“It’s a moment that changes things,” says Summer’s portrayer, Alison Lanier. “She and Chance have been developing this friendship for a while now. They have great banter, and there’s certainly some chemistry there.”

But the actress says that when Summer goes to the hospital and sees her pal fighting for his life, “it makes her kinda realize how much he’s come to mean to her.”

Up until now, any feelings she might have been developing toward the hunk have been lurking beneath the surface, and with good reason. “She knows that Chance and Sharon are dating or spending time together,” reminds Lanier. “So it’s almost as if her subconscious hasn’t been letting her feel the things that she might otherwise feel.”

Or it hadn’t been until now! “Suddenly, things start to bubble toward the surface,” she continues. “After this, there’s no denying that she does have feelings for him. It sort of lights a fire within her.”

More: What did Michelle Stafford declare to be ‘unacceptable!’

However, this isn’t the same Summer who happily caused trouble just a few years back. “She’s gone through such a chaotic year,” reminds Lanier. “After watching her mom cause all kinds of drama, that’s kind of the last thing Summer wants in her own life, to be the cause of someone else’s pain. So she’s going to struggle with these newfound feelings.”

That said, “she may not be as successful at keeping them repressed as she might hope to,” Lanier laughs. “It might be a little bit of a slow burn, but the fire has been ignited. And knowing Summer, it’s not going to be easily extinguished”