Now that Ryan's mother has abandoned Ryan and moved away, Sandy has no choice but to accede to Kirsten's wishes and remand Ryan to Social Services. Facing the prospect of living in a foster home, Ryan prepares to secretly leave on his own. But Seth finds out and suggests a better idea: Together with Marissa, the boys sneak to an unfinished model home, the perfect hiding place for Ryan. Seth's mother, Kirsten, is the head of residential development for The Newport Group, a real-estate company, and is selling the house. Ryan, Seth and Marissa spend hours in the model home's empty swimming pool, bonding, skateboarding and eating.
The next morning, when Seth takes Ryan to a remote beachfront diner, they scuffle with Marissa's boyfriend, Luke, and his friends, with whom they fought at the recent beach party. After discovering that Sandy has reported Ryan to the police as a missing person, Seth and Marissa purchase Ryan a bus ticket to Texas, where he has an acquaintance. Marissa admits that she wishes Ryan wouldn't leave, but he warns her that a relationship between them would never succeed.
Meanwhile, Marissa's materialistic friend, Summer Roberts (recurring guest star Rachel Bilson), finds out about the plan and, as a result, Luke and his friends break into the home and attack Ryan. During the fight, lit candles are knocked over, setting the house ablaze--along with Ryan's bus ticket and cash. Luke's friends flee, but Luke drags the unconscious Ryan from the burning building before running away.
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