As the summer comes to an end, Felicity's father begins nagging her about her future. She hopes to prove that she has a future in her major by gaining admission to the honors art program. Ben returns from the EMT training session and announces that he wants to become a doctor. He signs up for a heavy course-load, and realizes that he will have to stay in school a fifth year to finish his pre-med requirements. Felicity is put off by Ben's sudden sense of purpose, as she expected him to be just as aimless as she is. She begins turning to the jobless Noel for support. Felicity's father comes to town and accuses her of wasting her college years. She becomes furious at his interference and decides to pay for her final year of college herself. She immediately files papers to declare her independence. Felicity shows up late for work while dealing with her crisis, forcing Ben to cover for her. He then arrives late to his first organic chemistry lecture, where the professor locks him

Ben and Trevor fail their organic chemistry midterm. They are upset because the test included an entire section on a topic that Professor Hodges had specifically said would not be included. They ask for a chance to re-take the test. Ben insults the professor after he belittles them. Hodges responds by throwing both Ben and Trevor out of the class. They go out drinking. Trevor continues to drink after they arrive at Felicity and Elena's Halloween party. He collapses with alcohol poisoning, and Ben calls an ambulance. Ben tells Hodges that Trevor is in a coma. He suggests that it wouldn't have happened if Hodges were a little more understanding. Hodges goes to the hospital to check on Trevor, who has begun to recover. He agrees that he isn't very helpful to his students, and asks Ben and Trevor to return to class. T.A. Felicity takes over some classes after the professor is arrested for shoplifting. Felicity's students constantly mock her and accuse her of selling out after

Ben learns that his father is being hospitalized with liver failure. He reluctantly goes to the hospital and meets Lauren, a friend of Mr. Covington's from A.A. She tells Ben that his father does not have long to live. Mr. Covington gives Ben power of attorney, and declares that he does not want to be hooked up to machines. He also insists that he will not take any pain medication because he has been sober for 67 days and does not want to use drugs of any kind. Ben postpones a ski trip that he and Felicity had planned for her birthday after his father's condition worsens. Ben is surprised to learn that Mr. Covington was very helpful to Lauren when he served as her sponsor. She says that his dad talks about Ben all the time. Ben goes against his father's wishes and puts him on a ventilator because there is a slim chance that he could regain enough strength to undergo a transplant. Felicity suspects that Professor Cavallo is coming on to her. He denies this, but she grows uneas

Ben focuses all of his attention on studying as he prepares for his organic chemistry final. Felicity decides to follow his example and devote more time to her artwork. She seeks advice from Professor Cavallo on how to improve her work, and spends more time at the studio. Noel grudgingly takes his medication and continues to see a therapist. He considers starting his own graphics company. Felicity asks for Noel's advice about her art project. Noel decides to follow his therapist's recommendation and spend less time with Felicity. Ben grows angry with Trevor for inviting Elena to their study sessions, as they goof off all of the time. Felicity is working in the studio when the building catches on fire. She is unaware of this because the alarms do not sound, and becomes trapped. Noel extinguishes the flames near the door and pulls her outside. Ben and Trevor apologize for their argument and go to see Professor Hodges. They learn that Trevor passed the exam, while Ben scored 9