Just A Friend

**"Just A Friend"** is the eighth episode of the first season of *All American: Homecoming*. It first aired on April 18, 2022.

## Synopsis

**EVOLVING RELATIONSHIPS** - When Damon goes home for a quick trip to get answers from his father about his adoption, Simone drops everything to be his support system. Thea and Nathaniel immerse themselves in sorority life by helping with the gala, but they discover sorority politics are no joke. JR knows what he wants now and is ready to fight for it and Keisha helps push Cam out of his comfort zone. Meanwhile, Amara fights for her job as a video of her criticizing Bringston surfaces.

## Plot

The sorority gala is approaching, with tickets being sold in the girls dorms. Nate and Keisha are volunteering to earn respect from the sororities. Nat wants to pledge to an inclusive-centric sorority, which is accepting non-binary pledges. Jordan reminds Simone of their virtual date that evening, which she completely forgot about. Meanwhile, Thea is mainly looking for new friends at the sororities.

JR approaches Marcus about returning to the team, but Marcus is adamant that he needs to approval of his fellow teammates before he can return. Simone finds Damon in his dorm packing, as he's going to Chicago to ask his father for answers about his biological family, since the DNA test confirmed he and JR aren't brothers. He's not sure what he's hoping for but needs answers. She offers to join him on the trip and he agrees.

Amara faces backlash from the edited video of her saying she loathes the university. Principal Zeke reprimands her as many parents, students, donators, and board members are contacting him. There's a haring to discuss her role at the university, with her attendance not required. She doesn't want to be shut out when she hasn't done anything wrong. The meeting is that afternoon.

Gabrielle approaches Keisha to compliment her video. However, she's looking for Cam, so Keisha and Nate send her to the cafeteria. Cam emerges and admits that Gabrielle runs the acapella group on campus, the ATLs, and wants him to join. He's uninterested as she's an athlete not a performing artist.

Once in Chicago, Keena warns Damon not to upset his father, as he's having a fragile day. As Damon goes to speak with his father, Keena tries to talk with Simone to get to know her better. Damon talks to his father, Xavier who believes Damon is Xavier's brother George. Damon clarifies he wants to know about Damon's adoption to get to know his nephew better. Xavier starts telling a story about going to work when a fire hydrant burst. Damon's attempts to keep him on-track frustrate them both until Xavier begins lashing out, not believing that George is dead. Keena rushes in and manages to calm Xavier while Simone comforts Damon. They decide to stay the night instead of trying to fly back.

Nate and Thea get their assignments from the woman in charge. Thea is looking to branch out her social circle to make new friends, which is the same reason Nate's there. They talk and then converse with a legacy who takes an interest in both girls. When the evenings bachelor drops out, Nate deduces that she knows the perfect guy.

Simone and Damon settle their sleeping arrangements. When she goes up to get ready, Keena reprimands Damon for upsetting Xavier. He can't believe his dads gotten this much worse. She admits that she can handle his care now but has been looking into memory facilities. He's upset that she didn't tell him, but he's had a lot on his plate and taking care of Xavier is her job, not his. He decides to give up on his search as they are the best parents he could ever ask for. They hug as they both become emotional.

JR approaches the team to apologize, but they demand more of an explanation for leaving them. Until he can offer more, they aren't interested in having him back.

The next day, Nate asks Damon to fill-in for the bachelor who dropped out. He reluctantly agrees since it's for a good cause. Once alone, Nate confronts Simone about her late night with Damon, but she insists it wasn't anything bad. Nate suggests that Simone check-in with Amara.

The hearing went well as one of her students filmed the full summit so she played the unedited footage for the board. She's still waiting to face disciplinary action for holding an authorized event. Simone answers a call from Jordan but dismisses him as she's with Amara. She hangs up before he can say goodbye. Amara confronts her about the shady behavior.

Simone opens up to Keisha about avoiding Jordan so she doesn't have to tell him she went to Chicago. He's been dodging her calls so Keisha surmises that he might just have poor reception. She suggests a trip to see him with fancy lingerie. The catering department is looking for waitstaff so she can work there to pad her pockets.

Thea and Nate gush over their outfits for the gala. Nate meets the VP of the sorority. Damon and JR learn the steps for the gala dance as Keisha and Cam monitor. Simone go the catering gig so she'll be able to pay for the tickets soon enough. Damon and JR get water when an ex tries to ask JR about his family issues, but he brushes her off rudely. He explains to Damon that she cheated on him with someone who was supposed to be just a friend. Damon shows JR a flyer of Cam that is everywhere.

Keisha confronts Cam about the flyers that say "Attention Cam Watkins" all over them. He needs to tell her if he's interested in joining her group or not. He's there on a football scholarship, injury or not, he has to show a commitment. He brushes off her remarks as he wants to get back to practicing the dances. Damon is about to join the practice when he gets a call from Keena. He finds Simone to tell her that his dad is being admitted to the hospital but he doesn't know why. He worries it's his fault for getting him upset. She comforts him as it's not his fault. The share a close moment.

JR talks to Marcus about the team, who are unwavering in their position to keep him off the team. Marcus wants him to take accountability for his actions by admitting to them why he quit. If it's pride, he can't let that keep him form the thing that he loves.

Simone tells Keisha that Damon is late for practice as he's had a rough day. Keisha scolds her for being too focused on Damon instead of her relationship with Jordan. Emotional cheating is a thing, and she's not trying to judge, but Simone needs to be honest with herself.

Zeke tells Amara that the board found her innocent of any charges. He apologizes for not being more supportive of her. She invites him to stay for a drink.

Simone waits the gala in an outfit that was "fairy godmothered" by Nate. Damon asks her to save him a dance before she turns back into a pumpkin. JR calls Damon on stage for the bachelor event. The sorority is raising money and the generous donor for the charity of the bachelors choice wins a date with Damon Sims. Damon admits he's raising money for Alzheimer's research and shares his fathers diagnosis story. The bidding changes to donations as they can't compete with the raised bidding price, but want to contribute. Cam is next on the roster and is raising money for The King Crenshaw Boy's Club. Gabrielle wins the date with him.

Gabrielle and Cam talk about the bidding as he can't avoid her now. They decide to go on their date now, which is actually an acapella meeting where he sings with the group.

JR talks to the team and admits that he didn't abandon them. He did things he wasn't proud of and had to accept help from others by letting them in. He tells them the truth about Damon's adoption, the potential relation, his parents divorce, and the downward spiral that ensued. Damon supports his advocate for being back on the team. The team cheers over being brothers.

The sorority girls gossip over Nate filling their quota and squashing Nikki's threats that they aren't LGBTQ-friendly. Nate overhears and takes back control; she's not interested in being anybody's optic or quota. She withdraws her interest as they would have been luck to have her.

Damon talks to Simone as he came back to the party for their dance. She plays a song on her phone and they dance together. He thanks her for everything she's done for him in the past few days, as he wouldn't have gotten through it without her. It was her pleasure and she knows he would do the same for her. He spins her and they nearly kiss until she pulls away as she needs space. She runs off as he calls after her.

Nate and Thea eat ice cream on the couch to drown their sorrows. A sorority sister arrives to apologize as Margo was wrong earlier. Margo is graduating next semester and taking her toxicity with her. She thinks both of them would be a great addition to Pisa Kappa Zeta, and hopes they'll think about it. When she leaves, Nate and Thea critique PKZ holding an auction at an HBCU which isn't a good look. Nate doesn't know why she keeps wanting to be accepted by a group like that when it's time for her to blaze her own trail. Thea assures her that it's dumb; they all want validation but PKZ is not the place to find it. At least the found the sisterhood they were looking for in each other.

Cam tells Keisha he's joining the ATLs after all, and she's happy for him. She's also glad that the friendship part of their arrangement is still there even if the benefits part isn't. She offers to help him celebrate with a movie or foosball, but he has plans with Gabrielle.

Keena calls Damon as his father is awake and asking for his son. Meanwhile, Simone finally gets in touch with Jordan. She apologizes for blowing him off that weekend and making a mess of things. She wants him to come see her so they can see each other. Damon video chats with Xavier who admits that the day the fire hydrant burst he took a different route and ended up at a different coffee shop where he met the most beautiful woman. Her name was Celine. Damon wonders if it's Celine Raymond, JR's mom. Xavier smiles as he greets Damon as George. Damon goes to Simone's dorm when he overhears her telling Jordan she loves him.

Amara and Zeke talk as they laugh over drinks and food at her house. His phone buzzes with a mugshot of Amara. He asks if that's fake too, but she admits it's real.

## Cast

### Starring

* Geffri Maya as Simone Hicks
* Peyton Alex Smith as Damon Sims
* Cory Hardrict as Coach Marcus Turner
* Kelly Jenrette as Amara Patterson
* Sylvester Powell as Jessie Raymond
* Netta Walker as Keisha McCalla
* Camille Hyde as Thea Mays
* Mitchell Edwards as Cam Watkins

### Guest Starring

* Renee Harrison as Aqueelah
* Lauren Chanel as Margo
* Derek Rivera as Santiago Reyes

### Co-Starring

* Sebastian Armani as Cole Higgins
* Johne Y. Lucas as Student #2
* Kendyl Powell as Student #3

## Trivia

* This episode's title originated from the song "Just A Friend", originally sung by Biz Markie.

## References

1. ↑ *All American: Homecoming*: Season One Ratings
2. ↑ Episodes - ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING on The CW | Stvplus.com
3. ↑ Listings - ALL AMERICAN: HOMECOMING on The CW | TheFutonCritic.com