Episode 2.15 - "The Mallpisode" -

Billy Campbell will guest-star on THE O.C. in a multi-episode arc. Campbell's character, Carter, will arrive in Newport Beach to work with Kirsten on a new business venture. Johnny Messner will guest-star as Lance, an opportunist blast from Julie Cooper's past. A man named Lance Bradley drops by the Newport Group asking to see Julie, he claims he is a "blast from her past." Another man, this one named Griffin Conroy, also from Julie's past, comes to the office too. Julie and Griffin have a chat in a bar where she asks him what he's doing in Newport. He's got something on Julie and it's on tape! What could it be? Summer, Seth, Ryan, and Marissa go to a store (even if it's closed because it's Sunday) where they get clothes for a charity for women. An employee let them in but somehow they seem to end up being stuck in the mall with no way out (or maybe they just decide to stay there and have fun as long as possible... it's not clear). Alex appears in the episode. Julie and Kirsten discuss the making of a magazine named "Newport Living". Julie wants to have her picture on the front of every issue and Kirsten doesn't think it's the way to go. They meet with Carter Buckley, a handsome 30-year-old, a man who is set to help them bring the magazine to life. Julie is not happy to have an outsider tell them what to put in a magazine about "them" (as in Newport people). He is not happy either he has to work for such a magazine but his publisher is ordering him too. Later, he and Kirsten will enjoy a meal and wine in a restaurant and talk about the magazine. Carter seems interested in Kirsten.

Episode 2.16 - "The Blaze of Glory" -

Marissa's renewed friendship with Ryan brings out Alex's insecurities about her new lover; Julie turns to Sandy for help when Lance threatens to reveal her past by showing the Porn tape he has in his possession. Kirsten beseeches Carter to stick with Newport Living while Seth is determined to bring back the spirit and fun times of last year and won't stop until his plan is fulfilled. Alex's jealousy is fueled when Marissa enlists an unlikely partner (Ryan) to help her with the school bonfire. Sandy wants to have a chat with a man named Lance, who's somewhat busy with a hooker. Sandy wants to negotiate a deal that will keep secret certain things about Julie. Students are trying to assemble a big wooden horse on the beach (Troy?). Marissa seems in charge of the project as students keep asking her questions but she doesn't know all of the answers. Ryan comes to her help.

Episode 2.17 - "The Brothers Grim" -

Trey is out of jail and decided to turn to his brother for help and a place to stay. He'll end up staying in the pool house. He's looking for a job but it's not working well. Ryan finds a watch Trey was looking at earlier in the episode when they went shopping with Marissa and accuses his brother of having stole it. Trey says he went back to the store to buy it. The brothers' relationship goes back to what it used to be... Ryan thinks his brother will never change. Trey wants to prove he's on the right path now. Since he's brother doesn't seem to want to give him a chance, Trey storms out. Ryan and Marissa go to a bar in Chino in the hope to find Trey. There is a party at the Cohens for, what it seems, the launch of "Newport Living." Carter appears in the episode.

Episode 2.18 - "The Risky Business" -

Sandy becomes the honorary chair of the Newport Beach charity yard sale, he solicits help from Trey, who has his first run-in with the Newpsies. While Sandy auctions off Newport's finest, Kirsten and Carter share a table. When one of the auction's most expensive pieces goes missing,(the egg). Seth, wearing a business suit, goes to find the missing egg (from "Risky Business" the movie). Meanwhile Alex is gone and Marissa and Trey are in Alex’s empty apartment with the landlord. Trey is looking for an apartment to stay in because he can't stay with the Cohens forever. Kirsten and Carter's relationship becomes stronger. Ryan and Marissa enjoy one another's company.

Episode 2.19 - "The Rager" -

Ryan's brother Trey is turning 21 and Marissa wants to throw a party for him and tries to convince Ryan to help out. Zach and Seth meet up with a 23-year-old woman named Reed to discuss their comic. Seth seems to like Reed a lot but he has a girlfriend so Reed is offlimits. Julie receives a package that doesn't please her at all. Sandy and Carter become friends, Sandy teaches Carter how to surf. Meanwhile Trey's party gets way out of hand. Julie corners her blast from the past with a gun.

Episode 2.20 - "The O.C. Confidental" -

Sandy and Trey are busy preparing Trey's defense in a case they have to go to trial. They go visit a man named Tom MacKinnon to make a deal. Trey claims he didn't do it (what he is charged for occurred in episode The Rager). Trey claims he is protection a friend. Zach and Seth are at Reed's Silver Lake pad where they have a chat about the comic with Reed and a guy named Damon. They are asked to make a few changes. Seth is not happy about this but Zach keeps saying "we will look into it." There is a party at the pad celebrating the upcoming launch of the comic. Summer attends. Carter and Kirsten attend a wine tasting press party to write about it in the magazine. Marissa and Ryan go to a Waterpolo party.