Our gang are back after the summer break, in a seemingly protective bubble their hedonism.

Emily and Naomi are loved up and enjoying their extended summer of love together. The thorn in Emily's side is her family. Her mother is unable to accept Naomi as anything other than a bad influence, and is keen for Emily to go travelling alone without her girlfriend, offering her money as a cash incentive. Emily is intent on standing by her woman and showing her mother they're stronger than that.

Cook is in prison. After beating someone up at the party (episode 2) in front of a room full of witnesses, he's told by his lawyer that he has no choice but to plead guilty. But Cook isn't willing to accept responsibility and pleads not guilty, and is released on bail.

Katie Fitch has a problem. Katie's family's bankrupt, and they've got nowhere to live. And under the strain of it all, Jenna and Rob seem to be headed for splitsville and James Fitch is scared.

Freddie is loved up. Completely. He and Effy are enjoying their time together and carrying on their hedonistic ways with no thought of tomorrow.

JJ is in love. Lara Lloyd is sweet perfection and he's smitten. But JJ thinks she's way out of his league and lacks the courage to ask her out. Thomas tells him he should make a move, and if he doesn't, he will. So JJ plucks up the courage…

Effy has been in a psychiatric hospital recovering since she tried to take her own life. After lots of sessions with her counsellor John Foster, he tells her she is ready to go back home. Effy is worried she could slip back into her previous state, but John assures her that as long as she is disciplined she will be ok, and she will still visit him for sessions.

With their A-level results in for most of the gang, thoughts about the past and the future are on their minds. Thomas is running fast, Katie is doing her best to match make, JJ is baby sitting, Cookie's up to his old tricks, Emily's confused and Naomi's had enough. Effy is released and pining for Freddie. But no-one knows where he is. And Pandora has news of her own.