The Scammer

Jordyn and Nick plan in his room for his campaign. She slips up and says something about her brother. When he points out that she told him she was an only child, she decides that she has no choice but to tell the truth. She admits that her brother died. Instead of questioning her on it or acting overly sympathetic, as she expects, Nick instead just apologizes and changes the subject. Later, as they lie in bed, Jordyn realizes that he lost someone close, too.

The next day, Jordyn returns to her dorm alone. She checks her mail and finds a handful of letters from credit card companies approving her for new cards that she didn’t apply for, along with statements showing that she is withdrawing money. She is relieved to find her suite empty but finds the lock on her door broken. As she checks over her room, which is destroyed from someone going through her things, Kammy appears. She yells at Jordyn for being there, adamant that she hurt Devonte by abandoning them. Jordyn tries to reason with her, pointing out all the things he lied about, but Kammy insists that Jordyn is believing lies.

Kammy then admits that she lost her virginity to Devonte. He told her it was part of her “healing” from her abuse as a child by her father and pastor. For a brief moment, Jordyn sees a flash of the old version of Kammy. She tries to ask about her abuse, pointing out that Devonte is not the one she should be seeking help from. However, Kammy grows defensive again. Just before Jordyn leaves, Kammy asks if she has seen Legacy. Jordyn asks why, but Kammy doesn’t answer, instead insisting that Jordyn needs to go.

That Saturday, the fraternity hosts a party. Jordyn stands in the corner by herself. One of her classmates, Neveah, comes up to her and asks where she has been. When she talks about Nick’s campaign, Neveah points out that she should run for office next year, as people know and like her. It makes Jordyn happy that Neveah and others think she would make a good officer.

Later that night, Nick comes up to Jordyn. For a moment, she forgets that they are only pretending to be dating, and she wonders what it would be like to truly date him. Seeing that she is tired and bored, he suggests that they go to bed. However, at that moment, police officers arrive. Jordyn sees that there are several of them, all wearing bulletproof vests with guns drawn. Nick asks what’s happening, and they explain that they got an anonymous tip and have a search warrant for drugs in the house. Jordyn immediately thinks of Devonte.

The police search the house and only find marijuana, arresting one of the fraternity brothers. Afterward, Jordyn paces in Nick’s room and listens to everyone argue downstairs. When Nick comes back to the room, he tells her that his brothers are upset and blame him and Jordyn. However, they are going to let them stay. Jordyn offers to move out, but Nick insists that everything will be fine.

Nick takes Jordyn to a diner nearby. They sit and eat and talk about their lives. Jordyn tells him about Kevin, who died by suicide after he went away to college. In his belongings, they found a Frazier mug and an acceptance letter to transfer, which inspired Jordyn to go there. Nick admits that he has three siblings who are all much older. His parents had him unexpectedly late in life, making him always feel like he was a burden. They talk for several hours.

When they get back to the fraternity house, the boys confront Jordyn as soon as they enter. The boys accuse Jordyn of cheating on Nick, stating that they have pictures of her sneaking in and out of her dorm. Jordyn is adamant that she just went to get her things. Nick steps in, insisting that they will both leave. However, his brothers back down.

In Nick’s room, Jordyn again offers to leave, but Nick won’t let her. He hugs her, which makes Jordyn realize how attracted to him she is.

Over the next few days, things return to normal. Jordyn tries to contact Kammy, but she ignores her.

One day after class, Nick and Jordyn take the bus to the frat house. They joke about watching Love Island, and Jordyn begins to wonder how much of their flirting is real. However, when they get off the bus, Jordyn’s parents are waiting for her. They angrily question why she is with Nick and not staying in her dorm, telling her that Vanessa called them. Nick tries to intervene to explain, but Jordyn’s father angrily dismisses him. Jordyn tries to question what Vanessa said, but her parents ignore her, instead telling her that they are taking her back to her dorm, where she belongs.

Jordyn’s parents take her back to her dorm. To her surprise, things have returned to normal, with Vanessa and Loren greeting her. Her room is cleaned up and her bed made. Her dad throws her things on the ground, and her parents thank Vanessa for calling them.

Outside, Jordyn’s father yells at her. He accuses her of going to a frat house, sleeping with multiple guys, and ruining her reputation. He tells her that if she leaves her dorm again, they will take her back to Connecticut. After her father leaves, Jordyn’s mother tells her that she should speak to a counselor if she needs to, then gives her money before following her husband.

Back in the dorm, Jordyn is overwhelmed with rage. She yells at Vanessa and Loren, but they insist that they are only trying to save her from Nick. When Jordyn asks where Kammy is, they refuse to tell her.

Jordyn spends the day in her room as Devonte and his followers return. She leaves her room to try to get tea, but Kerry blocks her from using the kitchen. She hears Devonte lecturing everyone about menstruation, insisting that it isn’t natural but caused by white men. He cites studies from tribes in Africa. However, Jordyn interrupts, pointing out that the studies were done on people who were malnourished, which is proven to have an impact on menstruation. She sees Devonte falter, but the others immediately attack Jordyn, accusing her of protecting Nick and sleeping with all the members of his fraternity.

Jordyn retreats to her room. Nick calls her and tells her to look out the window. He flashes his lights from across the street, telling her that he is there if she needs her. When she sits on her bed, she realizes that it is filled with broken glass. Nick asks her what’s wrong, but she lies to him and says she is fine.

Over the next few days, things continue as they are, with everyone in her suite ignoring Jordyn. After class one day, she goes to the FUSA to work. However, she is stopped by Nick at the door. He tells her that the rumors about her have made the officers uncomfortable. As president, he has to support their decision not to let her volunteer there anymore. Angry and hurt, Jordyn leaves him and goes home.

The day before Thanksgiving, Jordyn looks through her phone at pictures of Kevin and her family. She considers buying a train ticket home but decides that she doesn’t want to deal with her parents. Nick then calls her and apologizes, insisting that he should’ve stuck up for her. When he asks about Thanksgiving, she tells him that she decided not to go home. In response, Nick tells her to pack a bag and get ready to leave.

Nick takes Jordyn to his house in North Carolina. To her surprise, it is empty, as Nick’s parents are in Texas with his siblings. They arrive late at night, so Nick doesn’t say much. He shows her to his childhood bedroom, then he goes elsewhere to sleep.

The next morning, Nick tells Jordyn that they’re going to Anita’s for Thanksgiving. They drive to a much smaller house nearby. An older Black woman answers the door and greets Nick, and several young children run out and hug him. A boy their age comes out, and Nick introduces him as his friend, Richie. The old woman introduces herself as Anita and invites Jordyn and Nick inside.

There are a handful of people in and around the house, all preparing food for dinner. Jordyn offers to help them. When Nick goes into town, Jordyn talks with Anita. She explains that she was hired to be Nick’s nanny, but, as his parents became less interested in raising him, Anita took over. Nick spent weeks at a time with her and her family. As they prepare food, Jordyn is confused by their meal choices, as they’re having fried chicken along with their turkey. She also questions Anita’s use of Crisco, thinking of Devonte’s words, but Anita insists that they are having authentic Black food.

In the afternoon, Richie invites Jordyn to walk with her. He points out that he knows she and Nick aren’t dating, and Jordyn admits that he is helping her. She questions Richie about Nick’s lack of girlfriends. After hesitating, Richie admits that he only had one serious one, Ashley. Nick helped her get away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. However, the boyfriend came over to Nick’s house one night and shot Ashley in the driveway, killing her in front of Nick. He vowed after that never to get close to a girl again. Jordyn is overwhelmed with sympathy and understanding, noting how similar she and Nick are.

After drinking moonshine all afternoon, Nick is intoxicated. Anita and Richie help him into a truck, then drive him and Jordyn back to Nick’s house. They fall asleep on the couch. A while later, Nick wakes her up and tells her they need to go to bed. He tells her that he wants to sleep in the same bed as her again. However, when they get to his doorway, he hesitates. Jordyn looks out the window and realizes that it overlooks the driveway where Ashley died. She tries to get Nick to talk to her about it, but he refuses, instead telling her goodnight and retreating from the room.

The next day, Jordyn wakes up and thinks about how much she enjoyed Thanksgiving. She realizes that she didn’t think about Devonte at all the day before, and she ate more than she has in a long time.

Jordyn finds Nick in the kitchen. He takes her to the river near the house, where a jet ski is waiting. They ride down the river to a private cove. As they watch, a young deer emerges, and Nick calls it “Bambi.” He then kisses Jordyn. Facing her on the jet ski, he tells her that she can ask whatever she wants. She asks why he doesn’t want to talk about Ashley, and he admits that it’s “re-traumatizing.” He notes that he feels like he is stuck in the bargaining phase of grief, trying to avoid a relationship so that he doesn’t have to be traumatized ever again. He assures her that he wants to try with her.

Nick drives back to the house. They kiss a few more times and go up to his bedroom. However, he freezes at the doorway. He explains that he urged Ashley to break up with Eric but dissuaded her from going to the police to report his harassment and stalking. He questions whether he could’ve saved her if he’d made her go to the police. 

Jordyn assures him that it’s not his fault, but Nick hesitates. He tells her that he can’t have a relationship with her, as he can’t go through something like that again. Jordyn initially tries to convince him otherwise but realizes that she is being hypocritical; just like she still can’t get over Kevin, he needs time to get over Ashley. She assures him that she understands.