Felicity counsels an advisee, who is using tips from a magazine article to win the affections of her aloof boyfriend. Ben worries Felicity with his peculiar behavior. He finally reveals that he listened to her tape and cannot deal with the idea that she might love him. Felicity consults the magazine article and tries to get him back. She agrees to be less intense, but suddenly breaks up with Ben because she feels that he expects her to be someone else. She deals with her pain by getting a very short hair cut. Julie throws a big party (with cover charge) at the loft. Elena tries to help Noel get a girl's phone number.

Felicity rearranges her work schedule to avoid Ben. While looking over the course catalog with freshman advisee Ruby, Felicity laments the fact that she is no longer able to pursue her interest in art. She impulsively drops her pre-med courses and signs up for drawing. Felicity winds up in the same class as Noel, who continues to hate her guts. He accuses her of ruining his chances of hooking up with a classmate, unaware that the woman's lack of interest stems from the fact that she is gay. Ruby turns to Noel for advice about a computer problem. He snaps at her because of her association with Felicity, but they later find that they have a lot in common. Noel defends Felicity when the professor and other students harshly criticize her work. Although discouraged by the experience, Felicity decides not to leave the class. Ben and Sean interview new roommates as Julie prepares to move out. When her new place falls through, they ask her to stay.

Felicity hears a rumor that Julie has written and performed a vicious song about her. They end up stuck in the same car for several hours after the subway breaks down. The other passengers overhear their sniping and get involved in their argument. An older man forces them to realize that they were never really as good friends as they believed. Noel and Ruby begin dating. Sean invents a condiment called ""smoothaise"" that he believes will make him rich. Ben meets a pushy caterer.

Professor Sherman tries to set up Felicity with her son, who is several years older. Julie suggests that it might be a good idea to date a guy without worrying about the prospect of a long-term relationship. David turns out to be a petulant jerk, and Felicity storms out in the middle of dinner. He apologizes and asks for another chance, so she decides to date him. Ben and Maggie start sleeping together. Noel and Elena obsess over a video game.

A mono epidemic hits the campus. After Meghan gets sick, Felicity tries to avoid the bug by staying with Elena and Noel. Felicity frets about the fact that David has yet to kiss her. Noel accidentally says Felicity's name while kissing Ruby. Ruby is furious to discover that Noel and Felicity hadn't told her the truth about their past relationship. A stranger offers Ruby a business card, claiming to be a movie producer. She follows up on the lead and ends up getting a major role in a Tom Cruise movie. Ruby sleeps with Noel before departing for several weeks. Ben finds out that Maggie is married.