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Spencer has an unexpectedly bad night after her first day back at school and at 3 a.m. she finds herself hunched on the bathroom floor in a cold sweat, vomiting into the porcelain bowl. Her breathing is laboured and tears trickle down her cheek as she tries to clear her mind of the nightmare that had her in its grip just a few minutes ago. It was bad, probably the worst yet, Ian returning to rape her again, this time making Toby watch and Spencer can't seem to get the image of his evil, twisted face out of her overtired mind. She sits up, her clammy body leaning against the bath tub as she rests her head on the cool tile of the bathroom wall. Times like these she just feels like giving up, like maybe the rest of her life is going to be spent hiding on the bathroom floor. But ever since the day she came to visit Spencer, Ashley Marin's voice has been in the back of her mind, telling her over and over again that she can't let him win and so she drags her weary body back to bed, where she immerses herself in the world of "To Kill A Mockingbird" until the sun comes up.
She gets up shortly after six and is glad to find that her mom is still in bed. She has been under a lot of pressure too and Spencer wants her to get as much sleep as possible. Sitting at the kitchen island, Spencer opens her physics book and tries to catch up on what she's missed and that's exactly how her mom finds her two hours later, up to her elbows in text books and study sheets. Looking up, Spencer notes the concern on her mother's face and moves to join her mom in having breakfast. They both opt for a bowl of porridge and some fruit and Veronica smiles at how much her and her daughter are alike. She worries however, that Spencer might have also inherited her tendency to work through her problems on her own and while that has never done her any real damage, she has never faced a trauma like Spencer is enduring and so she wishes her little girl would let someone in. Veronica offers to drop Spencer off at school but is surprised to hear that Toby is bringing her instead. She notices her daughter looks really tired this morning but just as she is about to ask the younger girl if she'd not been sleeping well, a knock at the door interrupts her thoughts.
Spencer still jumps at the sound of the door but moves towards it, plastering a fake smile on her sickly face before opening the door and allowing Toby inside. He moves awkwardly into the kitchen, not quite sure how to greet his girlfriend so she initiates the conversation, acting like nothing had ever happened as she rushes him out the door so she's not late for school. The whole ride to school, Spencer quizzes Toby about his new job with the local building contractor, eager to keep the focus away from her fragile mental and physical health. He is unnerved by her overly cheery attitude and as she's about to hop out of the car, he gently questions her behaviour, saying she doesn't need to pretend with him but Spencer is quick to put up her defences and she angrily insists that she is fine before storming off at the sound of the school bell.
Spencer spends the rest of the day on edge, snapping at anyone who questions her wellness and moving sluggishly from class to class, not being able to focus on anything but thoughts of Toby and how their relationship would never be the same again. Towards the end of the day, she is so exhausted she actually falls asleep in class, something that Spencer never thought she would do. She is so embarrassed when Emily gently shakes her and she wakes to finds that the lesson is over and just the girls and Mrs Montgomery remain, that she rushes off to the bathroom and breaks down in tears. Waiting until after she hears the last bell of the day, she calms herself and returns to the room to collect her bag and books, not entirely surprised to find Mrs Montgomery sitting at her desk. Eager to avoid the pitying looks and understanding her teacher is sure to offer, Spencer moves to quickly grab her stuff but is stalled by a gentle, comforting hand on her shoulder. Looking up she offers Ella a grateful smile and is thankful when she is allowed to leave without the concerned lecture she had been expecting. Oblivious to the worried teacher left inside, pondering ringing Spencer's parents, she is grateful to see Emily in the car park waiting to give her a ride home.
On arriving home, Spencer is agitated to find her mom waiting for her in the kitchen and prays that if she has news about Ian that it is good. However, her mom gingerly explains that Mrs Montgomery gave her a call because she was worried and Spencer feels her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She has been trying so hard to act normal, so her mom won't worry and is reluctant to tell her the truth. Veronica however, is insistent that Spencer tell her what's been going on and so she sadly admits that she fell asleep at school and has been having trouble focusing. Wrapping her daughter in a hug, Veronica reassures her that it will all get better in time and to Spencer's surprise she says that she understands if her grades aren't the best, all that matters is that she is ok. Spencer hugs her mom tighter and to both their surprises she starts sobbing into her shoulder, soaking up all the comfort she can get from her mother. Once again however, they are interrupted by the door, this time a key turning in the lock, and Spencer lifts her head off her mom's shoulder shocked to see her dad returning from the city and a sheepish looking Melissa by his side.