Lucy is spending a lot of time with her new best friend, Nicole. They are both in the same biology class, and are both failing. Eric offers to tutor both of them. Matt is upset because a girl rejected him. He later learns she did that because she already has a boyfriend. Ruthie fails her math test on purpose so she can get more attention from her mother. Simon wants her to stop, and tells her he'll pay 50 cents for every good answer she gets on her next test. Ruthie gets all the answers right, so Simon has to pay her $20. Mary catches Nicole cutting herself in the bathroom. Mary tells Eric, who then tells Nicole's father. Eric gives him a card and a number to call so they can get help for Nicole. Nicole and her parent's are moving to Chicago for a couple of months, so she can follow therapy.

With Annie and Lucy adding a new bathroom, and the need for a new car, Eric is depending on his built-in annual raise from the church board. However, when the church deacons gets the wrong impression about the Camden's financial situation, they reject his annual raise. It's up to Ruthie to save the day when she realizes what is going on and to convince them to change their minds about their plan. Meanwhile, a young hospital patient (Josh Evans, ""Passions"") offers Matt some career advice. Also, Simon attempts to entertain a classmate who has a crush on him.