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Original Airdate: 10/05/98
Evening at the Camden house finds Mary trying to study in her room where Lucy and her new best friends, Nicole, are carrying on about boys and who likes whom at school. Down in the kitchen, Annie is munching on a corn dog and Miracle Whip when Eric walks in. Mary decides she can't take it any more and goes down and complains and tries to tell her parents that she thinks Nicole is bad news. They think it's great that Lucy has found a new best friend.Upstairs, Simon is trying to study when Ruthie comes in and swipes his books out from under him. Simon tells her that she should be studying too. She tells him that she doesn't have to study. Simon tells her it's a good thing that she is low-maintenance, because once the babies are born, she is going to be on her own since it's the squeaky wheel that gets the oil.
Matt is studying at the library when he sits down by a girl whom we find out is Becky. Matt tries his usual charm in asking for a study date, and Becky brushes him off and leaves. Matt is dumbfounded, as he has never been rejected by a girl before.
The next day at school, Lucy spritzes herself with perfume and puts on some lipstick and meets up with Nicole before biology class. Mary walks by the two in the hallway and gives them both a dirty look. As Lucy and Nicole sit down, their teacher surprises them with a pop-quiz over the reading material the night before. After grading the quizzes, he asks to see them both after school.
Matt finally wakes up and drags himself into the kitchen where Eric can tell something is wrong. Eric can't believe it has finally happened. Annie's attempts to comfort Matt are unsuccessful.
Ruthie comes home after school with her math test scores, which she failed because she answered every question the same. She asks her mom to help her study and Annie agrees. Simon can't believe what he is hearing and realizes that he is partially responsible for Ruthie trying to get attention. When Mary, Lucy and Nicole arrive, Lucy all but lies to her parents about how school went, which annoys Mary. After Lucy leaves, Mary tells her parents about the D on Lucy's quiz, and to her surprise they get mad at her for snitching on Lucy. Later that night, Eric calls Lucy into his study and says that he will offer to tutor her and Nicole in biology to help them get their grades up. While Lucy is talking to her dad, Mary goes to use the bathroom, only to find Nicole in there using a razor to cut herself. Nicole pleads with Mary not to tell anybody.
The next morning, Mary goes to Eric and tells him that he should forbid Lucy to see Nicole. He says that Mary should express his concerns with Lucy herself, and she says she will try.
Matt meets up with Becky again, and this time - wearing a nice jacket, he succeeds. She gives him her address and says to meet at her place at 8.
Ruthie comes home from school with 100% right on her math test that day. PLUS, her teacher let her take yesterday's quiz over again and she got all of those right as well. Seems as though Simon made her a deal that he would pay her 50 cents for each right answer. When Ruthie finds him hiding in the closet, Simon coughs up the 20 bucks.
Mary finally tells the family that Nicole is what they call a "cutter" - someone who mutilates themselves. Lucy doesn't believe it and accuses Mary of being jealous of her friendship. Mary can't believe that Lucy would think that she has ulterior motives. Gradually, Lucy starts to believe Mary is telling the truth. She and Eric have a talk about cutting, and call Nicole's father over to tell him the bad news. When he arrives, he says it has happened before, and they moved to Glen Oak to get a new start. Eric gives him the number of a place that can help in Chicago.
At Becky's apartment, Matt makes a pass at her right when her boyfriend walks in the door. Matt can't believe what has happened, and says that the boyfriend is just to make Matt jealous. Becky says straight out she wanted his help studying and that's it. Matt leaves in a hurry.
Later, Nicole and her father stop by their house and Nicole and Lucy say their good-byes. If all goes well, Nicole might be back in 6 months. Nicole thanks Mary for getting the truth out.