"Have you all been drinking tonight?" one of the officers inquired sternly, his gaze shifting from one person to another.

Jeremiah, who was now back with Steven, thinking quickly, decided to speak up. "Sir, I'm the DD tonight and I haven't been drinking. Neither have the girls," he stated firmly, trying to maintain a calm demeanor. However, the officers weren't easily convinced.

The tension in the car was palpable as the teenagers anxiously awaited the officers' decision. After a brief exchange between the police officers, they made a decision. Considering the influence of Mr. Fisher, Conrad and Jeremiah's father, they decided against taking the teenagers into custody. Instead, they opted to split them up and drive them to Susannah's beach house, where they would be kept under surveillance.

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As the patrol car arrived at the beach house, the officers escorted the teenagers inside. Grateful for the leniency shown by the police, Laurel stepped forward to express her gratitude.

"Officers, thank you. It won't happen again, I can promise you that much," Laurel addressed the officers with a sincere tone, acknowledging the severity of the situation. The officers nodded in acknowledgment before departing, leaving the teenagers alone with Laurel in the beach house.

With a stern expression on her face, Laurel turned her attention to the group, disappointment evident in her eyes. Florence and Jeremiah stood in one corner, their guilt weighing heavily on them. Belly and Steven stood in the other corner, their faces reflecting a mix of remorse and apprehension. Conrad, lying on the couch, fought off the encroaching hangover, a physical reminder of the consequences of their actions.

"How could you guys be so irresponsible?" Laurel's voice was filled with a mix of anger and concern, her disappointment palpable. Steven attempted to defend their actions, claiming it wasn't a big deal and that the police were merely dispersing the bonfire.

"Not a big deal? I would say getting picked up by the cops for underage drinking is a pretty big deal, Steven," Laurel retorted sharply, not accepting his attempt to downplay the situation.

Conrad, sensing an opportunity, directed the attention towards Laurel.

"Were you guys smoking tonight?" he asked, sensing a need to redirect the blame. Laurel stumbled over her words, trying to divert the conversation.

"What? Keep your voice down. Susannah's asleep on the couch," Laurel retorted, her defensiveness palpable.

"Well, I wasn't yelling. Well, you-you-you were," Conrad explained, attempting to hold her accountable. Laurel's glare intensified, frustration evident on her face.

"You're the oldest. What the hell's gotten into you?" she directed her question at Conrad before turning her attention to Belly and Florence. "And how did you two end up at the party from a walk on the beach? And what in the world are you wearing?"

Belly, fueled by anger, challenged her mother's restrictions. "It's Taylor's. And why am I the only one who's not allowed to go out?" she questioned with resentment.

Laurel sighed, attempting to clarify her intentions. "It's not that you're not allowed, it's that you should have told us you were going there," she explained, her frustration mingling with concern.

Florence, recognizing the escalating tension, interjected, eager to shed light on their innocence. "Laurel, just so you know, me and Belly didn't drink. We just ended up there while taking a walk," she disclosed, hoping to ease some of Laurel's worries.

"I was the DD, and I didn't drink either," Jeremiah added, seeking to emphasize their responsible behavior.

Laurel's expression softened momentarily as she absorbed their words. "Wait, you two walked there?" she asked Florence, her eyes widening in realization. "Jesus. You know better than to walk that far down the beach alone late at night. It's time you guys start acting like adults. I hope you realize this night could have ended a lot differently if your family wasn't your family."

Florence and the other teenagers nodded in acknowledgment, their guilt etched on their faces. They understood the gravity of the situation and the potential dangers they had exposed themselves to.

"We're sorry, Laur," Jeremiah apologized as the other kids nodded.

"Just... go to bed, guys," Laurel dismissed them as they sighed, all leaving the room. But Laurel stopped Conrad and asked, "I don't understand what is going on with you."

"Nothing. Nothing's going on," Conrad dismissed, walking past her before she could say more.

Laurel looked back at him in concern, wondering what was happening to the children this summer. She was worried about their well-being and hoped they'd be alright.

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Upstairs in Susannah's beach-house, Belly sat on the edge of the bed, still feeling frustrated and conflicted about the day's events. The sting in her eye reminded her of the fight at the party and how things had spiraled out of control. She couldn't shake off the mixed emotions she had towards Florence, her best friend, and Conrad's girlfriend, Nicole.

Florence, sensing Belly's distress, spoke up with a gentle tone, breaking the silence. "Hey, how about you take a shower while I go get the first aid for you?" she offered, concern evident in her voice. "You're going to get a bruise tomorrow if we don't clean this up tonight."

Belly looked up at Florence, her face revealing a mix of conflicting emotions. On one hand, she was still upset with Florence for her behavior at the party, which had contributed to the fight between Conrad and Liam. Florence's actions had also prevented Belly from going with Cam, whom she had been reconnecting with. Yet, on the other hand, Belly couldn't ignore the fact that Florence had always been there for her, like a protective older sister. She had been a constant in her life and someone Belly deeply cared about.

Belly hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. She wanted to hold onto her anger, but she also craved the comforting presence of her friend. Finally, she nodded hesitantly, silently acknowledging Florence's offer. The thought of the bruise made her realize the importance of tending to her injury promptly.

"Okay," Belly said softly, her voice barely audible. She got up from the bed and made her way to the bathroom, hoping that the shower would help clear her thoughts and wash away some of the tension she felt.

Meanwhile, Florence tiptoed down the stairs, trying her best not to wake anyone in the house. She knew that Susannah was asleep on the couch and didn't want to disturb her. The beach-house was filled with a sense of serenity as the sound of crashing waves provided a soothing background.

Reaching the first-aid kit, Florence opened it quietly and carefully selected the items she needed to tend to Belly's injury. Her hands moved with familiarity as she prepared the necessary supplies, her thoughts focused on taking care of her friend.

As Florence gathered the supplies, she couldn't help but reflect on the events of the evening. She knew she had made mistakes and that her actions had consequences. Her heart felt heavy with regret for causing Conrad to get into a fight and for not letting Belly go with Cam. She worried that her actions had strained their relationships.

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As Florence gathered the first-aid supplies and turned to head upstairs, she noticed Conrad entering the kitchen, his hand reaching for a glass of water. Concern laced her voice as she asked, "You're still up?"

Conrad looked up at her, his eyes reflecting the pain throbbing in his head. "Um, yeah. M-my head hurts, so I thought of getting some water," he replied, his voice filled with discomfort.

Florence sighed softly, understanding that water alone wouldn't alleviate Conrad's pain. She approached him, holding the first-aid box in her hands. "Water isn't going to help, Conrad. You should take an aspirin," she said gently, her voice tinged with worry, "and...will you let me help with the bruise?"

Conrad studied Florence for a moment, his confusion evident. He couldn't comprehend how she had been angry at him earlier at the beach, yet now she displayed such care and concern for his well-being.

"Are you still mad at me for trying to help?" he questioned, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Florence let out another sigh, motioning for Conrad to sit down as she prepared the antiseptic and cotton wool to clean the wounds on his face.

She spoke in a hushed tone, mindful not to wake Susannah. "I wasn't mad that you tried to help," she clarified, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and affection, "I just... don't like how you let yourself get so drunk that you lost your temper over something like this and got into such a big fight. First the pot, and now this? Connie, why are you being this way this summer?"

Conrad remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Florence's face. Once again, he found himself captivated by her freckles, the subtle details that made her unique.

Finally, he mustered the courage to speak. "Flo?" he said hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Florence hummed in response, her attention fully on Conrad as she gently cleaned the wound on his face.

"I... I wasn't too drunk to think," Conrad began, his words sincere, "Liam was being a douche, and you looked uncomfortable. I'm sorry if you didn't like how I handled the situation, but I don't regret it."

Florence's surprise was evident as she met Conrad's sincere gaze. His words held a depth she hadn't expected, and for a moment, she felt a mixture of emotions.

Conrad sighed and began to play with Florence's hair instinctively, causing a smile to creep onto his face as he waited for Florence to finish cleaning his wounds.

"Your hair is so much prettier now that you've grown it out," he complimented before his hands trailed over Florence's face, tracing her freckles, "and the freckles...they're beautiful too."

Florence was caught off guard by Conrad's unexpected compliments. She hesitated for a moment before carefully placing a band-aid over the wound beside Conrad's eye. Sensing the growing intimacy between them, she stepped back, creating a slight distance between them, fearing the intensity of their connection.

Conrad, understanding her need for space, averted his gaze and slowly got up from his seat.

"Thanks, Flo," he whispered softly, his voice filled with gratitude. He then headed upstairs to his room, leaving Florence standing in the kitchen, her mind consumed by the moment that had passed between them.

It was only the first day of summer, and already so much had changed. Florence couldn't help but wonder how the rest of the summer would unfold, unsure of what was happening between her and Conrad. She hoped that amidst the uncertainty, their bond would strengthen and that they could navigate the challenges of the season together. All of them together, just like old times.