It's the start of the school year. For their upcoming anniversary, penniless Spinner wants to get the perfect present for Paige. His idea: get her the perfect locker, since the one she has been assigned she considers in purgatory. In Spinner's mind, Hazel has the perfect locker, but it will take some swift maneuvering to get Hazel to give it up. Emma has thoughts other than school on her mind. With Spike almost ready to give birth and with Spike and Snake's recent marriage, Emma has been thinking about her biological father, Shane McKay. Spike has told Emma nothing about Shane, except that she wants Emma to have nothing to do with him as he deserted them. All Emma vaguely remembers is meeting Shane once in a hospital when she was three years old, Emma remembering that Shane was wearing a doctor's uniform. Emma does whatever she needs to to locate Shane and know her biological dad.

Things are pretty hot between Craig and Ashley, but he's disappointed that she keeps pulling back from going all the way.

Emma decides it's time to move on in matters of the heart when she realizes she has feelings for new kid Chris.

Emma becomes obsessed with getting Sean busted when she suspects he and his gang are stealing things from Degrassi. Paige, Spinner, and Jimmy enroll in a driver's education class and Paige develops a crush on their instructor.

Manny and Craig's pregnancy is outed by the furious Ashley to the whole school during lunch. Their failed practice to take care of Spike's baby convinces Manny, but not Craig, that, at 14, she is not ready for motherhood.

The year-end Junior Formal is fast approaching, and Marco is in charge, except when it comes to a date. Problem is, Marco's too nervous to ask Dylan out at all, let alone ask him to the prom.

The end of the year dance has arrived at last! Jimmy wants everything to be perfect for Hazel but nothing goes as planned. Sean's guilt gets the best of him and he confesses to stealing Mr. Simpson's laptop. Earning Mr. Simpson's forgiveness, however, is going to take much longer than Sean anticipated.

Marco faces unexpected hurdles in the race for Student Council President when his opponent Alex threatens to out him to the entire school at the election assembly. Meanwhile, Liberty and Emma have a confrontation of their own when Liberty starts spending time with Emma's ex, Chris.

Rick returns to Degrassi, professing to be a changed man. Everyone is suspicious Rick might hurt another girl the way he hurt Terri so a plan develops to run Rick out of Degrassi for good. J.T. is frustrated with his relationship with Manny because they have barely even kissed yet. When a mishap leads to Manny seeing J.T. naked, J.T. begins to wonder whether their lack of physical contact is because he can't measure up to Manny's expectations.

Paige and Matt Oleander desperately try to keep their relationship a secret but it seems to be an impossible mission when Mr. Simpson spies them together at the park and Manny spreads rumors about them to Hazel. Emma has a ladies night and all her girlfriends are head over heals for Emma's new neighbor, Chester.