Top Alpha Vaughn and Beta Ellis secretly date, but Ellis refuses to go public for fear of being looked down on. Vaughn's father tries to buy Ellis off with a check, while Chase forges signatures and tampers with data to cause trouble. Vaughn repeatedly makes decisions for Ellis without asking, sparking several conflicts. Ellis insists on defending himself—reporting incidents, filing complaints, applying for programs—and earns a research fellowship on his own merit. The investigation reveals Vaughn was Ellis's childhood camp friend, and that Ellis's mother hid years of letters. After the truth surfaces, they separate for Chicago work and reunite, learning to "ask first instead of deciding for each other." In the end Ellis publicly acknowledges Vaughn at an awards ceremony, and the two propose to each other.
