Zoey Brooks and her younger brother, Dustin are new students at Pacific Coast Academy (PCA), an elite boarding school in California. While there, Zoey meets Chase Matthews, a friendly guy with high hopes of getting a girlfriend. Chase leads Zoey to her dorm, where she meets Nicole Bristow, a savvy girl who is easily attracted to hot boys, and Dana Cruz, a tomboy who does not accept diversity. A boy named Logan Reese challenges the girls to a basketball match. Logan picks his team, which includes Chase and Michael Barrett, another friendly guy who is willing to accept a challenge. Zoey chooses her team, which includes Nicole, Dana, and Quinn Pensky, a meddlesome scientist who is always inventing wacky items. The girls lose the basketball game by one point, prompting Logan to tease them. The coach of the basketball team then asks Zoey and Dana if they want to join the basketball team because they helped the most. Zoey accepts, while Dana says she will "think about it."

Zoey is offered a chance to move to London with her parents.