For Nico's 21st birthday, Leighton invites Kimberly, Bela, and Whitney to attend. Kimberly tries to think about Nico's birthday gift, not knowing that his girlfriend, Maya, is also coming. Meanwhile, Bela is teamed up with Carla for her first piece as a member of the Catullan and learns a dark secret about Ryan, while Whitney has to figure out a way to save her reputation when Dalton's relationship with a female soccer player is outed.
Tropes featured in this episode:
- Attempted Rape: It is revealed that Bela is not the only one being groped by Ryan. Carla was also sexually harassed, and the experience eventually leads her to quit the Catullan.
- Double Standard: Whitney's fears of her fling with Dalton coming out is because she knows the media won't let a Black girl like her off easy, especially since her mom is a senator.
- Eating the Eye Candy: Kimberly fails to concentrate on studying in Nico's room while he works out shirtless.
- Home-Early Surprise: Maya isn't supposed to return until January. She has yet to learn about Nico's affair with Kimberly, though.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Coach Woods promises not to implicate Whitney in the sex scandal, noting that she is 18 and has so much ahead of her.
- A Shared Suffering: Bela initially dislikes Carla for being weird, but comes to sympathize with her upon learning that they both got sexually harassed by Ryan.
- So Proud of You: Evangeline's reaction when Bela's piece wins the Catullan's Instagram contest.
- You Are Not Alone: Leighton convinces Bela and Carla to talk to Alicia about their issues with Ryan, with Alicia explicitly stating that she's their ally.
