The curtain rises on Episode 6 of "The Summer I Turned Pretty," with Belly awakening from a dreamy slumber, her thoughts still lingering on the tender moments she shared with Jeremiah. Yet, the turmoil within her heart remains unresolved, as her affections for Conrad persist, creating a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions. To further complicate the matter, Susannah slyly nudges Conrad to invite Belly to the prestigious Deb Ball.
Conrad, overwhelmed by the pressure, takes a treacherous path to the boat alongside Cleveland. There, as he stands on the brink of a panic attack, Cleveland steps in, guiding him through calming breaths and stabilizing thoughts. Alone with the writer, Conrad unburdens himself, confessing that Susannah's recent diagnosis is the source of his distress, yet he struggles to approach the topic with her.
The episode's climax unfolds at a volleyball tournament, where each participant strives to raise funds for a worthy cause. As Belly prepares, Conrad tentatively mentions accompanying her to the Deb Ball, yet she hesitates. Taylor arrives, dressed to the nines for the tournament, and she, being privy to the love triangle, encourages Belly to firmly reject Conrad and lean into her budding relationship with Jeremiah.
Amidst the game's intensity, Taylor sustains an ankle injury and swaps places with Jeremiah, a move that seems to be a calculated matchmaking scheme, given her mischievous grin towards him. However, fate intervenes, and Jeremiah is unexpectedly replaced by Conrad.
Despite the drama, Belly's team emerges victorious, but Susannah's untimely appearance, revealing her hand in Conrad's invitation, casts a shadow over the moment. Belly is left feeling awkward, realizing that Conrad's gesture was not as spontaneous as she had hoped.
Seeking solace, Belly confides in Taylor, spilling her heart out about her conflicting feelings for both men. Taylor urges her to follow her heart and embrace Jeremiah fully, yet the conversation is soon interrupted by the festivities at Nicole's boat party. Here, Belly's recent kiss with Jeremiah is discovered, and the news spreads like wildfire, reaching Shayla, Steven, and ultimately, Conrad. His heart sinks as he learns of Belly's romantic encounter. Alone, Conrad sends Belly a heartfelt message, confessing that his invitation to the Deb Ball was not solely his mother's idea but also a genuine expression of his own desires.
As the messages streamed in, Nicole and the girls stumbled upon them, mistaking Belly's phone for Nicole's. Upon realizing their blunder, they hastily departed, leaving Taylor and Belly stranded, clad only in towels. The two were left with no choice but to walk home along the roadside, shivering in their meager attire.
Nicole, determined, strode into the party and confronted Conrad, ultimately leading to their breakup. She refused to be a mere shadow to Belly's light. As she drove away, Conrad and Jeremiah appeared, carrying a bag filled with their clothes, which Nicole had forgotten in the aftermath of the split.
Conrad took Taylor back with him, but not without casting a critical glance, reproaching him for manipulating Belly's feelings. Meanwhile, Belly and Jeremiah found solace in each other's company as they drove. Jeremiah revealed that Conrad had invited him to the Debutante Ball.
As they paused by the roadside, Belly expressed her gratitude to Jeremiah for finding her. As their lips met in a passionate kiss, the moment grew increasingly intimate. It was then that Belly sincerely invited him to the Debutante Ball.
In the dead of night, Conrad sent a message to Belly, and the two met at the dock to talk. He handed her her bracelet, confessing that he couldn't bear to lose her. But Belly's response was firm, "It's too late," she said, turning away and leaving him behind.
