Not So Pure and Simple

Del slams the door at home, and his dad asks what’s wrong. Del explains most of the situation with Kiera and his fight with Shianne. Dad says they should all talk when Mom is home.

A few hours later, they call in Cressie via video chat for a family meeting. Cressie says she wants to make Del “enlightened.” She tells Del to press play on one of her YouTube videos, which she recently showed to Dad. In the video, Cressie shares an emotional story of how a boy at a party sexually assaulted her during her first week of college. He saw her flirting with another boy, cornered her outside the bathroom, and said she didn’t need another guy since he’d take care of her, then felt between her legs. Luckily, other students interrupted, and the guy stopped. Cressie explains that many women have stories like hers, and society needs to change; men must stop thinking they are entitled to a woman’s time, attention, or body.

Shocked, Del asks why Cressie didn’t tell them. She says she didn’t want to hurt him or Dad with the truth. Mom knew about Cressie’s assault right away and went to church for help with the stress. They explain that women are always in danger due to toxic men, but Del promises he’s not like Cressie’s attacker. They all believe him, but he needs to release his anger rather than force a relationship with Kiera. Dad even cries and admits he wrongfully influenced Del for years about sexuality and proper treatment of women.

Del goes to his room and cries, releasing his emotions about Kiera, his sister’s pain, and the family meeting. He wonders why Kiera doesn’t think he’s good enough.

Distressed after the family meeting, Del concentrates on work and school. Staying busy distracts him from Kiera and his other problems. While at work, Del has Sister Vanessa as a customer. She asks if he can take a break while she eats, so he sits with her. Vanessa explains Newsome is old school and harsh, and they need fresh ideas and perspectives from people like Del. She misses his input. Del is confused, but Vanessa swears she didn’t snitch on the trip to see Jaylan; she didn’t even see the Pledgers at Jaylan’s talk. Vanessa also says Kiera has been confiding in her, and she is sorry for his pain of unrequited love. Del is crushed that Sister Vanessa confirms he has no chance with Kiera.

Though Vanessa wants Del and Mom to return to church, Del says he’ll never support Newsome’s public shaming and asks again why no one stands up to him. Vanessa says they’re all old-fashioned and see him as their godly leader though she prays for change.

Del stays focused and isolated as the holiday break closes in. Needing time to process his emotions about the women in his life, he chooses Jameer’s company. Jameer confesses that he was the one who told Newsome about the road trip. Jameer cries, saying his parents forced him to talk, or he’d have to confess in front of everyone again, like he did when they caught him looking at a shirtless boy on the computer. His parents found out about Ramsey though they believe he’s not his boyfriend. They called the pastor that night and made him confess.

Jameer also says he betrayed Kiera. He knew Kiera was out with Mason, so he tried to get the attention off himself. Now, Newsome is going to make Kiera confess her sins. Del’s heart sinks. He says it is Jameer’s fault. He hopes Jameer and Kiera can be friends again since they’ve grown up together as neighbors. Neither is hopeful.

At home, Cressie is back for the holidays. She calls Del into her room because they haven’t talked since the family meeting. Del says he’s not mad at her and finally tells his story from the beginning of the Purity Pledge to now. Cressie doesn’t want to sound harsh, but she tells Del he seems to know by now that Keira is a lost cause. Del understands and asks why she’d pick Mason. Cressie says he appeals to something in Kiera, but Kiera’s reasons aren’t their business; Kiera makes her own decisions.

A few days later, Del wants to be on Cressie’s show. He asks for a special episode, which they plan together.

Cressie waits to release the FemFam video until holiday break, so Del has time to atone for his mistakes. First, he apologies to Shianne, hugging her and thanking her for her honesty. Next, he tells Jameer to get to a computer that night for help. Lastly, he talks to Kiera. He apologizes for not pursuing her honestly and hopes this weekend’s work will make up for hurting her. She’s hostile and leery, but she listens. Del says there’s nothing between them, and he won’t continue to push for a relationship she doesn’t want.

He texts Cressie the word “Now,” and she uploads her interview with Del. He says he’s confessing his sins. Del shares his story about wanting to win the girl he’s always had a crush on, that he invented schemes and ways to be with her, and when they didn’t work, he always blamed timing. When he finally felt the timing was right, he made up lies and unfair expectations for this girl he thought was a virgin like him. He admits that he’s never had sex, that the idea is scary after the pregnancies at school, and that he acted like a toxic male without knowing it. He explains the Purity Pledge’s positive influence and how great the services are at Pastor Newsome’s church. He invites everyone to join this Sunday.

Sister Vanessa texts Del to meet before church to speak with Pastor Newsome. Del assumes she watched the video.

The whole family, including Dad, attends church together. The parking lot is packed. Two FemFam fan girls stop Del and Cressie for pictures. Kiera approaches Del; she’s angry about his video since she has to confess today and now too many people are present. Del explains it’s not what she thinks, and Kiera asks how much damage he wants to do.

In the meeting with Pastor Newsome, Del says he confessed his own way (on Cressie’s YouTube channel) instead of Newsome’s so he could return to church. Del says that he has attracted many potential new members to the service, so if the pastor wants them to stay, he’ll consider not scaring them off with public confessions. Newsome is reluctant, but Del pleads for him to give an inspiring sermon instead of humiliating Kiera. Newsome considers it.

During the sermon, Newsome preaches about choices, and it seems he still wants Kiera to confess. He looks into the huge crowd and speaks about changing ourselves from within rather than changing the world.

After the service, Kiera finds Del and asks if she got Pastor Newsome to let her go. Del confirms he did. She thanks him, but she’s confused; she assumed he was upset with her and Mason. Del understands that she thought he’d want to witness her humiliation. They high five. Del’s family never returns to the church.

After holiday break, Del is teased at school for being a virgin, but he expected worse. Others appreciate his bravery and share having similar feelings about sex. MJ applauds his courage for the video, but Del says he wasn’t brave enough to admit he was the one who talked to Newsome and got Healthy Living canceled. MJ suspected him, but he isn’t angry. The class has since been reinstated with more helpful information about puberty, safe sex, consent, and more. Del feels relief.

By springtime, Jameer and Del are still friends, but the others at church miss Del too. Jameer feels better because many of the new members are LGBTQ, so the church is becoming more accepting. Jameer refuses to hide his sexuality anymore, even from his parents.

Del attends the prom with Shianne as his friend date. Qwan and Angie their relationship restored, go together. Kiera dances hard with a new college boyfriend; she and Mason fizzled out months ago. Del never knew Kiera could dance, and he wishes he had gotten to know her. Mya comes dressed as Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, Del thinks she looks beautiful, but he teases her that she likes snow-white Elsa from Frozen the best.

MJ, as a prom chaperone, tells Del about how he met his wife in college. MJ says she was a girl who checked him on his pick-up lines and made him better. Now, they have a child together, are happily married, and have been learning from each other ever since. MJ motions to Mya since he thinks Del has failed to notice her before. Del watches Mya dancing, and he hurries to her side, thinking she’s the purest thing he’s ever seen.