Starting off as best friends, Char and Jazz struggle to process and admit their feelings for each other while also trying to admit them to themselves. However, when Char tries to make everyone happy and hesitates to reveal her true feelings, miscommunication becomes rampant and leaves the two questioning if they are meant to be. They have to figure out how to process the changes occurring in this turning point of their lives and accept what will happen to their relationship as they grow and change.
The musical opens with Jazz and Char meeting at a coffee shop before school, discussing their expectations for life. Char admits to the audience that she's in love with her best friend, setting the tone for the story. At school, Char’s group of nerds and Jazz’s volleyball teammates express their anxieties about the future and fears about making it though their “sophomore slump.” In chemistry class, Char and Jazz engage in playful flirting using scientific pickup lines, though Char struggles with her feelings regarding the situation.
At lunch, Char sits with her friends, Will, Caleb, and Mickey, while Jazz hangs out with McKenna, Paige, and the volleyball team. The topic of Homecoming arises, and Paige insists that Jazz should attend, emphasizing how important the night is for sophomores. Char secretly hopes to go with Jazz, while Will supports the idea in pursuit of dates and fun. Caleb, however, can’t attend due to a robotics scholarship opportunity he’s pursuing.
Later, at Char’s house, she and Jazz discuss their Homecoming plans. Char leaves the room to tend to one of her siblings, leaving Caleb and Jazz alone. Caleb tells Jazz she’s "perfect," sparking a self-reflection about whether she can ever live up to that standard. The next day, Jazz is invited to go dress shopping with McKenna and Paige, and she tells them that she will be going to homecoming with Char as friends. McKenna asks about the sudden change, senses something is off, and reminds Jazz that as best friends they should tell each other everything.
Jazz later asks Char to join the shopping trip, and they decide to get matching outfits. Paige tries to convince Jazz of the importance of a perfect dress, date, and night. While shopping, Char sees Jazz in her homecoming dress for the first time, which intensifies her feelings of longing and heartache. She decides to confide in her brother, intending to reveal she has feelings for Jazz. However, Caleb admits he has a crush on Jazz first, leaving Char in turmoil. The act ends with Char and all of the others joining in while they question whether they can navigate their emotions and place in the world without sacrificing who they really want to be.
Char and Jazz begin planning for homecoming, but Jazz notices Char becomes distant from the conversation. When Jazz asks what’s wrong, Char admits she wishes Jazz could go with someone she really liked. Jazz hesitantly mentions that there is someone, describing them in a way that may seem to hint at Char, but Char interprets it as Jazz having a crush on Caleb. Jazz, unsure and heartbroken, doesn’t correct her. Char then rushes to tell Caleb and convinces him, with Will’s help, to skip his event to go to homecoming with Jazz as Will of course provides all types of absurd suggestions to ask her out. The next day, Caleb plans to ask Char out, but Mickey, knowing that Char obviously likes Jazz, urges her to ask first, saying she should do it for love. Char hesitates, and by the time she’s ready, Caleb has already asked Jazz out. Char, heartbroken, encourages Jazz to accept, believing it’s enough for her if Jazz and Caleb are happy together.
Later, Char gets ready with Mickey, who asks if she’s emotionally prepared for the night. Char brushes it off. As Jazz and McKenna get ready with the volleyball girls, Paige, excited about Jazz’s “real” date, begins to talk about all of the excitement and possibilities that homecoming will bring. At the dance, Char attends with Will as friends, but her focus is on Jazz. Will notices Char’s feelings and immediately teases her about it, questioning why Char let Jazz go with Caleb if she liked her. Char admits she would do anything to make Jazz happy, but when Will asks if she really seems happy, Char realizes she may have made a mistake. Char and Jazz both question how they got to this point and if they are truly meant to be, but when Caleb happily joins Char, she snaps at him for going with Jazz. Jazz, confused, questions Char’s feelings, and Char storms off. Jazz follows, resulting in an argument, bringing out their worst insecurities. The fallout leaves both upset, with Char unsure of how to fix things.
The following week, McKenna and Mickey step in. Mickey convinces Caleb to talk to Char about her feelings for Jazz. Caleb encourages Char to go after Jazz before it’s too late. Before one of Jazz’s volleyball games, Char confronts her in the locker room. In a tense conversation, Char initially lists everything she dislikes about Jazz, only for it to reveal everything she loves about her. When Jazz confesses her feelings as well, they both realize they only have until summer to figure things out, but are willing to try for love.
The show ends with a time skip to their freshman year of college, where all of the characters reflect on their growth. Although their plans are less than perfect, sometimes that’s as perfect as things are ever gonna get.
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