Better Than the Movies

Liz jogs to the cemetery, furious at Wes for his apparent rejection and regretful for her lies to Joss. She is shocked to find Helena at her mother’s grave. Helena tells Liz that bonding with her will not erase her mother, and again Liz lashes out. She resents Helena for being there and trying to talk to her, and races back home where she runs into Wes.

She thanks him for his help with Michael and insults him by claiming Michael is more of a hero than he is. He angrily informs Liz of his plan to ask Alex to prom. He also tells Liz that her worshipping of rom-coms and idealized versions of her mother is hurting her. He claims she should just be who she is instead of trying to live up to what she believes her mother’s expectations would be. Liz cries and bitterly tells him to forget everything that has happened between them. That night, Liz falls asleep listening to emotional music and dreams of her mother.

As she gets ready for prom, Liz tries to get excited for an evening with Michael but cannot stop thinking of Wes. She and Michael have dinner before the dance, during which Michael reveals that he almost asked Laney to prom but was too afraid of rejection.