Starring:

• Jenny Lively as Anabele "Ana" Ferris
• Zachary Paolo as Jackson "Jack" Connor
• Nina Meester as Carrie Evans
• Allie Momsen as Madison "Mads" Wallace
• Randy Westwick as Holden Carter

Recurring:

• Luke Crawford as Tyler Price
• Lorna Misner as Dana Bishop
• Tom Settle as William "Will" Larson

Guest:

• David Abadie as Henri Ferris
• Amy Bell as Sarah Bishop
• Ellen Colin as Mona Carver
• Ray Heusinger as Eric Shaw
• Jeremy Shea as Isaac Ferris

Ana (Jenny Lively) is back in Paradise, California for college after mysteriously exiling herself out of town after the death of her mother just as she was on her senior year in high school. Now, she is clouded by another dark welcome as her past high school rival Sarah (Amy Bell) is reported missing within the vicinity, rendering her as a suspect. Sarah's bestfriend, Carrie (Nina Meester) on the other hand, is surprised to find that the chances of Ana returning in town is as coincidental to Sarah's disappearance. Though Ana's return is a mystery to knowing residents, it doesn't come to a surprise to fellow freshman Jack (Zachary Paolo), whom Ana only told about her mother's death when they were still in a relationship - not even telling his recent girlfriend Carrie. This then puts more tension between Ana and Carrie as the two are bound to put up to the test by an unknown chaser.

When Ana's brother Isaac (Jeremy Shea) surprises her for a visit just as she settles in, he brings an unexpected guest with him - their father, Henri (David Abadie), where Ana finds it difficult to hide her disappointment when Henri wasn't there for her and Isaac when their mother had died - even though their mother and Henri had already been divorced. Jack's childhood friend Mads (Allie Momsen) help Jack plan a small birthday surprise for Carrie, though Carrie herself is not in the party mood. She instead receives a text from Holden (Randy Westwick), a college sophomore, saying that he's back in town where Carrie worries that he might disclose the details of their summer hook-up during Tyler's (Luke Crawford) party to Jack when they were still together. Meanwhile, Sarah's mother, Dana (Lorna Misner) refuses to remain the understanding mother any longer when she joins in with Detective Larson (Tom Settle) and the authorities to investigate Sarah's missing case.

In a revealing twist, Mads questions the lack of passion in her relationship with recent boyfriend Eric (Ray Heusinger), while at the same time Carrie appears to have lost her "passion" for both Jack and Holden after having been torn by the two. Meanwhile, Ana signs up for a waitressing internship at a bar called Callies just as classes are about the start as she vies to make both ends meet. Dana and Will on the other hand question Mrs. Carver (Ellen Colin) - the high school's guidance counselor and one of the school staff whom last talked to Sarah, where thinking she wouldn't give up on an answer have Dana interrogate her later. Whilst being stuck on a supermarket due to a heavy rain, Ana and Jack talk about their past relationship and what they had gone through where eventually, they come to a conclusion that it's better to stay friends and leave it instead in the past.