The Hills: No More Mr. Nice Guy (Episode 311)

So...: Brody and Gavin bond over hot dogs.Brody and Lauren are at dinner. Modern white space with low tables, couch-like beds for seating. It feels very late 90's modern. Are these two dating or are they just "hanging out"? Not sure, as they talk easily about the kind of guy Lauren needs to be dating. Though Lauren claims she wants a nice guy, Brody says her type is a little bit of a bad boy: "I'm going after your taste." Lauren ignores him, studying the menu: "Nothing's catching my eye." Hmph. I'm so sure.

At Bolthouse, Brent is discussing an upcoming Nascar party. And when I say "discussing", I mean Brent talks and everyone else pretty much says nothing. Is Brent scary? While Heidi and Rob will be working the gig together, they won't be alone, as new employee Kimberly (aka New Elodie) will be helping out. After the meeting, Heidi introduces herself, letting Kimberly know she's available if there are any questions she can answer.

Elsewhere in the working world, Whitney and Lauren are casting for the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood issue. Lauren is wearing an adorable black-and-white print dress while Whitney's tomato red pants are making my eyes hurt. They both still look cute, though. The girls are in need of models for the Marc Jacobs show, and it appears Los Angeles has no shortage of young fresh-faced individuals. One such face is Gavin, who remembered Lauren from a previous shoot. Lauren hoots in recognition, introducing him to Whitney with a hilarious anecdote: she'd previously tried to set him up with Heidi just as Heidi and Spencer were getting together. Gavin doesn't hold this against her, though, as he grabs her number so they can go on a date. The deed done, Whitney thoughtfully plays with her hair and just looks at Lauren. Lauren's not looking, just trying not to blush as she tells Whitney "Don't." Pause -- blush some more. "Don't."

Spencer is watching Heidi get ready for work. Her preparations involve multiple coats of black mascara on each eye. Add some eyebrow pencil, and you've got my morning makeup routine as well. Heidi's excited about the Nascar event until Spencer is all "You didn't tell me, and I made dinner reservations for tonight so we could celebrate our anniversary." Ya know, to replace the dinner that didn't happen in "What Happens In Vegas..." Aw, that's sweet, but us working girls have to get going, and Spencer is not pleased. Though Heidi nicely suggests they eat late after she gets off work, Spencer continues to pout. Heidi starts going, saying "I'll be at work. Why don't you try it?" Oooh, burn. Spencer retorts "Oh, it's like that." but Heidi is already out the door.

Audrina, Lauren, and Lo get ready for yet another barbecue at Brody's. Lauren's a little bummed that Gavin, who is booked for a shoot, can't meet the girls (and the boys) at Brody's. The sadness is short-lived, as Lauren gets a text from Gavin -- guess who's shoot ended and will be joining them at the barbecue after all?

At the beach house, Frankie and Brody promise Lauren they won't make fun of her over her new guy. They will not, however, let Gavin get off easily. While Brody teases Lauren that he seems a little short, he's nice enough to Gavin when they spend some time at the grill. Gavin is really, really nice apparently -- fairly steady, and a year out of a serious relationship. Elsewhere on the beach, Gavin and Lauren find time to talk more, Gavin describing a recent trip to Catalina for an overnight camping trip. Lauren, who we know is not a fan of the camping on Catalina, is less enthusiastic though still excited about Gavin. Who cares if Frankie thinks that she and Brody tend to get jealous over each other? And more importantly, when is Whitney going to quit it with the oversized 80's sunglasses? Lo is wearing perfectly ordinary Ray-Ban aviators, and she looks fine.

Somewhere in Hollywood, the Nascar event is well underway, with Heidi and Kimberly checking their lists and confirming end of night tasks. Spencer calls, but Heidi can't get away. She looks upset, as his whines take on a threatening tone. When he accuses "We can't just keep putting this off," she pleads: "Please don't be mad at me." But we don't know if does (like it's his right to forgive her), as he hangs up on her.

The party at the beach house is wrapping up. While Brody talks to Lo about what a nice guy (and wrong boyfriend for Lauren) Gavin is, Gavin and Lauren are still chatting. The only sparks I can see are from whatever is left of the bonfire. Still, though, they make plans for dinner.

The next day, Spencer surprises Heidi (trying to work the professional working lady look in a low-cut blouse and a pencil skirt) at work, wanting to take her to lunch. No dice, as she's actually in th emiddle of a meeting. When he begins to huff and puff, Heidi goes on the defensive, again explaining that he encouraged her to do whatever she had to do to earn the promotion. He's not buying it, though: "How does this have anything to do with us?" Heidi can't stay for the fight, and leaves Spencer to it as she gets back to work.

That night, Audrina watches Lauren get ready for her date. Though she's excited to learn that they're going to favorite sushi spot Sushi Dan's (she suggests Lauren order the Crazy Danny roll), she's not so keen on Gavin as a boyfriend: "He seems really nice but he doesn't seem like your type." But how flattering is that when the guy your friends are saying is not your type is nice (if a bit bland) and not crazy? Do we need to bring up Jason? Audrina's kinda right, though as the date at Sushi Dan's is a big night of nice and not much else. Not only does Gavin not know who Sean Kingston is, he likes the baked salmon roll which is not a favorite of Lauren's. She tries, though, as he gingerly feeds her a bite. She can barely disguise her grimace as she tells him "It's good." Things don't get much better when she says her recent dates tend to start normally, then end with the guy going kind of crazy.

Not surprisingly, Lauren goes home alone. Picking up her Blackberry, she dials Brody, who crows "Well, well, well, somebody's home awfully early for a date night." Lauren admits that while Gavin was nice, there were no sparks. Brody keeps the "I told you so"'s to a minimum, allowing Lauren to go on and say that she's at home doing nothing. Maybe she'll throw in a movie. Brody takes the bait, inviting himself over to hang. He makes a point of asking what movie Lauren is going to watch. Lauren, ever so coyly, responds: "Does it really matter?" Oh, it's like that.

You read the recap -- now take the poll!