At Java Underground Ben and Isaac put up a banner announcing their new "College Night" as Bonnie counted down in French in anticipation of her trip to New York. Isaac told Bonnie to have a good time, and Ben was surprised by Isaac's civility to Bonnie. Isaac explained that she'd kissed him. Bonnie had "the hots for" him. Ben wondered if Isaac felt the same.

Jennifer went to meet Bonnie at Java Underground, where a car was picking them up for their trip. Adam arrived and wished Jennifer good luck. Abigail and some college girls entered and announced that Abigail had won the award for best documentary, a true accomplishment, since she was only a freshman. Adam and Abigail saw each other across the room. Adam told Jennifer that he and Abigail had handed in separate versions of the project they were supposed to have been working on together. He explained that Nick Scutter had helped Abigail with hers.

Jen went over to Abigail and congratulated her. Jen said she was very happy about New York and didn't know if she'd return. Abigail told Jen to return for her and Billy. Jen said Billy wanted to start dating, but it was hard and confusing. Abigail told Jen that running away to New York was not a solution because when people ran away from problems, the problems caught up with them. She stopped in mid sentence when she talked about the abandoned warehouse where she'd first met Bryant. They hugged and said goodbye.

Adam started to leave, but Abigail called out to him. They talked, and she told Adam that he was jealous of Nick and was tired of defending him. Adam felt that Nick "got in the middle of a good thing we had." Abigail left, holding her award. One of the college girls that had entered with Abigail walked over to Adam. She was a senior, but they were in the same class. They talked about Abigail and the girl's ex-boyfriend. She gave Adam her phone number and invited him to a party. He said he had to go, and as he left, he looked at the number, smiled, and mouthed, "Wow!"

Bonnie and Jessica said goodbye. Jessica couldn't believe that her daughter was all grown up and told her that when she saw her daughter in a magazine, she would be very proud of her. They hugged, and Bonnie and Jen were off. Jessica sighed from having to deal with her difficult daughter. Jessica and Ben talked about Bonnie. She admitted that Bonnie "gets to you -- she pushes like crazy."

Ben started asking questions about Bonnie, and Jessica figured that Isaac wanted to know. She said she couldn't picture Bonnie and Isaac together, and the reservations were about her daughter, not Isaac. She worried that her daughter had lived such a fantasy life and that Bonnie would never think anyone was good enough for her. Jessica felt horrible for feeling that way, but Ben reassured her that she was honest and perceptive, not a horrible mother. Ben said people didn't know how to share their lives.

Jessica's beeper went off, and she left. Isaac walked over, and Ben said Isaac should forget about Bonnie. She was too high maintenance, and she made him nervous. Isaac disagreed with Ben and insisted he was not nervous, even though he'd dried the same glass three times.

As Carly packed for New York, Molly talked about Nick and told Carly there was no need for him to be friends with Abigail. Molly trusted her daughter, but she remembered what it had been like to be eighteen. Molly said Jake knew about her past relationship with Nick and how he'd set her up to go to prison, but she couldn't tell Abigail. As Carly finished packing, Molly told her cousin that the next stop was "Carly Tenney Originals."

Molly could see that Carly was nervous. Carly explained that it was because Jack had a feeling that something really bad was going to happen to her. It was "a gut thing," and it involved James Stenbeck. Carly wondered, "What if Jack's right? " She couldn't help thinking about it. Molly got upset and started unpacking Carly's suitcase. She told her not to do the fashion show.

Carly said she had to do the show because she finally had enough money for food and for a normal life with Parker. She was doing the New York show not only to make a name for herself but also because it was her only chance to make a good life for Parker. Carly told Molly that she wouldn't run away from a bright future, especially if it was for her daughter, so Molly agreed that Carly should go to New York but made her promise to call twice a day. Molly said she was very proud of Carly.

Paul said goodbye to Barbara and told her that once again, BRO would be back on top. Barbara said she was angry that he'd hired Jen without talking to her, but she apologized for her reaction. She asked him if there was anything else she needed to know. Paul told his mother that everything he had done since he had been back in town had been for her. Barbara said, "A lie told with the best intentions is still a lie." Paul agreed and said they'd both learned that from his father.

Paul and Jack talked about the missing dress and how James had been at the auditions. Paul told Jack he'd made it seem like Craig had been responsible as a way to throw his mother off. Jack said Paul should protect his family and cancel the show. Paul said it was not an option because he and Carly had worked too hard for it, and it was the last chance to keep BRO afloat and return a successful company to his mother.

Paul hired Jack to watch Barbara when Paul left town. He said it was to protect his mother from his father. Jack said Carly could be walking into a setup, but Paul said he already had a security firm at the hotel in New York. Paul needed Jack to stay with Barbara because he had become a part of it ever since the night at the boathouse. Jack flashed to the time at the gazebo when he'd told Barbara that James was back in town.

Jack agreed with Paul, "Maybe I am the only man for the job." Of course, Barbara wasn't to know about it. Jack agreed and said Paul had better make sure nothing happened to Carly in New York or he would give Paul something to be afraid of.

Jack went to Carly's apartment. They discussed the missing dress and how James had been at the auditions, stolen the dress, and sent it to Barbara. Luckily, Paul had covered, and Barbara didn't know it was Carly's design. Jack said he had stopped over to wish Carly luck, and Carly told Jack how excited she was that her designs would be in the New York show. She said it meant a lot to her that Jack believed in her.

Jack told Carly that Paul had arranged security for her in New York and that Jack would be watching Barbara there. That way, they would know where she stood. Jack said he didn't mean to frighten Carly, but if it made her cautious, then he would do it again. Carly said she knew him well and understood that he wanted to stay behind and secure her apartment. As Carly left, Jack said, "Watch your back." "I always do," said Carly.

Barbara was alone in the house when James showed up. He told Barbara that she didn't see the deception. He said her instincts had also been damaged. James said he'd thought the dress would have given her the message and that the only person she thought she could trust had deceived her. Barbara told him to leave or else she would call the police.

James continued antagonizing Barbara and told her that her designs had never made it into production. She said she'd call Paul because he was her support, and he understood. James said that someone else had taken over the designs. When he asked Barbara who she thought that would be, Barbara guessed Carly.

At the TV station, Nick talked on the phone with "the stranger." He said, "Molly's kid will play right into my hands...she'll come to me." At that moment, Abigail walked in, and Nick said he had been thinking about her. She showed him her award, and he said he was proud of her, but she still shouldn't be there. Abigail thought Molly had talked to him but then realized Jake was the one who had put pressure on Nick to protect Abigail. She felt no one trusted her -- not Molly, Jake, or Adam -- and she asked Nick what the big secret was that everyone knew but her.

Nick said he cared for Abigail more than he should, and that was probably what everyone was worried about. He said he was an ex-con and too old for her, but Abigail said she felt inspired and important because of him. She said he was more than a friend, and she wouldn't let him walk out without a fight. She couldn't walk away from him. Nick dramatically told Abigail to go away, that "this can't be happening." Then, they kissed. Nick said they couldn't kiss again. He walked out of the room, closed the door, and said, "Like taking candy from a baby."

In New York, Carly and Paul were at the hotel. Carly asked, "What if something goes wrong?" Paul told her to relax. He had taken care of the dress, and Barbara had believed him. Paul felt everything would work out, and everyone would be winners. Bonnie and Jen arrived at BRO in New York. They were excited and commented how nice it was to be in the city and nowhere near Billy. Bonnie left to look for a stylist. Jen looked at a picture of her mother on the wall. Then, she turned around and saw Billy.