The feminine balance is thrown off with the arrival of Paige Bennett, a beautiful, sophisticated new student at Rawley Girls Academy who Bella likes in spite of herself. Paige is unabashedly in romantic pursuit of Scout, whom she's known since they were kids, and may be successful at turning his head away from his forbidden love with Bella.

Meanwhile, Will has a run-in with a trouble-making upperclassman Ryder that lands him in deep trouble with Finn, and Hamilton and Jake find themselves in a confusing competition over a girl.