Plot[]
Hannah is a high school junior in a relationship with a studious, basketball-playing senior named Justin. However, he doesn't appear to be committed to Hannah as a boyfriend, instead always preferring to hang out with his friends as they train for an upcoming game. They eagerly plan to become professional basketball players, with Justin awaiting his decision letter from Cornell University. He blows Hannah off when she wants to discuss their future long-distance relationship over lunch and doesn't contact her.
The next day, Hannah shows her friend Eva a costume she was assigned to make for the drama club's play, Romeo and Juliet, which Eva is impressed with. Hannah then sees Justin and approaches him, whose friend mutters, "Here comes Queen Buzzkill." When asked why he didn't call her back, Justin reveals that he and his friends have been celebrating since he got into Cornell. Hannah is happy for him, but Justin becomes awkward, causing his friends to leave. He then sits down to talk to Hannah and admits he doesn't feel confident enough anymore to try a long-distance relationship while he is away at college. Hannah tries to reason with him that it will only be a year before she joins him in New York for fashion school, but Justin bluntly says that she doesn't have high grades like his and he doesn't consider her preferred college, Parsons School of Design, a "real school." Justin had to work hard to keep up his SATs and GPA to have a good shot at getting into Cornell. Meanwhile, he still doesn't believe that Hannah has anything to offer other than her looks and "random doodles," dismissing her aspirations in fashion design. At this, Justin selfishly dumps her, saying this is how it has to be, leaving her heartbroken.
Six months later, Hannah is still designing costumes and working on Eva's dress for the Senior Sock Hop. Hannah declines to go, as she is still upset over Justin breaking up with her. She also found out through his social media that he has started dating a girl at Cornell named Valerie, who has an impressive list of accomplishments. Eva consoles Hannah and advises her not to prioritize someone when she's just an option to them. However, Hannah decides to apply to Cornell, thinking it will show Justin that she is smart and serious about her future. Eva is skeptical but agrees to help her to repay everything Hannah has done for the former and the drama club.
Over the next few months, Hannah studies hard in school and retook her SAT with Eva's guidance. Although she starts slow, her grades improve as time goes by. Finally, Hannah learns her SAT score has increased to 1510, much to her and Eva's delight.
Several months later, Hannah is about to open her decision letter from Cornell. Eva is depressed that she didn't get into her first choice, Yale, but supports her friend. When Hannah is too nervous to log into her student portal, Eva does so and learns she was accepted, much to their joy. Eva is excited that Hannah can study fashion in an Ivy League school, though Hannah also thinks she can finally get back together with Justin. However, Eva is again unconvinced. She points out that while Hannah may have started this to prove something to him, what's most important is that she proved something to herself. Eva also reveals that Justin is now seeing yet another girl at Cornell named Erica, who's also an accomplished student. Hannah is disheartened at this. When the bell rings, Eva congratulates Hannah again and goes to class, leaving her to think.
A few months later, Hannah is now in New York, starting her freshmen year at Cornell. While hanging out with some classmates, she runs into Justin. Hannah happily tells him she is majoring in Fashion Design & Management at Cornell, much to his shock. Justin reveals that he is preparing to move back home as he flunked out and was kicked off the basketball team due to getting wrapped up in various college parties and other distractions. Taken aback, Hannah wishes him luck and prepares to leave, but Justin stops her. He asks if she would like to go out for lunch sometime, claiming that he can't stop thinking about her and has realized his mistake in breaking up with her the way he did. When Hannah brings up all the other girls he dated at Cornell, Justin insists they were just flings and nothing serious compared to his relationship with her. Finally seeing him for the opportunistic jerk he is, Hannah firmly declines. She states she will be too busy since, in addition to Cornell, she has a new job designing shoes with Nike. Justin is impressed and envious, as he's always wanted to work with Nike.
Hannah then sees Eva and goes to meet her, but Justin still asks if they can go out together. Hannah once again refuses and tells him that she will not make someone a priority when she is only an option to them. As Hannah leaves, Justin is disappointed and continues to pack up his stuff. Hannah and Eva, who has also enrolled at Cornell, gush over how she told him off. Hannah is glad Eva's at Cornell with her as they walk off together.
Moral[]
"Don't make someone a priority, when all you are is an option to them."
Cast[]
Main Characters[]
- Hannah - Jazlyn Nicolette Sward
- Justin - Anthony Carro
- Eva - Bhaavika Gaddam
Supporting/Minor Characters[]
- Jock 1 - Matthew Thomas Edmonds
- Jock 2 - Alexis Silvestre
- Student 2 - Celine Diva Tulaar
- Student 3 - Trenton Wayne
- Student 4 - Marianne Rotyliano
- Student 5 - Amanda DeJiacomo
- Student 6 - Andrea Kummer
- Teacher - Lupe Cambiasso
- Librarian - April Lind
- Cornell Student 1 - Natalia Christabelle (Nat)
- Cornell Student 2 - Chok Suwanavisootr
- Cornell Student 4 - Jacob Athyal
- Cornell Student 5 - Keegon Jackson
Trivia[]
- The episode's plot is similar to that of the 2001 romantic comedy film Legally Blonde, with Hannah based on Elle Woods and Justin on Warner Huntington III.