Episode 6 of School Spirits begins with a stunned Simon learning that Maddie has chosen to attend the homecoming dance with a ghostly footballer. Maddie quickly shifts the conversation to the topic of her murder, seeking closure amidst the chaos.
Meanwhile, Claire excitedly informs her girlfriends that she will be attending the dance with Xavier. She sternly warns them against any form of discrimination towards him, She texts himfirmly believe that he is not the murderer, confirming their attendance together.
Xavier, eager to keep up with the plan, updates Simon and Nicole on the progress. Simon assigns him the task of seducing Claire at the dance and capturing her confession on record. Xavier doubts the feasibility of such a mission, but Simon insists, asking Nicole to accompany Xavier on a shopping trip for a suave suit that will turn heads - and hopefully Claire's. Later, Simon double-checks with Maddie to ensure she's comfortable with the arrangement, and she assures him she is.
After their meeting, Maddie joins Rhonda and rummages through the school theatre wardrobe in search of a suitable dress. Curiously, she asks Rhonda if ghosts are capable of experiencing sexual intimacy, seemingly mulling over the idea of a romantic encounter with Wally.
Elsewhere, Claire corners Xavier in the boys' shower room, demanding to know his motives for reaching out to her. Xavier fabricates a story, claiming he's felt remorseful and wants to mend their relationship, missing her deeply. Claire, softened, informs him that she'll pick him up the next day for the dance.
Charley shows Maddie his letter to Emilio, but she deems it too verbose. She urges him to condense it, giving it the appearance of being written before his demise. She reminds him that forgiving himself is crucial once Emilio reads the letter, advising him to finally embrace his fate.
After class, Maddie stalks Xavier and spies a message from Claire on his phone. Xavier confides in Simon about the message, expressing a sense of being trapped. Through Simon, Maddie firmly tells him that he cannot backtrack on their plans; he owes her, and he must pay the piper. With that, Simon makes plans to attend the dance with Nicole, leaving Xavier to his fate.
After the school bell rang, Xavier and Nicole embarked on their scheduled shopping trip, seeking the perfect suits for a special occasion. Nicole, however, couldn't help but wonder if Xavier's concerns were truly warranted. Xavier confessed that he felt like he no longer knew Claire, and Nicole's reaction to his confession was oddly suspicious, hinting at a hidden agenda.
Meanwhile, Simon visited Sandra, reliving memories of Maddie and their shared college dreams. Sandra stubbornly clung to the hope that Maddie would return home one day. She inquired if Maddie had contacted Simon, to which he replied with a somber shake of the head. Before bidding farewell, Sandra confessed that she had always envisioned Maddie attending the dance with Simon. Simon borrowed a picture of Maddie, intending to display it at the dance as a tribute to their lost friend.
As the evening unfolded, Wally arrived to pick up Maddie. He went above and beyond to make the evening memorable for her, and Maddie found his efforts thoroughly endearing. Elsewhere, Claire collected Xavier and attempted to pry information from Sheriff Baxter about the progress of the investigation. The Sheriff, grateful for the financial support her parents had provided to his campaign, remained tight-lipped about the ongoing case.
During their drive to the dance, Claire suddenly pulled over and grilled Xavier about his budding friendship with Simon and Nicole. Xavier explained that he felt a sense of guilt since they had been Maddie's close friends. Claire, seemingly satisfied with his explanation, planted a kiss on his cheek.
At the dance, Simon confessed to Nicole that he had once considered pursuing a romantic relationship with Maddie but had ultimately dismissed the idea. Wally, meanwhile, emerged as the life of the party, though his visibility was limited to the ghosts who attended. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of hurt as he observed Maddie's undivided attention towards Xavier and Claire. Wally gently suggested to Maddie that perhaps she wasn't quite ready to accept her newfound status as a spirit, pointing out that she had only been dead for a few weeks compared to his own two decades of adjustment. Maddie, however, argued that each journey was unique and that she was still grappling with the reality of her own passing.
Maddie's heart sank as she watched them dance, feigning a romantic relationship that wasn't theirs to claim. Xavier, desperate to charm Claire, tried every trick in the book, but his efforts fell flat. Claire noticed his furtive attempts to capture their private moments on camera and confronted him. He confessed his suspicion, accusing her of Maddie's murder. He showed her the video of her threatening Mr. Anderson, querying if she had also swapped Maddie's phone.
Claire admitted that she had discovered Mr. Anderson's illegal drug dealings and hatched a plan to blackmail him for better grades. She explained that when they believed Maddie was the blackmailer, she suggested paying off the threat, but denied any involvement in Maddie's disappearance. She confessed to swapping Maddie's phone but revealed that they had destroyed it after failing to unlock it. Xavier, though relieved by her confession, knew they still had to find the true killer. He shared Claire's confession with Simon, who was inclined to believe him.
Meanwhile, Maddie's mother was convinced someone had sneaked into her house, suspecting it was her missing daughter. She frantically called Simon, but he ignored her, so she turned to Nicole for help. Nicole offered to go to her aid, as Simon's anger at Xavier for his failure with Claire clouded his judgment.
Simon stayed behind at the dance, delivering a letter written by Charley to Emilio. Pretending he had found it in an old library book, he watched as Emilio wept while reading the heartfelt words. Charley, observing the emotional exchange, had a moment of clarity.
Finally, the police decided to take matters into their own hands and thoroughly searched the abandoned house. To their horror, they discovered what appeared to be a bloodstained murder weapon.
Sheriff Baxter visited Sandra, breaking the news of the gruesome discovery. He revealed that they had already arrested a person of interest - an employee at the school. It was Mr. South, and the police believed Maddie had been killed in retaliation for the money she allegedly stole from Mr. Anderson. Sandra's heart broke, and Nicole did her best to comfort her.
As the evening drew to a close, Charley gently reminded Maddie of her neglect towards Wally. He urged her to focus on him, and Maddie took his advice, searching for Wally. She found him and apologized, sealing their reunion with a tender kiss.
Unfortunately, Simon's evening had taken a turn for the worse, and he found solace by popping balloons in a secluded corner. Spotting Maddie, they overheard the principal discussing Mr. South's arrest in connection with Maddie's disappearance. Meanwhile, Rhonda scurried to the basement, frantically searching for something.
The episode drew to a close with Maddie's mother reaching for a bottle to numb her pain, while Nicole, her face inscrutable, buried something in the rain-soaked earth, leaving viewers to wonder what secrets lay beneath the surface.
