catches her and furiously accuses her of snooping, threatening to physically throw her out.

A shaken Jennifer retreats downstairs and joins a group of senior boys playing a card game called “Asshole.” Margo’s crush, Matthew, teams up with Jennifer to help her. She comes in second to last, earning the role of “Vice Asshole,” whose designated task is to fetch beer from the basement. There, a drunk senior named Ted follows her and kisses her—her first kiss. Another boy opens the basement door and loudly mocks Ted for making out with Jennifer. Ted insists that he’s not that drunk, but Jennifer knows he’s lying and continues to kiss him anyway.

On the deck, Margo smokes four cigarettes in a row, mostly letting them burn down and only taking a drag every few minutes. She’s furious and paranoid after finding Jennifer in her room. She believes that Jennifer sought the stamp, which she doesn’t have; finding it would have been Jennifer’s ultimate vindication as proof that Margo made the list, which could guarantee Jennifer the title of homecoming queen. Matthew joins her, and Margo admits for the first time that she was a terrible friend to Jennifer. Matthew comforts her, affirms that he doesn’t believe she made the list, and praises her for voicing her opposition to Dana and Rachel’s “Vote Queen Jennifer” plan, adding that he thinks it’s a terrible idea too.

As she heads back inside, he promises to dance with her at homecoming, regardless of whether she wins queen, which fills Margo with genuine happiness. Later, as the party ends, a disheveled and intoxicated Jennifer emerges from the basement with Ted. Seeing that Ted has abandoned her, Dana and Rachel decide to drive Jennifer home. Without making eye contact, Jennifer thanks Margo “for everything” as she leaves.