Heartwarming / Berrybrook Middle School

There are lot of heartwarming moments in Berrybrook Middle School.

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Awkward

• In contrast with the Science club, the Art club has a major sense of camaraderie to it. Peppi in particular sees it as a place of belonging, and for good reason.
• Jaime using a small drone to clean hurtful vandalism off of lockers.
  • Jamie in general. He's just a really sweet but quiet kid who couldn't care less about the glory his club desires.
• Jaime's mom letting Peppi stay at their place for a while. There, she forgives the girl for pushing her son by accident. Also, Peppi ends up having a pretty good time seeing some of the neat stuff his dad made, as well as his mom's extensive collection of artwork.
• Inspired by Jaime's mom's words, Peppi writes him an apology note for their bad first impression. Even after he gets it, she blurts out an apology anyway, which he instantly accepts, saying that she's a good person who merely made a mistake. Peppi's at a loss for words upon hearing that.
• Not long after parting ways that same day, Peppi realizes that she didn't just apologize to Jaime, but found a friend in him.
• Mari telling Peppi late at night that she's a true friend for putting up with her zealous pursuit of winning so that her dad doesn't punish her for it. This takes on a much darker meaning when Mari later gives Peppi the Science club's remote to her, telling her that she's her only friend.
• Peppi receiving an invitation from Jaime for a barbecue with their families for the weekend. Sure enough, they have a good time when it happens.
• After the disaster regarding the destruction of the clubs, Ms. Tobins lifts Peppi's spirits (and gives her an unintentional "Eureka!" Moment) by both congratulating her recent academic performance and her being what she considers a Renaissance artist.
• Jaime apologizing to Peppi for his somewhat brash reaction to Peppi having the remote, followed immediately by them working together to save the clubs.
• After everything, the clubs' collaborative project, a D.I.Y. indoor planetarium, is a roaring success that even drove the Principal to Manly Tears. The clubs are saved, and as a result of their Enemy Mine, they've successfully buried the hatchet for once.
• Both clubs standing against Foster and Yanic when they try to bully Peppi and Jaime again. Even better, the ones who defend them by name are in opposite clubs. Derek also gets to get a jab in, showing that he's no longer the egotistical leader he once was.
• Jaime returning Peppi's sketchbook to her, upon which she thanks him and gives him the warmest smile ever.
• The closing monologue:
  Peppi: We may have our problems, but it all comes down to cardinal rule #3 for surviving school: BUILD. Build things. Build friendships. Build yourself. Bit by little bit. It may feel like you're not adding that much...but in the end, it will add up to a LOT.

Brave

• Out of all the kids running the school newspaper, Akilah is the most kindhearted and empathetic to Jensen. Sure, she has her moments, but she has a lot more patience with him than Jenny does.
• Jorge's Establishing Character Moment is to volunteer to be Jensen's partner in a project when no one else will. He may look intimidating at first, but it's the first sign that he's a good guy all in all.
• Jorge and his sports buddies coming in to sit next to Foster and Yanic when they start bugging Jensen. Doubles as an awesome and funny moment.
• Peppi is another kid who doesn't immediately make fun of Jensen, often apologizing for every time he gets left out.
• After Jensen receives an F on his math test, Mr. Kristoffer's first question to him is if his home life is okay, and if his parents are around to help him. After being treated as a Sadist Teacher by just about everyone in the school, it's surprising to find out that he's just as much of a Reasonable Authority Figure as the rest.
• Jorge urging Jensen that real friends have one's back and don't just forget about him.
• Felicity demanding that the Art club stop making fun of Jensen at the cafeteria before making sure he's alright. In fact, she seems to take every opportunity to shut them up when it happens.
• The Art club as a whole demanding that Felicity get her suspension revoked after a scandal revolving around the skirt-length of her cosplay. Even Ms. Lee is furious at the double-standard that got her in that situation.
• Mr. Kristoffer assuring Jensen that he's not stupid, just behind, and that he'll get better if he never gives up. Jensen later decides that his teacher isn't the villain he saw him as after all.
• Akilah recounting the first time she met Jenny. It was in Kindergarten, she was being harassed by two bigger kids, but Jenny stepped in and forced them to count crayons as punishment. She then starts breaking down wanting their friendship back before Jensen gives her an idea.
• Jenny and Akilah apologizing to each other and making up, especially the former for her jerkish behavior. From there, they focus all of their efforts on helping Felicity.
• Jorge and Liv pitching in and getting the entire athletics team to sign the petition. Even the teachers get involved.
• The petition is a complete success, and Felicity comes back thanking everybody, especially Jensen, whom she gives a massive bear hug to. Jensen notes that he's only ever been hugged by family before.
• Mr. Ramirez fixing Jensen's glasses after Yanic breaks them.
• Tessa apologizing for being a Jerkass the whole story. She doesn't talk to him for a while afterwards, presumably feeling guilty about it, but then comes back with an apology cupcake.
• The ending monologue, which is written over Jensen getting a B+ in a math test, the Art club inviting him to sit next to them for once, and finally, him being the one to forgive and befriend Foster after his Heel–Face Turn.
  Jensen: I used to kinda think that everyone knew how to get through Middle School except for me, that they all had cheat codes or something, and knew some secret moves I didn't. Now I think we're all just trying to figure this out...leveling up, one little victory at a time. Changing things, one little bit at a time. I keep thinking about that culture stuff Akilah and Jenny were going on about. I think I'm starting to see it..."Culture of Isolation"...people getting left out, how it's always been around, in some form, and how it does get changed over time, just like Akilah said, people changing it, with their actions-I wonder if they were ever scared, trying to change things. I didn't end up liking "My Badly Drawn Life" at all...but I love Ina Cruz's books. "Fighter" is my favorite one. She talks a lot about all that stuff in it-about fixing what's wrong, changing what's around you, doing things you're afraid of...about what courage is. She writes: "It's easy to grow bitter, to retreat into yourself, after being rejected. It's scary to keep reaching out, to keeping extending your hand, after so many would not take it...and sometimes even push away...but that's not what courage is-not ever being afraid, but being afraid and doing it anyway. To keep reaching out to the world that would not have you, and saying, 'Let's be friends.' Because we are all stronger when we look out for one another. We just have to have the courage to do so."

Crush

• Jorge begins the story saying that anyone with his status as The Dreaded among bullies would make it hard for them to find friends...then saying that it's someone else's problem because he already has his people. Namely, Liv and Garrett (especially the former). According to Jorge, they've been friends since they thought the Tooth Fairy was real (confirmed by a later picture showing the trio as little kids).
• Jorge's crush on Jazmine is equal parts hilarious and adorable from beginning to end.
• Jorge volunteering to help the Drama club move things. While doing so, he continues to be a flustered mess around Jazmine, but it's no less endearing.
• Liv concocting a plan to get James to come over to Garrett's party. And sure enough, it works amazingly later on.
• Jorge getting some jocks off Zeke's back...even if it gets subverted by the guy's hostile reaction.
• Jorge's Imagine Spot of him taking Jazmine out to the Athletics Ball, even if it scares the Hell out of him initially.
• While thinking of potential boyfriends for Jazmine after her breakup with Zeke, Liv brings up Jaime, seeing him as a cute boy for her. They'd definitely be right if he wasn't already Platonic Life-Partners (maybe) with Peppi.
• Jazmine hears about how Jorge forced Zeke to stop stalking her, and doesn't hesitate to call him a really good person. The big guy is left completely stunned after this, but he does manage to ask her out to the Athletics Ball before she leaves. To his shock, her answer's a yes, with the both of them looking equally flustered.
• Predictably, Liv cannot contain her excitement upon realizing that two of her best friends are dating. She gives Jorge a big hug and asks why he didn't tell her, as she would have set them up. Jorge blushes and stammers.
• On a day where Jorge forgets his lunch, Jazmine offers half her sandwich and asks for someone to give him a brownie. After seeing James and his posse bully their way to cut the lunch line, Jorge smiles for the first time that day.
• Jorge volunteering to beat down Marcus for being a lousy boyfriend to Liv.
• Once Jorge and Jazmine exchange phone numbers, they text each other very often. Jorge admits to being not that good at it, but he really enjoys it nonetheless.
  • Even better, Jazmine was going to give him her phone number anyway by slipping it into his locker so that the gossipers wouldn't notice.
• At a meet, Coach Rashad gives everyone a sheet on bodily autonomy and consent. After, Liv pulls a peer-pressured football player off Bri when he's dared to grab her and talk about bodily autonomy. When James laughs that the guy was stupid enough to do it, Liv asks if they thought it was funny. She threatens to tell Coach Rashad, knowing that she'll kick James off the team. James backs off, as Liv asks Bri if she's okay.
• Liv, Jazmine, and Brooke getting haircuts for a charity dedicated to sick kids. Jazmine in particular did it in honor of her sick mother.
• Jorge affirming that he's dating the awesomest girl in the school when Jazmine implies to him that she could beat up Zeke for being such a jerk.
• Jorge enjoying himself at the Athletics Ball. At its end, Jazmine gives him a kiss on the cheek. The chapter ends with him very happy about his life. A shame about what happens next...
• While everyone's hating on Jorge due to the Frame-Up, the only ones to state that he's a good person (aside from Liv) are Jensen and Peppi. The former has not let his good deeds for him be forgotten.
• Everything really just seems to suck for Jorge. His friend foolishly used his login for a nasty chat, James seems to have gotten off scot-free, and it appears that everyone in the school hates him...except Jazmine. As it turns out, she didn't believe any of the gossip (especially since it was Zeke who told her about it), and Liv only reinforced that. As they eat together, Jorge feels a lot better knowing he has her on his side.
• Liv says she's going to find the idiot that framed Jorge and will beat up the "sack of weasels".
• Jazmine hugging Jorge before he is sent to the Principal's office.
• In a surprising turn of events, Garrett decides to stop being a total burden and confesses everything he did in order to clear Jorge's name. He apologizes to Jorge for being a "crappy friend" and says he needs to apologize to Liv. It works, even if it results in Liv hating him as well as him getting a two-week suspension.
• Jorge going back to being liked and respected by the school, especially Jazmine's group of friends.
• Liv and Garrett rebuilding their friendship after his long absence. While Liv states she's only doing it for Jorge, he knows that deep inside, she didn't actually want to cut all ties with him. Garrett also promises to do everything Liv says to make up for his cowardice and Jerkass behavior, even when it makes the other students hate his guts.
• Once again, the ending monologue, along with the story ending with Jorge seeing Jazmine again:
  Jorge: Remember how I said life is more complicated than sports? It'll throw a lot of curveballs at you. You win some games and lose others. But in the end, it's who's on your team that really matters.