Felicity starts the episode wearing one of her trademark first-season huge sweaters and pacing in her dorm room while making a tape for Sally. Felicity tells Sally that "there was kissing between [her] and Noel," but that neither of them knew what it meant. A jazzy version of "Jingle Bells" plays in the background. Cut to Felicity and Knoll sitting and staring at one another on Knoll's bed. Knoll asks, "Okay, so what does this mean, exactly?" Felicity isn't sure. Cut back to Felicity telling Sally that it was after Thanksgiving, that Hannah was gone, and that it was the moment in a relationship where you want to define what things are. How would Felicity know -- she's never been in a relationship, has she? Oh, Felicity explains that Knoll told her that they should understand the parameters. Good Lord, it's a relationship, not a bill to be brought before Congress.
Cut back to Felicity and Knoll in the dorm room. Knoll's phone rings. Felicity urges him to answer it, but Knoll is worried that it might be Hannah, and he wants to talk to Felicity right now, not Hannah. The answering machine picks up, and Knoll's outgoing message is, "Hi, it's Knoll. I'm sitting to my phone right now, screening this call." Knoll comments that he needs to change the message. Knoll's mother starts to leave a message, so Knoll picks up the phone immediately. His mother is obviously upset, and Knoll struggles to understand what she's talking about -- something about "Uncle Kenny" and "turnpike" and "chicken truck." Felicity makes to leave, but Knoll urges her to stay. Knoll comments to Felicity that his uncle isn't supposed to be driving because he's "a necrophiliac." Felicity, grossed out, asks, "He sleeps with dead people?" Knoll corrects himself, "No, I mean, uh...narcolepsy." ["I always used to get those two words mixed up." -- Wing Chun] Knoll's mother comes back on the phone and tells Knoll that his uncle is in a coma. Cut back to Felicity telling Sally that "this horrible thing happened to Noel's grandmother's brother," which would make him Knoll's Great-Uncle Kenny, but I'm a stickler for terminology like that. I guess Knoll, who gets "necrophiliac" confused with "narcoleptic" wouldn't really care. That reminds me of the time that I was miniature golfing with my mom and my brother. My brother excitedly exclaimed, "Mom, that guy is a transvestite!" My mom glanced over and saw a guy dressed in typical guy clothing, so she asked, "How can you tell?" My brother responded, "He just did a right-handed putt, and then he turned around and did a left-handed putt!" My mom laughed and said that the word he was looking for was "ambidextrous." My brother said, totally deadpan, "I thought that was, like, a frog." True story. Of course, my brother was about eleven years old at the time. Felicity explains to Sally that Knoll's dad works in a mill and couldn't get time off to go to the hospital in Florida, so Knoll had to go.
Felicity sees Knoll off at the elevator. Knoll is upset that he has to go when they were on the verge of defining their relationship. Felicity is upset, too, but tells Knoll to take care of his family, and that they'll take care of it when Knoll returns. Knoll asks Felicity not to transfer to another college, or otherwise forget about him while he is gone. Felicity giggles and assures him that she won't. Knoll yells at some dude who is peacefully reading a book in the lounge that he wants the floor calendar before he leaves. Book-Reading Dude immediately gets up and walks out, presumably to work on the calendar. Felicity asks what the rush is on the floor calendar, and Knoll grabs her and kisses her in response. After breaking off the kiss, Knoll says that he doesn't want to kiss Felicity in public until they figure out what they are. You know, when I originally watched this, the whole "defining the relationship" thing seemed kind of charming, but watching it now, it just seems stupid. I guess it was in character for both Felicity and Knoll at the time, though. Knoll backs into the elevator and asks Felicity very sincerely not to hook up with Ben while he's gone. Felicity looks surprised and bemused, but agrees.
Meanwhile, Felicity is still making her tape, like, does she get a special deal on cassettes or something? Because she must run through an awful lot of them. Anyway, Felicity tells Sally that Knoll was only going to be gone for a few days, but that suddenly a week and a half had passed. Cut to Felicity sitting in her room, studying with Julie, who asks how Felicity can be so calm. Felicity doesn't get what Julie means, and Julie expositions that Felicity and Knoll made out and then Knoll took off before they could figure out what it all means. Felicity corrects Julie, saying that they didn't actually "make out," and then wonders why it "can't just be whatever it is." Julie says it never works out that way, and asks Felicity whether she's dating Knoll; if they are, can they see other people? Felicity doesn't know the answers to any of these questions and starts freaking out. Julie asks Felicity whether she really wants to be the rebound girl. Felicity denies that she is the rebound girl. Just then, Knoll knocks and enters, all out of breath. Knoll says that he took the stairs, not because the elevator is broken or anything, but because he was just impatient. Felicity and Knoll both give Julie the "get the hell out" stare, and Julie takes the hint, making a lame excuse. Knoll tells Julie that she wasn't very subtle, but Julie leaves anyway, instead of punching him in the nose for being such an ingrate, which is what I would have done.
Knoll sits on the bed, and Felicity asks what happened with his uncle. Knoll replies that his uncle needs a new hip, but that he's going to make a full recovery. Felicity thinks that's great news. Knoll leaps up and starts kissing Felicity, pausing to comment, "That's why I ran up the stairs." They kiss some more, but Knoll breaks it off to say angrily that he's pissed at his uncle. Knoll explains that he spent his whole time in Florida "making unnecessary funeral arrangements and comforting everyone," and wasn't able to study for finals at all. Felicity says that they are all stressed out, and Knoll whines that it's worse for him, because he's an RA, and then lists off all the responsibilities he has as such which have prevented him from keeping up all semester. Oh, the world's tiniest violin plays for you, Knoll. Meanwhile, in return for all the RA stuff, he gets free room and board, at the very least, and it's nobody's fault but his own if he couldn't keep up. Knoll concludes, "So while I have this massive, unrealistic amount of work to do, the only thing I want to do is hang out with you and kind of figure out what's going on." Felicity smiles, but then comments that they probably wouldn't get much work done if they did hang out. Knoll agrees, and suggests that they make a pact not to hang out together for the three days, and when finals are over on Friday, they can figure things out, and go home for the break confident about their grades and their relationship. Felicity thinks that is an incredible plan. I think that is a terrible plan, but I have the benefit of seeing how it all turns out. I think they should just do it and get it over with.
Sean asks Ben for help lugging something into the loft. Sean explains that with finals going on, the library is open twenty-four hours a day. Sean asks Ben, "What is the one thing desperate college students need to stay alive?" Beer? Bad television shows? Candy? No-Doz? There are so many possible answers to that question. Ben looks at the boxes they just carried in, and ventures, "I'm gonna say, fruit." Sean explains that he's going to take a cooler filled with fruit into the library and sell fruit by the piece. Sean asks Ben how his studying is going; Ben says it's going "crappy," and that he's going to go find someone with whom to study. Sean tells Ben that he can't flunk out, because Sean relies on Ben's rent check. That Sean is so sensitive. Ben sarcastically thanks Sean for the additional pressure "from the fruit guy." On the way out, Ben grabs an apple, and Sean yells that Ben owes him a dollar. As Ben walks out, Sean reconsiders and mutters, "Two dollars." Heh.
Elena and Felicity study in the library. Elena is using her infamous M&M studying method, seen here for the first time. Felicity looks over at some happy guy just flipping through a magazine while wearing headphones, and interrupts Elena's studying to point him out. Elena doesn't get it, so Felicity explains that the guy is not at all stressed out. Elena suggests that Felicity go ask the guy what his deal is, so that Elena can get back to her system. Felicity gets up to do just that, and Elena says, "You're not going over there!" Felicity approaches Happy Guy and asks him to remove his headphones. Happy Guy asks whether he was singing, and Felicity takes about two paragraphs to stammer that she was wondering why Happy Guy is so content. Happy Guy says he's on "strict regimen of anti-depressants, which is actually something I wanted to talk to you about." Felicity says, "Me?" and Happy Guy explains that he's been watching Felicity, and that she's always wearing sweaters. Hee! Happy Guy recommends a therapist. Felicity wonders why he has singled her out. Happy Guy says that Felicity "seems a little intense," and that "in general [he] thinks [she] could lighten up." Felicity says that she's trying to, but that college is really hard. Happy Guy offers her a pill to lighten her mood, but Felicity says that she'd rather remain intense. And thus did J.J. Abrams address all the critics of the first few episodes of this show.
Knoll unpacks his bag in his dorm room, pulling out what looks like lingerie. I guess my transvestite story from a few paragraphs up is more relevant than I thought. An advisee knocks, and Knoll stuffs everything back in the bag. The advisee explains that she needs Knoll to get her out of one of her finals. She proceeds to explain the requirements of the final, which are all gibberish to me. Knoll comments that he must have picked up the wrong bag at the airport. Knoll smells "the Fourth of July," and the girl replies that Richard is having a barbecue in his room. Knoll takes off to investigate.
Knoll enters Richard's room, all angry. Richard doesn't see the problem. Knoll explains that it's against building code. Richard thinks that it's safe because the window is open. "Mack the Knife" plays in the background, establishing that this is the jazzy standards episode of Felicity. Richard explains that he got hungry; Knoll reminds him, "This isn't a typical human reaction to hunger," and says that he's going to report Richard. Knoll proceeds to list off all of his problems (which are, in fact, Knoll's problems and not Richard's): he had to buy a coffin for his uncle, he picked up the wrong bag at the airport, he's starting a new relationship, and he's in the midst of finals. Knoll orders Richard to put out the barbecue, and leaves, slamming the door.
Felicity tries to study again, but Elena's system distracts her. Felicity asks how the system works exactly. Elena replies, "Oh, first you mock the system, now you want the system." Felicity denies ever mocking the system. Knoll walks in and tells Felicity that he took the wrong bag at the airport, and now he doesn't have his own bag, which contained all of his notes from the entire semester. Felicity expresses sympathy. Knoll says that he only has three days to write an essay "exploring the themes of Great Expectations," and asks Elena for an M&M. Elena allows him one, but only because he's "so messed up." Felicity offers to help Knoll with his essay. Knoll is worried that her work will suffer, but Felicity haltingly allows that she can do both. Knoll asks whether they should be working together, given their pact. He tries to say it quietly, but we all know that Elena hears all. Felicity agrees that there will be no kissing until after finals, and Knoll says with relief that Felicity is saving his life. Knoll leaves, and Elena gives Felicity a look so that we know that Elena knows the score.
A title screen appears which reads, "Berger Memorial Library. 8:00:03 pm. 36 hours to finals." Various students study in the library. Knoll and Felicity sit at a study carrel. Felicity explains the themes of Great Expectations to Knoll, who is sniffing her. No, really. Knoll asks whether Felicity wears powder. Felicity asks whether Knoll is learning anything, and Knoll replies, "Honestly, the way you smell, I'm forgetting things that I learned in high school." Felicity realizes that maybe studying in the same cubicle isn't the best thing. Knoll asks all hornily whether Felicity has thought about their situation, and Felicity tries to deflect, but Knoll leans in and starts kissing her. He actually gets up and straddles her while kissing, knocking over Felicity's chair; other students to tell them to get a room. Felicity and Knoll are sprawled on the floor. Knoll asks whether anyone has the time, and some girl replies that it's almost nine. Felicity and Knoll get up.
Title Screen: "Silent Reading Room. 10:18:25 pm. 33 hrs, 42 mins to finals." Ben and Julie study together. Ben looks fidgety and frustrated, then slams shut the book shut and leans forward to whisper to Julie. This entire scene is subtitled, because they are whispering so quietly that it's pretty much inaudble. Plus, they're setting up a funny joke later, so bear with me.
Ben: It's like there's a wall in my head. On the one side there's the part of my brain that understands things and absorbs things and on the other side of the wall is poetry.
Julie: What's the wall made out of?
Ben: "Ode to Psyche." "Ode to a Nightingale." "Ode on a Grecian Urn." My head is full of these odes that I don't understand.
Student At Another Table: Shhhhh!
Ben: Look, this reserve room is too quiet for me. You want to go somewhere and talk about this stuff?
Julie: I can't. I told you, I have to meet those people down on the first floor from Economics.
Ben: Well, if any of them want to come down and help me with this stuff....
Julie: [sighs] I'll see you later.
Ben: [smiles] Yeah.
Annoying Student at Another Table: Shhhhh!
Julie: [gathering her things] God!
Ben: [to Student at Another Table] Relax!
Title Screen. "3rd Floor Reading Room. 10:34:38 pm. 33 hrs, 26 mins to finals." In a nice touch, the seconds on the title card keep counting up, to signify the feeling you get during finals week that time is just running out, and you will never get caught up. Felicity and Knoll sit across from each other at a table. Felicity continues to explain Great Expectations, but Knoll just stares at her with a moony look on his face. The explanation that Felicity is giving is probably relevant. She is saying that while everyone has great expectations -- crazy dreams for the future -- Dickens says that we can mature and grow out of them. Felicity notices Knoll's staring and shuts up. Knoll says, mock-serious, "We came here to study, okay, not to flirt. So cut it out." Felicity laughs and complains that she has her own work to do, and that Knoll isn't listening to her at all. Felicity asks whether Knoll remembers one thing from the book. Knoll replies, "Yeah, that, uh, sacrifice and passion, even if it's [sic] unappreciated, or taken for granted, um, in the end is meaningful and good." Felicity whispers, "Let's go up to the stacks." Knoll asks, "And make out until finals are over?" Felicity clarifies, "Just for, like, an hour." They quickly grab their books and run out. Hey, no one can deny the seductive qualities of the library. I met my boyfriend J-Dawg in a library, and that's all I'm going to say about that.
Up in the stacks, Felicity and Knoll make out. Knoll is, like, talking while they are kissing, for some reason. Oh, he's still trying to define their relationship. Knoll notices Richard standing there staring at them. Knoll says hello. Richard says that Knoll is the RA, and that he's not supposed to be kissing a student. Knoll tries to claim that they weren't exactly kissing. Richard replies, "I'm going to report you! I'm going to report your ass!" and runs off. Knoll tosses Felicity aside and takes off after Richard.
Title Screen. "Card Catalog Junction. 11:15:06 pm. 32 hrs, 45 minutes to finals." Do college libraries still have card catalogs? Even when I was in college, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, card catalogs were being pushed aside in favor of computers. Anyway, Sean is walking around trying to shill his fresh fruit, with no luck. I still think he would have a better time of it selling candy and soda. Sean spies Elena, who says that she doesn't need any fruit. Sean asks her whether she knows what happens to a body when it's denied vitamin C. I'm assuming he doesn't mean the singer, because we've all been denied her services for about a year now, since she kind of faded into obscurity. Elena replies, "Do you know what happens to a man whose ass I kick?" Not yet, but Richard's going to find out in a few seasons. Sean points out that eating candy will give Elena a sugar crash soon. Felicity walks up and sits down, asking whether either Sean or Elena has seen Knoll. Sean shills some more, asking whether Felicity knows about the connection between vitamin C and infertility. Felicity says that she doesn't want to get pregnant; she just wants to pass her finals. Sean takes the hint and leaves.
Elena says that she hasn't seen Knoll, and asks Felicity whether she and Knoll are "boning" yet. Felicity says she wouldn't tell Elena about boning anyway. Ben walks up and says that he knows it's stupid, but that he needs Felicity's help on the poetry final. Felicity says, "What, the Keats?" Ben replies, "Yeah. And please don't say 'the Keats' like it's the easiest stuff in the world." Felicity starts listing off poems, and Ben complains about the length of the poems. Felicity starts explaining it. Elena complains that she's trying to do her system. Ben says that Felicity owes him, since she pretty much caused him to fail that one paper, so now he needs to get at least a B on the final. Felicity looks guilt-stricken, and then agrees to do it. Ben mentions that he saw her studying with Knoll, and wonders whether Knoll will mind. Felicity pretends that's the silliest thing she ever heard, and agrees to meet Ben in the lounge in twenty minutes. Elena says she doesn't believe Felicity really has time to help someone else, and that Knoll really won't mind her working with Ben. Felicity groans and reaches for an M&M, but Elena slaps her hand and says, "No!"
Knoll catches up with Richard outside the library. Richard admits that he hasn't reported Knoll yet, and Knoll urges him to reconsider. Richard asks whether Knoll has reported Richard's barbecue yet, and from the look on Knoll's face, ascertains that he has. Knoll says that it's his job to report Richard, who asks if it's also Knoll's job to "feel up [his] advisee." Knoll admits that it isn't, but argues that kissing a student isn't as dangerous as Richard's barbecue. Richard tells Knoll not to "take the Clinton defense," stating that breaking a rule is breaking a rule. Richard announces his intention to go buy a hamburger, since he can't make one himself. Knoll begs Richard not to report him. Richard says that he's still trying to decide whether Knoll is fit to be an RA.
Knoll walks back into the library, looking for Felicity. He finds Elena, and asks whether she's seen Felicity. Elena suggests that those two put Lo-Jacks on each other. Elena replies that Felicity is working with Ben. Knoll doesn't reply, so Elena says that he doesn't need to pretend that it doesn't "rip [him] to shreds." Knoll argues that he's more of a man than that. Ha! Elena explains that Felicity was looking for Knoll, that Ben was desperate, and that Felicity said that she would leave a message on Knoll's answering machine. Knoll gets up to find a phone.
Title Card. "Library Lounge. 12:28:53 pm. 31 hrs. 32 mins. to finals." Shouldn't that be "12:28:53 am"? Because it's still the same night as before, just after midnight. Anyway, Felicity is explaining a poem to Ben, saying, "Fantasy and dreams can distract you from your painful reality." Ben asks whether Felicity gets all of this just from reading it. Felicity thinks that poetry is the greatest. Ben says that pizza is actually the greatest, and they giggle. Some guy behind them hiccups loudly, and apologizes. Felicity tries to continue, but is interrupted by Hiccupping Guy, who says that it's a nervous reaction to stress. Ben suggests that he try holding his breath for as long as he can, and when he can't, take another deep breath, and hold that as long as he can. Felicity and Ben sigh and return to their books. Ben asks Felicity when she's going home, and it turns out that they're both going on Saturday morning. Ben suggests that they share a ride to the airport, and Felicity agrees. Ben asks whether Knoll is going home with Felicity, and Felicity is surprised at the suggestion. Hiccupping Guy interrupts them again. Felicity suggests that he drink water from the opposite side of the glass. Hiccupping Guy says that never works for him. Me neither, Hiccupping Guy. Ben suggests breathing into a paper bag. Felicity suggests holding a penny between his toes and thinking of three bald men. What? Hiccupping Guy stares at her, maybe because he's kind of bald. Felicity stammers that the guys don't have to be bald. Hiccuping Guy says, "So I'll think of me, and two other guys?" Ben snickers as Felicity says that, technically, that would work. Ben and Felicity return to their business. Felicity suggests she and Ben go to the reserve reading room, where it might be quieter. They leave.
Knoll listens to the message from Felicity. Felicity explains why she is helping Ben, and urges Knoll to find her in the library lounge, or leave a message on her machine. Knoll hangs up the phone.
Sean is still walking around, trying to sell fruit with absolutely no luck. He comes upon Julie, studying. Julie talks about studying for her economics final. Sean says that he went to a summer program at Harvard and learned all about economics. Julie asks why he's selling fruit, then, and calls it "a stupid thing to sell." That's what I'm saying. Julie asks how much Sean is charging, and scoffs at the idea of charging a dollar. Julie tries to prove her point by stopping a passing guy and asking him to buy an orange for a dollar; the guy surprises her and Sean by agreeing.
Knoll walks past Hiccupping Guy in the library lounge to ask Meghan whether Felicity has been in there. Meghan says she doesn't think so, because everyone she's seen has been "pretty well-dressed"; she then asks Knoll what his problem is. Knoll hunkers down to deliver his sob story, but Meghan interrupts to ask him not to answer the question. Knoll starts to explain, but trails off. Meghan tells Knoll that he needs smart powder, and that she uses it to have a social life and maintain her grades. Hey, I just watched an episode of Family Ties about this last night. See, Alex got Mallory to steal some of her fat friend Effie's diet pills so that he could study for finals, but then it all backfired when Stephen and Elyse figured it out and Alex crashed, sleeping through his scholarship exam. Oh, but I'm supposed to be recapping this show, not that one. Meghan pulls out a container, describing her organic supplement, claiming that it gives you photographic memory. Knoll claims that he's not interested, but then asks where she got it. Meghan says she got it in a shop on Warren Street, and offers to sell him some for ten bucks. Knoll picks up the container and studies it.
Title Screen. "3rd Floor Reading Room. 2:06:15 am. 29 hrs. 54 mins. to finals." Sean watches as Julie sells fruit to a guy by flirting with him. Julie walks up to him and says she feels guilty for selling him an apple for two bucks. Sean claims that "a beautiful girl selling fruit" goes back to the Bible. Well, I don't think Eve was looking for money from Adam, but that's neither here nor there. Julie demands that Sean teach her economics now. Sean insists that she sell all of the fruit in the basket first. Julie gives Sean the stink-eye and stomps off as Sean counts his money.
Knoll puts some smart powder in a glass of water, causing it to turn red. Knoll downs the glass of water, and then recoils at the taste. Ella Fitzgerald sings a swinging Christmas tune in the background.
Title Card. "Silent Reading Room. 3:17:50 am. 28 hrs. 43 mins. to finals." The music from the scene abruptly cuts off. Ben and Felicity study. This scene, like the one set in the Silent Reading Room, is subtitled, but Ben and Felicity are talking a little bit louder than Julie and Ben were, earning them dirty looks from other people in the room. Ben reads a poem as Felicity watches a little too intently. Another student shushes Ben, and he apologizes in normal voice, but it's still captioned. Felicity giggles.
Title Card. "Card Catalog Junction. 3:38:01 am. 28 hrs. 22 mins. to finals." The music is playing again. Knoll pushes his way past other students, sweaty and pulling at his sweater. He yells way too loudly at Elena, asking whether she's seen Felicity. Elena asks what he's on. Knoll babbles, "What am I on? My God, you look so small, just sitting there!" Elena points out that he's sweating. Knoll maniacally babbles that Elena would sweat too if she were him, and asks whether it's cold in there. Knoll sits down and asks whether his heartbeat seems fast to her. Elena feels his pulse, looks worried, and says that can't be his heartbeat.
Sweaty Knoll finds Meghan, who comments that Knoll looks sick. Knoll asks whether there were beets in the smart powder. Meghan says she doesn't know, but that there were roots in there. Knoll says he "gets a little hyper" when he eats beets. Meghan says that he's going to get a lot hyper, because the powder is very concentrated. Knoll yells, "Stop talking so slowly!" Meghan looks at him like, "The fuck?"
Music stops. Ben and Felicity study. Well, Felicity studies. Ben looks around goofily and then whispers, and it's still captioned.
Ben: The reason that I asked about you and Noel...
Felicity: Yeah?
Ben: Is that um...I saw you two...um...kissing in the bathroom.
Felicity: [normal voice] Oh. Uh huh.
Everyone Else in the Room: Shhhh!
Some Guy: [normal voice] Come on, man. [Some students stand up and leave the room.]
Ben: Sorry. Sorry. [to Felicity] I was just...I was just, you know, wondering...
Felicity: Yeah?
Ben: I don't know. I'm just curious, I guess, of what you guys are? [off Felicity's look] I know it's none of my business.
Felicity: No, it's a...that's a good question. You saw us kissing?
Ben: Yeah, that was an accident.
Felicity: Oh.
Ben: I'm sorry.
Felicity: Um...
Cut to Knoll, pacing the library halls. The music is back, and it seems to get louder each time we return to Knoll, but maybe it just seems that way in contrast with the near total silence of the Ben/Felicity scenes. Knoll looks through a door and sees Ben and Felicity studying together. Knoll says (and it's captioned), "Arrgggh!"
Back in the reading room, Felicity tells Ben that Knoll is probably the greatest guy she knows. She lists Knoll's attributes. Ben agrees that Knoll seems cool. Felicity says that it's more than that; Knoll is her best friend.
Out in the hall, Knoll furiously runs his hands through his hair, and then checks back to see Ben and Felicity still whispering together. He furiously takes off.
In the reading room, Felicity is still telling Ben how great Knoll is (and it's still entirely subtitled.)
Felicity: And when you need help with anything, Knoll is one of the most level-headed guys I know.
Knoll: [bursting into the reading room and yelling at the top of his lungs, but it's still captioned] This is unacceptable! [Felicity and Ben look up.] You blow me off to come here with him? Do you think I'm going to let myself sit here and get jerked around like that? Well, guess what? No!
Ben: [normal voice] She is just helping me study.
Knoll: [still yelling] Well, that's funny, because she's supposed to be helping me! [Felicity puts her head in her hand in dismay.]
Ben: [now yelling too] Well, she owes me this!
Knoll: Well, she's supposed to be liking me!
Felicity: [fed up] Okay, you know what? You guys figure it out.
Knoll and Ben: Huh?
Felicity: I've been so busy helping both of you that I haven't spent any time doing any work for me, and that's just stupid.
Knoll: Where are you going?
Felicity: [gathering her things] To study. To have some personal space. Excuse me. [to the room] And I know. Shhhh! Sorry for the disruption.
[Felicity leaves and Knoll runs his hands through his hair in frustration.]
Richard: [who has been sitting there the whole time] You! [pointing at Knoll] Are definitely not fit to be an RA. [grabs coat and leaves]
Ben bursts out laughing. Knoll looks extremely frustrated and sweaty and at a loss for words, so he just walks out of the room.
Knoll sits in the cafeteria, furiously chewing on a coffee stirrer. Ben gets some food at the counter, then joins Knoll at a table. Ben offers Knoll the food, and Knoll says that he's not hungry. Ben tells Knoll that he needs food in his system. Knoll ingrates that he's not a big fan of warm milk, and Ben orders him just to drink it. Knoll does, and apologizes for his behavior, blaming it on the smart powder. Ben says that he understands, because some of the guys on the track team in high school would drink energy shakes and have weird reactions. Ben assures Knoll that the food will help. Knoll continues to eat and drink. Ben sighs and says, "You should know that she likes you." Knoll doesn't believe it, saying that Ben is "the prize, the unrequited nightmare." Ben reveals that Felicity talked about Knoll when they were studying. Knoll wants to know what Felicity said. Ben tells the part about "best friend," and "level-headed." Knoll responds, "Well, that's sexy." Ben laughs and says that Felicity definitely likes Knoll. Knoll wonders if this was just before he "burst into the room like a psychopath." Ben says, "Yeah, about three seconds." They both laugh. Knoll is sure that Felicity thinks he is a freak, but Ben is sure that's not the case.
Cut to Felicity making a tape for Sally, saying, "Noel is such a freak!" Felicity goes on to say that finals were starting the day, and that she knew that she would be in hell for three days. Felicity is relieved that Elena finally taught her the studying system.
Ella Fitzgerald sings "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" as Elena teaches the system to Felicity in the library. Felicity voice-overs that it was her first college finals experience, and she found it amazing that "in this one concentrated place for this one concentrated time, everyone -- people I knew, people I didn't know, everyone -- was working so hard." We see a long pan of the library, filled with people studying, concluding with Felicity and Elena doing the system. Some guy hangs up a sign that says, "During this time, absolute silence is required!!!" He turns and gives Felicity a pointed look.
The song continues as Knoll walks into Richard's room, and offers up a bag of charcoal as penance. Richard smiles and accepts. Cut to an overhead shot of people taking a final. One of those test-takers is Felicity, we discover as the camera pans down. Felicity voice-overs that the weirdest part is that she didn't see Knoll at all during finals. Knoll stops outside the door of Felicity's classroom and gets her attention, motioning her outside. Felicity mouths back that she's in a final. Knoll mouths back something really long that I can't decipher, but there is a sense of urgency. Felicity thinks for a moment, and then asks the professor if she can go to the bathroom. The invigilator says, "Technically, no, but you're cute." Felicity replies, "Ew. Forget it. I don't even want to go." The invigilator says that he was kidding, and tells Felicity to give him her essay while she's gone.
Felicity meets Knoll outside, saying that it had better be important. Knoll says that his uncle died. Felicity offers her condolences. Knoll says that he's leaving right now, and wanted to apologize for his outburst before going. Felicity says she heard about the smart powder. Knoll advises her not to eat anything Meghan gives her, ever, because it might kill her. Felicity laughs and asks Knoll what time he leaves. Knoll says that his flight leaves in two hours, and launches into a speech to the effect that he's realized that he only wanted to define their relationship because he was worried that it might be gone when they returned from break. But, he realized that they are "more than just a passing opportunity," even if Knoll will suffer while Felicity is in the same city with Ben for a month, and that whatever they are, he loves it, and they can figure it out in January. Felicity smiles and kisses Knoll. She breaks off and asks how the Great Expectations essay went. Knoll says he feels good about it, and that in that respect, the smart powder worked. He tells Felicity that he'll see her year. I think I have mentioned in another recap that I hate when people say that, like, a week before the New Year. It's such a lame joke. Knoll walks away, and Felicity touches her lips. Felicity voice-overs that it was a blur, and before she knew it, finals were over.
I hope you're ready for the shocking twist ending. Except not shocking at all at this point, since we know what happens. Anyway, Felicity calls Ben, who is sleeping when he answers the phone. Felicity asks whether he still wants to share a cab to the airport. Ben says that he's not going home for the break, and he's just going to hang out. Felicity looks disappointed, and after a long pause, says she'll see him when she gets back. Ben tells her to have fun, and hangs up.
Sally voice-overs that she has become a big believer in not defining every single thing, because it seems like every time you figure something out, it becomes something else. Ben hangs up the phone and snuggles back down into bed -- to Julie! Okay, but it was really shocking on first viewing. I totally didn't see it coming. Felicity carries her suitcases down the hall as Sally voice-overs that her first Christmas home from college was strange, because she was so excited to go home, but then when she got to her parents' house, she felt homesick. Man, there is nothing more obnoxious than a college freshman home on break for the first time. I remember when my older brother came home for the first time, and he was so mean, and I asked my mom what his deal was, and she just told me to ignore him, because all college freshmen are like that. And three years later, I acted exactly the same way. Felicity gets into the elevator as Sally voice-overs that she hopes everything works out for Felicity and Knoll, and she wishes them both a Merry Christmas. Aw. Even though it's only September when I write this, Happy Holidays to all my readers!