Marissa recruits Ryan to help her with Harbor School's Pep Rally Bonfire. Alex accepts that her and Marissa are from two different lives and knows she is fighting a lost cause. Seth is stuck and misses last year's good times while Summer disagrees and tells him it's time to move on. Meanwhile, Julie still doesn't know what she is going do about her blackmailer and seeks some advice from Sandy. Also, Kirsten wants their editor, Carter, to stick with the magazine despite his reservations.