Hearing. Rooks is telling the panel how the accusation has ruined him. Veronica enters. A lot of posters couldn't believe that the hearing would be an open affair; It strikes me as odd too, but I have to admit I don't know that's not how it's done. I'm in the strange and unfamiliar place of actually trusting the writing team. I'm not sure I like it. Prompted to speculate on why Carrie would make a false allegation, Rooks says that she's a B student, and she made it very clear she wanted an A, but "the work just didn't merit it." Carrie rolls her eyes, knowing that her "work" has always been stellar. Carrie then tells the panel that her dad left her mom the year before, and Rooks started giving her rides. I don't know why the phrase "who's your Daddy" would possibly have entered my mind just now. Nevertheless, there it is. Carrie adds that Rooks told her they had a lot in common, since they'd both been abandoned by people they thought loved them. Then their relationship turned sexual, and when she told him she might be pregnant, he blew her off. She saw him flirting with other girls, and figured that's just what he does: "I couldn't let him get away with it again." The (female) chairman of the panel asks if Carrie has any proof. She says he sent her text messages all the time, and she reads some of them, which are of a prurient nature. Rooks subtly looks like he recognizes the messages, and I have to give props to the direction in this entire episode. Carrie gives the phone to the chairman, who points out that the messages are addressed to "S.K." After the slightest hesitation, Carrie says he called her "Sweet Knees," because he always wanted her to wear knee socks. Um, ew. Although if she made that up on the spot, her extemporaneous speaking isn't too shabby. The chairman points out that there's no proof Rooks sent those messages, but Carrie instructs her to hit the callback button. She complies, and Rooks's phone goes off. It's set to vibrate. That's not much of a surprise. The chairman looks chagrined. Thinking quickly, Veronica asks VP Clemmons if she can borrow his phone. He reluctantly hands it over. Cut to Veronica entering something into it.

Back inside, Clemmons testifies as to how popular Rooks is. He retakes his seat, Veronica handing him back his phone on the way. Veronica whispers something in Rooks's ear. I know you want to help, Veronica, but given the circumstances, there's just the teeniest chance that that action might be misconstrued. Rooks rises and asks the chairman to check the messages on her own cell. She has three new texts, which read, "True Pirates share their booty," "I'll be your little spoon," and finally, "Vice Principals make the best lovers." Hee hee. Veronica smirks to herself as Clemmons strokes his head all, "My father told me to go into investment banking." Rooks asks the chairman to push the callback button, which she does, and Clemmons's cell rings. Rooks notes that it's easy to create false text messages on cell phones. I'll have to keep that in mind next time I get really annoyed with my ex-boyfriend.