 Bridgett Faulkner and Joel Bascomb reluctantly accept their prizes donated by Carlos Ramirez as the top students at the convent, the award being a day out on the town and dinner at the Captains Table. For bookwormish, self-consciously Plain-Janish and headstrong Bridgett, it is a day of frivolity that she cannot afford to take as it will take away from study time. Joel follows Bridgett s every move, as he idolizes her. On the day out, Bridgett eventually falls under Carlos  spell, Carlos who was only trying to be nice. Bridgett changes her focus from her school work to making herself look beautiful for Carlos. Joel on the other hand is jealous. Out of concern and out of jealousy, he tells Sister Bertrille what Bridgett is up to. The sister and Carlos figure that he needs to tell Bridgett directly that he is only her friend and could be nothing more, but is late in doing so and Bridgett explodes when she catches Carlos romantically with another woman. Despite Bridgett s anger, Sister Bertrille convinces Joel that he should tell Bridgett how he really feels about her. He does and the reality of more appropriate puppy love comes to light.