Moments that point to the fact that conrad was interested in Belly prior to the “summer she turned pretty”

I know we have debated a lot around the boardwalk flashback and whether conrad saw it as a date or liked belly back. I was wondering what other moments you feel point to the fact that he did like her before the summer she was 15 turning 16?

The bonfire scene where belly sees conrad kissing nicole. Belly asks who she is and conrad explains he took her to the deb ball last summer but specifically says “after you left”. I feel like he added that part to let her know he wasnt with nicole when she was there.

I know its kind if small but its something i always perceived as intentional on conrads part. Why else say it “after you left”.