The end of the school year is here, and college life has flown by at lightning speed. But Zoey’s situation? That’s moving at a much slower pace, especially when she finds herself awkwardly explaining to Luca that she landed a job with Joey Bada$$, despite initially trying to coach him into getting it.
The conversation doesn’t go as smoothly as she hoped. Soon after, we’re thrown into a chaotic scene in the girls’ apartment, where boxes are scattered everywhere because it’s time to move out. Zoey reveals she hasn’t spoken to Luca in over a week.
Amidst boxes and goodbyes, Zoey faces the challenge of mending friendships (Photo: Grown-ish Season 2/ABC Signature)Despite this, she’s determined to invite him to the final day of the Joey B. pop-up shop she’s been working on. Still, she doesn’t want to make it seem like she’s rubbing her success in his face. Nomi and Ana encourage her to go ahead with the invitation. And just like that, it’s sent.
Meanwhile, Jazz and Sky are in the doctor’s office celebrating Sky’s recovery and preparing for her cast to come off. Their excitement for the #TrackTourneyTurnUp is soon interrupted, though, when unexpected news takes a turn.
A Moment of Reconnection with Luca
At the pop-up event later, Nomi, Ana, and Aaron come to support Zoey, and during a quiet moment with Zo, Ana shares that she and Aaron are back on friendly terms. Ana also adds a little insight: “We all know who he’s really in love with,” she teases.
On the other side of the room, Doug and Vivek are eyeing the same jacket, clearly ready for a showdown. They face off in a silent stare-down, each waiting for the other to blink. Who wins? The jacket? The tension? Who knows?
Back to Zoey: She’s still convinced that Luca won’t show up. She assumes their relationship is officially over. Ana and Nomi, with their usual mix of encouragement and slight mischief, tell her to forget about Luca and embrace the moment. Zoey agrees.
She begins a speech about being a strong Black woman who managed to pull off her first major fashion event without relying on a man, just as Luca walks in. The moment she had planned suddenly shifted. Zoey thanks Luca for coming, apologizes for their last conversation, and they quickly reconnect.
Luca insists on showing him around, and the pair heads off to enjoy the event together. Meanwhile, Doug and Vivek’s battle over the jacket seems to lose steam, but the competition for the Bada$$ merch continues, with Vivek suggesting they share the coat, splitting the cost. A surprising, yet practical, arrangement.
Zoey Faces Tough Decisions and New Beginnings
Back in the doctor’s office, things don’t look good for Sky. The fracture is more serious than expected, and she won’t be getting her cast off just yet. Worse, she’ll miss the championships. Jazz, feeling vulnerable, expresses her fear of competing without Sky. “I’ve never done anything without you,” she confesses.
Sky, softening her usual tough exterior, reassures Jazz that she’ll be okay and that by fall, they’ll be back together, running side by side. As Zoey’s relationship with Luca seems to be on the mend, another curveball comes her way.
Inviting Luca to a pop-up shop is Zoey’s way of extending an olive branch (Photo: Grown-ish Season 2/ABC Signature)Luca, after apologizing for his past actions, makes a comment that stings: he suggests that Joey Bada$$ only hired Zoey because she’s cute and bubbly, not because of her talent. Zoey doesn’t take this lightly.
What follows is a heated exchange where Zoey accuses Luca of offering conditional support, only when it’s convenient for him. In the heat of the moment, she ends things for good. Fast forward to three days later. Zoey is packing up her room when her roommates arrive to cheer her up.
She announces that she’s heading to London for the summer to work at Joey B.’s flagship store. Ana, while supportive, reminds Zoey that she doesn’t need to go halfway across the world to prove something to Luca. Zoey explains that it’s not about Luca, but about proving something to herself.
The next day, the group gathers in the now-empty apartment for one last hangout. As they share laughs, Nomi receives a call from the school’s independent ethics committee. They’ve received complaints about Professor Hewson’s conduct and want to speak to her about it.
Shaken, Nomi decides to keep the news from her friends, brushing it off as just another telemarketer. The girls end the day with a final #sophomoreselfie before heading off to their next adventures. At Doug’s dorm, Jazz is cuddled up on the couch with him when Luca shows up, looking for Zoey.
Jazz keeps quiet, but Doug isn’t as tight-lipped. Zoey, now on her way to London, gets another call from Luca as she pulls up to the airport. Once again, she hits ignore. This time, though, as she looks over at the driver’s seat, she sees Aaron. “You good, Freshman?” he asks with a knowing smile.
Zoey thanks him for the ride, but just before she exits, she confides in him about her nervousness about the new job. He reassures her that she’ll do great. In that moment, Zoey reflects on all the times Aaron has been there for her. A little montage would have been nice here, but alas, none.
Aaron smiles, and they step out to grab her bags. Zoey spots him carrying a Joey B. bag from the pop-up. “Just wanted to support you,” he says with a simple, genuine smile. Before they can say much more, Zoey heads straight for the plane.
As the plane begins to taxi, Luca, having just arrived, rushes toward the boarding area, hoping to stop Zoey from leaving. It’s too late. His grand gesture is denied. As the plane takes off, Zoey’s voiceover offers a profound reflection on fear and growth: “The reality about facing you fear that you never know the outcome.
Whether you’re scared of opening old wounds, afraid you’re losing the best thing you ever had, or nervous about starting something new, the truth is, the only way to conquer those fears is to fly right through them.”
