Season One Episode One

The first episode of the Crumplebottom Academy series opens on the first day of a new school year.

## Main Plot

Holland Bollinger's best friend from science camp, Dora Capricciosa, is now Holland's classmate at Crumplebottom Academy, after skipping the 7th grade and transferring from St. Pleasant's School for Girls. Dora is really excited to go to a co-ed school for the first time, especially after creeping on classmate Mason Reynolds on Simstagram. In homeroom, Ms. Sun assigns Dora to be a tutor for Mason who is struggling in science. They plan to meet at The Barn, a local coffee shop, after school.

When Dora meets Mason at The Barn, he accidentally calls her Dory. When she teaches him about Punnet Squares, she realizes how dense he is, but that doesn't stop her from lusting over him. Mason doesn't seem to return her feelings, and even asks if they're in the same grade (despite them wearing the same grade 8 uniforms).

After her tutoring session, Dora goes over to Holland's apartment to work on their medieval history project. Dora begs Holland to give her advice, and she reluctantly gives in. Holland suggests to switch up the power dynamic by taking him somewhere new and telling him about her experience that summer at Foxbury Institute. She also suggests she wears the cute peasant shirt that makes her look like "a medieval peasant who’s about to go whale hunting to avenge your parents." Dora thinks it's funny that someone so pragmatic and against romance is giving out such good romance advice.

Dora meets Mason at a different cafe where they have a romantic view of the sunset. She casually works in her summer at Foxbury Institute, and Mason suggests he show her around the campus sometime. Dora is thrilled!

## Subplots

Arcadia Westfall is going to a mainstream school for the first time in her life, after transferring from the Oasis Springs School for the Deaf. She is excited to join the Junior Brute Force Robotics team, one of the best middle school robotics teams in SimNation! However, she's having a difficult time acclimating. Her fellow students have trouble understanding her, and her English teacher, Mr. Damara, is being less than accommodating. Her first day makes her anxious about robotics club, but once she gets in and meets her fellow teammates, she's fully in her element. The next day, however, Mr. Damara still won't face Arcadia when he's lecturing, so she could read his lips. They get into an argument, and Arcadia ends up telling Mr. Damara that he sucks, earning her a meeting with Headmaster Kirkland. At lunch time, Arcadia eats alone and text Holland about her fears of being kicked out of Crumplebottom Academy. Holland reassures her over text that the Brute Force team will have her back! At robotics club, Arcadia lets her teammates ask their burning questions about her deafness. After a tortuous weekend, Arcadia finally meets with Headmaster Kirkland, who her mom finds very handsome. He apologizes to Arcadia on behalf of Mr. Damara, and ensures that the rest of her educational experience will be more accommodating. Arcadia asks her mom if she could work at their cafe, the Neon Cafe in order to get more comfortable interacting with mainstream folks.

Mickey Mansfield dated Delphine Santagata all summer at Camp Granite Falls. But now that they're back at school, Delphine is embarrassed to be seen with him. On the first day at lunch, Delphine breaks up with him, citing his height and social standing as contributing factors. Mickey is crushed. In art class, Mickey asks his teacher Ms. Tidwell for advice, while Holland complains that her peers are obsessed with romance. Ms. Tidwell suggests that Mickey give Delphine space. Melbourne echoes this advice, mostly because he doesn't want to share his best friend Mickey with anyone else. After school, Mickey and Melbourne go to Kinglers to pick up some ingredients for dinner. While they're there, Delphine texts Mickey and rekindles their romance. They continue to text throughout dinner and all night after that. The next day, Delphine pulls Mickey aside and asks him to be her secret boyfriend. They end up smooching in the utility closet! Melbourne, who was initially relieved to hear that Delphine broke up with Mickey, is disappointed when Mickey reveals their secret affair at lunch time. At cheerleading practice, Delphine regrets her decision to date Mickey, even privately, when the other cheerleaders make fun of her "8th grade stalker".

## Quotes

* "You’re not allowed to be this excited before 8am." - Holland (to Dora)
* "Did you shower this morning? You smell like eggs." - Melbourne
 "Yeah I showered, but then I ate eggs." - Mickey
* "Whoa, you're almost done!" - Dora (to Holland about their medieval project)
 "I couldn’t help myself. I love the medieval era. The clothes, the architecture, the rogue carnivorous whales…" - Holland
* "Maybe he’s matured since then. You know how men mature slower than women." - Clover (about Mickey)
 "Don’t I know it, sister." - Casper

## Trivia

* This is the first episode of the entire Crumplebottom Academy series!
* This episode features the first kiss of the series, between Mickey and Delphine.
* Holland references carnivorous whales and whale hunting to avenge one's parents, a reference to the Whales Ate my Parents trait in The Sims Medieval.
* This episode also features the first breakup of the series, also between Mickey and Delphine.