Following the ceremony she sees Ben, her high school crush, and goes over to ask him to sign her year book.
Felicity decides to abandon her plans to study pre-med at Stanford University and instead follows Ben to New York.
She is a remarkably intelligent and thoughtful person, yet can be led to make rather impulsive and rash decisions.
He has a great deal of conflict with his father (played by John Ritter), who is an alcoholic who routinely makes promises that he fails to keep.
Ben suffers a brief gambling addiction, and serious financial issues that threaten his tuition and livelihood.
This is followed by a strung out affair with a married caterer named Maggie, who is vindictive over her husband's philandering.
Ben has difficulty expressing his feelings and initially appears not to be very thoughtful or contemplative, especially in contrast to Felicity.
Noel also has a long-term, long distance girlfriend named Hanna (Jennifer Garner) who is a composer.
They experience stumbling blocks along the way, namely Noel's conflicted feelings for ex-girlfriend Hanna, and when Felicity in turn loses her virginity to an art student (Simon Rex).
They break up after a few months when she chooses a summer road trip with Ben over Noel's invitation to Berlin.
Ruby is a new actress vying for the romantic lead opposite Tom Cruise in a blockbuster film.
Noel ends the relationship after two or three months when he learns that Ruby is pregnant with a child who is not related to him.
In the summer between Junior and Senior years, Noel drops out of college, gets highlights and marries Javier's cousin, Natalie (Ali Landry).
Noel comes from a working-class background and has one older brother whom he looks up to as a model guy complete with the ideal girlfriend.
She appears more confident and direction driven than Felicity, but, as they become closer, she opens up and reveals some her own insecurities.
Julie has a mutual attraction with Ben, Felicity's main love interest and impetus for moving to New York.
Around this time, she finds comfort and patience in Ben who supports her through the emotional aftermath in late night conversation and sleepovers.
Ben is roommates with him during the first season and subsequently, Julie, Meghan and Noel all live there at some point.
He doesn't appear to have a job throughout the series (until the end), but is constantly coming up with new entrepreneurial ideas.
A partial list includes: marzipan boxers (edible), disposable camera vending machines, Lacto's milk-less cereal (just add water), Bagel knobs – injected w/ cream cheese and lox, etc., Shreme (sugar and cream), Flavored pen caps, Marshmallow rotisserie, Smoothaise (a condiment of unknown ingredients), Shrimp yogurt, ‘Before and After’ – a restaurant that only serves appetizers and desserts, Sleep mask alarm clock combo, Comfort cologne – smells like guys’ favorite foods - mac and cheese, brisket, lasagna, etc.