Nathan must choose which parent to live with after Dan and Deb's divorce. Dan forces Nathan to make the decision by threatening to reveal Deb's darkest secrets in court unless Nathan chooses him. Meanwhile, Lucas meets a beautiful stranger who challenges his perceptions of life since Lucas' car accident.

Lucas, Nathan and Jake are auctioned off to the highest bidder in the annual "Boy Toy" charity auction and the night leads to surprising developments with old flames. Meanwhile, having missed out on the auction, Brooke ends up with Mouth and gives him the night of his life.

Lucas believed he saw more then an auction slave's duty when Nathan kissed Peyton, but confronted Nathan is convincingly indignant. Brooke and a test kit tell Lucas they're expecting a baby. Jake still refuses Nikki any part in Jenny's life. Nathan tells Haley he doesn't understand she won't share his bed but tattooed his jersey number on her backside. After 15 years Keith proposes to Karen, who 'isn't ready', and decides to leave. Dan tells Lucas not to let Brooke ruin his life as Karen did by having him; and bursts in at Nathan's to tell him the beach-house will be waiting 'when' he hits rock bottom.

Keith has a solicitation as auto-shop teacher in a Charleston school; Lucas is heartbroken his surrogate father may move that far away. Haley and Nathan finally feel cozy living together, but when Dan finds out he sold the car he gave his poor son, he demands the money it fetched unless he moves in with him again- so the kid chooses to stay poor and takes a lousy job serving food in the mall, where a kid he never even noticed in his history class is now the sports heroes' vindictive boss- one visit by Dan convinces even him to go easy on the long-envied golden boy whose silver spoon came at such a price, so he won't miss his own housewarming party. When he gets there, Mouths music and Nikki literally fighting with Peyton have alerted the police, so Dan -who just got in bed with Deb- gets a call from the sheriff to bail him out.

The knowledge that Dan actually requested joint custody over Lucas but was turned away by Karen makes Keith doubt her and the Scott boys, who now train together as friends, how their lives would have been growing up as brothers. Peyton and Brooke lose Jake's baby daughter Jenny in the mall, and find Nikki picked her up. Haley is furious when she finds porn sites on Nathans computer, even though everybody else considers cyber-sex innocent fun, no competition for her. Since coach Whitey must have an operation, Dan manages -to his fury- to be made Ravens coach for one match, and works the boys like a penal company. Jake thinks he'll lose a custody battle against Nikki, so he considers moving to family in Savannah and gets Peytons support. Lucas comes to a decision which worries both Karen and Keith.

Lucas and Nathan bear the brunt of Dan's abuse as he coaches them into the playoffs, pushing both of them to their breaking points. Haley is stunned after Dan threatens her, causing her to reconsider her relationship with Nathan. Meanwhile, Whitey learns that his medical condition may be more serious than he first expected, and Dan learns a shocking secret from Deb.

Brooke is high: she's about to be installed as school president and her dad should get another well-paid job. Nathan, still drinking, is livid after a call from Haley she'll be on TV, refuses to go to Keiths wedding, gets no sympathy from coach -who even rats out his fake ID in the liquor store- and drives Deb to abuse pain killers, as Lucas soon finds out. Andy thinks Karen can get Lucas back now his detective found Dan pays all expenses for some Emily Chambers. Chris makes it appear on national TV as if he and Haley are a couple. Best man Lucas takes Brooke, Jake and Peyton are late as they are too horny, Nathan turns up drunk and cursing outside the church. When Andy learns Jules is Emily, Karen asks and guesses what Dan pays her for- Jules runs off, only Dan triumphs. While Nathan burns his memories of Haley, Deb tells him to go get her back. Brookes dad got the job- but must move to California next week...

Niki turns up with a court decision in absentia awarding her custody of Jenny- Andy offers Jake legal help as fleeing is losing. Lucas goes to his ma now the truth is out but decides to stay with Dan as he considers himself the enemy's only weak spot. Keith feels betrayed by everyone; Dan can't resist gloriously admitting having set him up and is physically assaulted. Brooke dreads her impeding departure and realizes she may stay with a friend; Peyton is willing, but her parents refuse. Anna turns Felix in to the principal for writing dike on Peyton's locker, with disastrous results: he is dumped by Brooke, his parents send him to military school, and Anna even blames him for not knowing she's the lesbian. Nathan drives to where Haley tours, pours out his heart ready to do everything for their marriage, but only hears she wasn't ready and right now the show comes first, so he returns. Lucas makes Brookes year: Karen and he take her in. Keith leaves, anywhere and maybe forever.

Lucas and Peyton hide Jake and Jenny at Nathan's place while he chases Haley. Lucas finds Dan's secret hiding place for cash and a secret ledger; when he and Andy come to get it at night, all is gone. Anna's former lover Darby turns up; she ends up coming clean to her parents, who still love her, but returns to boarding school. Nathan accepts an invitation to spend the night at the bar where Taylor works; they drink heavily and participate in the bar dancing show. Niki claims Jenny isn't Jake's biologically. Brooke stays late at a party without permission, misses her shift in the café, and learns to pay her debts and her dues chore-wise. Jake won't hear reason from his lawyer and chooses jail over handing over Jenny to irresponsible Niki, even if that's his best chance to get her back in a few months.

The class's last essay assignment is about what they lost during the year, which sets some thinking. Karen attacks Dan when she learns he tries to get Andy deported; Andy cleverly trick him to check the black books hiding place. Jake has high hopes to get Jenny back now his attorney found Nikki lied under oath about attending college; but the day before, Nikki visits him to show she found Jenny already... Coach encourages Nathan to go to Highflyers, as he has grown in character enough, but Dan claims his ma Deb will collapse again if he leaves after her return. Karens club TRIC fills for Jimmy Eat World. Lucas and Brooke visit New York for an overnight stay with Haley; Chris says they never had sex, but she refuses to give up her musical life. Jake tells Peyton to forget him as his quest for Jenny looks desperate.