Page 17

6

‘Prom night, baby!’

‘Kellen!’ I scream, pushing Chase out of the way and running for the door.

‘Kellen!’

I sprint up the stairs, but this time he doesn’t appear in his doorway.

Instead, I hear Rhys.

The unsettling sound of his desperate cries for help.

Some of the other students rush out into the corridor as I burst through into Kellen’s room.

Kellen is lying on the floor, Rhys crouched next to him, frozen.

‘I don’t know what …

I don’t know what happened …

’ he says, looking up at me.

He’s white as a sheet.

‘I just woke up and he’s …

’

‘Move!’ I shout, pushing him out of the way.

Kellen is lifeless, his skin ashen.

Pressing my hands to his chest, I frantically start giving him CPR, exactly as he taught me.

‘Call a fucking ambulance!’ I yell at Rhys, who is still just frozen to the spot.

I know it’ll take too long to get here, but what else am I supposed to do?

I continue the compressions on his chest, but he isn’t responding.

‘Kellen!’ I bawl, pushing harder now.

You’re better off breaking a rib than having them die on you …

I hear his words clear in my mind.

‘ Ah, ah, ah, ah … stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive .

’

My voice is fraught as I push harder and harder.

‘There’s no service!

’ I hear Chase in the corridor, trying to make the phone call.

‘ Ah, ah, ah, ah – Someone get Madzikanda!’

Kellen, wake up …

Wake the fuck up!

I think of us driving along the road, me in the passenger seat, the summer air breezing through the open window; us lying on the roof; him struggling with the rowing boat; the birthday cake; the way he smiles from one side of his mouth; the way he brings light to every room he walks into.

The thought of waking up every day without him dawns on me now.

The thought of never again seeing the light in those deep brown eyes …

Kellen! Please wake up!

Ah, ah, ah, ah … Don’t you fucking die on me!

Ah, ah, ah, ah … Don’t leave me here alone in this!

Ah, ah, ah, ah … And I’m crying now because it’s not working.

He’s not waking up.

‘Kellen …’

‘He needs air,’ Rhys says, finally snapping out of his daze and pulling me off Kellen.

‘You’re not doing it right.

’

I watch helplessly as Rhys leans down to breathe into his mouth, then continues the compressions.

Please be OK, Kellen.

I need you to be OK .

But nothing. It doesn’t work.

His heart has stopped.

He’s completely lifeless.

Rhys’s shoulders slump.

I can see him giving up.

But then I remember Kellen’s words:

‘ Even if you think they’re gone, don’t stop until the ambulance gets there.

’

‘Keep going!’

‘He’s gone, Zach …

’

‘He’s not gone!’

I push Rhys out of the way and climb back on top of Kellen.

I keep the compressions going, desperately pushing on his chest, willing him to take a breath.

Come on, Kellen. Wake up!

Please, just wake up!

This time, I lean down to breathe into him myself and, the moment my lips touch his, I feel an electric shock that jolts me backwards.

A weird feeling. Something I’ve felt before.

Kellen lies still for a moment.

Everything is silent.

And then, suddenly, he starts gasping for air.

‘Kellen!’ I choke through tears as I grab him and pull him into me.

His whole body is trembling.

‘Zach …?’

‘Yeah,’ I say, squeezing him.

‘It’s me.’

‘Did I … die ?’ he says.

‘Zach, did I just … die ?’

‘You’re OK,’ I say, letting him go to give him some air.

‘You’re OK.’

‘Kellen …’ Rhys says.

He looks like he’s seen a ghost.

‘Rhys …’

Rhys rushes forward and throws his arms round Kellen.

‘I love you, Kellen. I love you so fucking much.’

And there it is.

It only took his boyfriend dying to get him to say it.

‘Are you sure you’re OK?

’

‘Yeah,’ Kellen says, though he still sounds shaky.

We’re back in Miss Madzikanda’s office, having already explained that this is a Huckleberry Situation.

‘You need a hospital,’ she says.

‘Just to be on the safe side.’

‘You know I can’t leave,’ Kellen replies.

‘Besides, what’s a doctor going to do?

They can’t treat me for an accident that hasn’t happened yet!

’

‘ We can’t die ,’ I say, repeating Kellen’s words back to him.

‘You’re such an idiot.

I can’t believe you thought we couldn’t die …

’

Madzikanda digs her fingers deep into her Afro.

‘Of course you can die! Why the hell do you kids always think you can’t die?

! I swear to God, I could kill you both myself!

’

‘For the record, I always thought we could die,’ I say.

‘Well, did you think of telling him?’ She points at Kellen.

‘What the hell happened?’

‘Prom caught fire.’

‘Again?!’

‘What do you mean again ?!’

‘Prom always catches fire! Every bloody year! In my year, it happened twice .’

She reaches into her desk for the yearbook, the weight of it slamming down in front of us.

‘Why do you have that out of its case?’ I ask.

‘Harrington’s going to flip.

’

‘Oh, let him.’ She dismisses the idea with a wave of her hand.

‘I need you to see this.’ She leafs through until she lands on 1978.

‘Look,’ she says, pointing to one of the entries.

‘“ To a scorching-hot prom ,”’ I read aloud.

‘Well, that’s just in bad taste,’ Kellen says.

‘So which one of you idiots was it then? Who’s the pyro out of the two of you?

’

‘That would be me,’ Kellen says.

‘I cut the power and –’

‘Why would you cut the power?’

‘Because it was Zach’s birthday!

We were doing candles!

’

She looks across to me.

‘It’s your birthday?

’

‘Yesterday was my birthday.’

Madzikanda shakes her head.

‘Yesterday as in today, or yesterday as in yesterday?’

‘Yesterday as in five days’ time.

’

‘I don’t follow.

’ Madzikanda sighs. ‘Every year I think I have this figured out. And every year you kids find new ways to surprise me.’

‘Why didn’t you tell us before that prom always catches fire?

’ I ask. Kinda seems like an important detail that she somehow failed to mention?

‘I don’t know, Zach, because I don’t remember what conversations we have and haven’t had.

But my guess is that I didn’t want to put ideas in your head.

You kids are all the same.

I tell you not to set prom on fire, and you go straight out and buy a box of matches …

’

‘We can’t go to the shop, though, miss.

We can’t leave. But Kellen did manage to convince you to order us all pizza.

’

‘Pizza?’

‘Pepperoni …’

She looks at us in disbelief before burying her head in her hands.

‘I need you to understand,’ she says after a moment, ‘that this day has a way of speeding you along , if you know what I mean. The second you get distracted? Start wasting time? Ordering pizza? That’s when bad things start to happen.

’

‘Why did you let us order pizza then?’ I protest.

‘I don’t know because I wasn’t there !

’

‘Well, you were there …’ I grumble.

‘I swear to God …’

‘What do you mean bad things ?’ Kellen asks.

He actually looks scared now.

‘Fallen trees, crashed cars … One kid swore blind they were attacked by a bear.’

‘We don’t have bears in this country,’ I say automatically.

‘Well, I didn’t think so either!

’ Madzikanda snaps back.

‘Told you.’ Kellen smirks.

‘The longer you stay in this day,’ she says, ‘the less things start to make sense. There’s no reason the building should keep going up in flames, and yet someone knocks the tiniest candle and it’s like a match has been lit at a petrol station.

You’re right, Zach, there are no bears in this country …

until suddenly there are.

’

‘So you’re saying that this place has the ability to distort reality?

’

I think of the black smoke billowing from the school.

The car slamming into the barrier that wasn’t there.

The never-ending depths of a lake that’s barely a metre deep.

Even the vividness of that dream, of Kellen falling through the skylight.

It all felt so real.

As real as anything else that’s going on here.

‘So you’re telling us anything can happen?

’ Kellen asks. ‘We might get attacked by a poltergeist … bitten by a vampire! Chased by an enormous fire-breathing dragon?’

Madzikanda squints at him.

‘I think we can safely rule out ghosts, vampires and dragons. But if it can happen in the real world, it can definitely happen here.’

‘Gotcha,’ Kellen says sarcastically.

‘Coming back from the dead is just fine, but we draw the line at dragons.’

‘You’re just lucky you’re blessed with such good weather.

’ She peers out of the window.

‘One poor kid’s prom night was in the middle of a thunderstorm, so you can imagine how that went …

’

‘They got hit by lightning?’

‘No, but just about everything else did.’

‘So you’re saying the loop is malicious then?

Like it has thoughts ?

Bad intent?’

‘Only if you ignore it.’

‘You’re making it sound like it’s sentient!

’

‘Honestly, sometimes it seems like it might be.’

‘So it’s evil?

’ I say. ‘You’re telling us we’re stuck in a real-life horror movie?

’

Madzikanda shakes her head.

‘I don’t think it’s malevolent.

If anything, I think it’s trying to help you.

’

‘Help us?’ Kellen looks at her in disbelief.

‘By trying to kill us?’

‘It’s just giving you a little …

push.’

‘Off a cliff?’ Kellen says.

‘I know it’s probably difficult to hear this right now, but everyone who’s gone through this experience came out the other side grateful for having done so.

’

‘Yeah, I’m really grateful.

Just love it when my heart stops,’ Kellen grumbles.

‘Personally, I can’t get enough water filling my lungs,’ I chip in.

‘Look,’ she says, ‘I know it doesn’t sound that way now.

If somebody had said that to me when I was in the loop, I’d have probably punched them.

But trust me, it’ll all make sense in the end.

’

‘Yesterday you told us that we had an objective,’ Kellen says.

‘Something we had to figure out? I’d given up on trying to get Rhys to try and stay with me, but then this morning he said he loved me.

Could that be it, miss?

Is all this really about me and Rhys?

’

‘You tell me,’ she replies.

‘But he’s an asshole,’ I protest. ‘You said it yourself!’

‘I said that because I thought he didn’t want to be with me …

’

‘He doesn’t wanna be with you!

’ I say. ‘He was just in shock!’

‘Wow …’ Kellen says.

‘Jealous much?’

‘Jealous? Why would I be jealous?!’

‘He tried to save me, Zach! You said it yourself.’

‘Tried and failed,’ I mutter.

‘You’re being a dick.

’

‘I’m telling it how it is.

This isn’t about Rhys.

Crawling back to him would be an astronomical mistake.

You heard what Miss said – we need to stop wasting time.

’

‘ Wasting time? ’ he says.

‘I’ve done enough of that the past few days with you.

’

‘Excuse me?’

‘You’re excused,’ he snarls, storming out of the door, slamming it behind him.

‘What an asshole,’ I say.

‘Because you handled that so well yourself?’ Madzikanda frowns.

‘You two do see what’s happening here, right?

Like, you can’t be that oblivious?

’

‘What do you mean, miss?’

She gives a long-drawn-out sigh.

‘If you and Kellen don’t start being honest with each other, I think you’re gonna be stuck here a while .

’

‘Being honest with each other? What’s that supposed to mean?

’

She stands up and goes over to the door.

‘I’m going to go and make some bad decisions because Lord knows they won’t stick.

Tell the others Capture the Flag is cancelled.

Come and find me when you’ve figured it all out, though, won’t you?

I’d quite like to be there for the finale.

’

‘Let’s get out of here,’ I say, finding Bec and Chase in the dining hall.

‘What about the game?’ Bec asks, confused.

‘What’s going on, Zach?

’

‘It’s cancelled,’ I say.

‘On account of Kellen’s injuries.

’

‘He seems fine to me …’ Chase says.

I look across the room and see Kellen and Rhys already playing the happy couple.

I can hear Rhys telling a highly exaggerated story about how he ‘saved’ him.

Kellen isn’t even bothering to correct him.

What an absolute fucking joke.

‘You know Tiffany’s already made a call to her dad?

’ Bec says. ‘They’re running a story painting Rhys as the Hawthorn Hero .

They’re saying he saved Kellen’s life …

’

‘Rhys did fuck all,’ I snap.

‘But let them say whatever the hell they want. I’m so far past caring.

’

‘But it’s a lie,’ Chase protests.

‘Whatever happened to the integrity of journalism?’

‘ The integrity of journalism? ’ I squint at him.

‘I think that ship has sailed, Chase. Just look at what they wrote about you! Where was the integrity of journalism then?’

‘Exactly why you should set the story straight!’ he says.

‘Though I still don’t understand how you realized something was wrong.

You ran out of the room screaming his name like you already knew he was in trouble.

’

‘I just sensed something wasn’t right,’ I lie.

‘Call it a gut feeling.’

‘ A gut feeling? ’ Bec says.

‘Are you telling us you’re psychic, Zach?

’

‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.

’

‘Try us,’ Bec says.

I look back and forth between them.

My two best friends in the whole world.

They didn’t believe me last time, but maybe I just didn’t explain it right.

Maybe I can convince them.

Maybe I should try a second time.

Tom and Jerry logic, right?

‘Look over there,’ I say, nodding towards Owen.

‘Any moment now, Ethan is going to stand up and throw that ball at him.’

‘What?’ Chase says, looking at me puzzled.

‘Just watch,’ I say as it all plays out in real time.

‘Think fast!’

I feel bad for Owen, humiliated again.

But I had to prove it somehow.

‘How did you know that was going to happen?’ Chase says, confusion painted across his face just as Owen’s lunch is sprayed across his shirt.

Bec looks equally puzzled.

‘Are you actually saying you’re psychic?

’

‘Not exactly,’ I say.

‘But if I tell you, do you promise this time you’ll believe me?

’

‘What do you mean this time ?’

‘Come on,’ I say.

‘I’ll show you.’

We’re sitting outside on the grass, the yearbook open in front of us.

Mr Harrington would lose his mind if he saw us, but Madzikanda was right – there really are so many clues in here when you know what you’re looking for.

You have to read between the lines, but it’s undeniable that some of these kids must have gone through the same thing as me and Kellen.

Despite whatever hardships they may have faced, they seemed to come out the other side better for it.

They all seem grateful for what happened.

Just like Madzikanda said.

My favourite is an entry from someone called Jacob in 1984.

Orwell’s year. I try to imagine what he might have looked like.

Unsurprisingly, I imagine him being really cute.

Glad for every iteration

For showing me the way

Through this never-ending story

On this never-ending day.

Barely even cryptic.

He might as well have just written BY THE WAY, FOLKS, THIS IS A MAGIC SCHOOL.

‘I think he’s just referencing a movie,’ Chase says, holding up his phone.

‘Look, The Neverending Story came out that same year.’

‘Give me that,’ I say, taking his phone and looking at the Wikipedia entry.

‘It was released in the United States in 1984. Didn’t come out in the UK until 1985.

He couldn’t have seen it!

’

‘Because aeroplanes didn’t exist in the eighties?

’ drawls Chase. Why is he determined to poke holes in this?

‘He probably saw it in America, Zach.’

‘That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?

’

‘You’re asking me to believe you’re trapped in a real-life Groundhog Day , but a kid getting on a plane is absolutely unfathomable …

’

I sigh. ‘I knew you wouldn’t believe me.

’

‘I didn’t say that.

I’m still processing.

’

‘This evidence is all a bit circumstantial, but it’s still really convincing,’ Bec agrees.

‘But what else? You’ve been looping round in circles for what?

Nearly a week now? There must be something else you’ve uncovered, something else we didn’t know about before.

’

‘Well,’ I say, racking my brain, ‘something bad is gonna happen.’

‘Something bad?’ Chase says.

‘Worse than Kellen suddenly dropping dead?’

‘Just before prom,’ I say.

‘When we’re all gathered by the fountain, everyone finds out Ethan’s private pictures have been leaked all over the internet.

’

‘Really?’ Bec sits upright, a look of concern spreading across her face.

‘I wouldn’t joke about this,’ I say.

‘They’re gonna go majorly viral.

Tiffany will make a scene.

She’ll call her dad and scream at him, begging him to “ make it go away! ” But it’s all an act.

The person that leaked the photos?

It was her.’

‘What?’ Bec says.

‘You’re not serious?

’

‘Deadly,’ I say.

‘It’s going to happen.

And there’s nothing we can do to stop it.

’

‘But why would she do that?’ Chase says.

‘It doesn’t make any sense.

’

‘Doesn’t it? All publicity is good publicity – that’s what she always says, right?

’

‘But leaking her own boyfriend’s nudes?

That’s bleak. Even for Tiffany …

’

‘And Ethan?’ Bec asks.

‘How does he take it?’

‘Surprisingly well,’ I say.

‘Not that it makes it OK.’

‘But why can’t we stop it?

If you already know it’s gonna happen …

’

‘She sent the email this morning, before I even woke up. We got into her emails and found everything. It’s not the only one she sent.

There’s one from last year …

’

‘Oh my God,’ Chase says.

I don’t even need to finish the sentence.

‘This whole time? Despite every time she’s denied it?

It was her? You’re absolutely certain?

’

‘I’m positive,’ I say.

‘We had the evidence right in our hands, but …’

‘The day reset?’

‘Well, yeah, but Kellen also threw her phone in the lake …’

‘What? Why?’ Bec sighs.

‘This is a lot to take in, Zach.’

‘I know,’ I say.

‘I don’t expect you to believe me.

You didn’t the first time.

But I’m not sure I even have the capacity to make something like this up.

’

‘You do watch a lot of movies.’ Chase frowns.

‘And this low-key sounds like the plot from one of them. But … I think I might actually believe you.’

I feel instantly lighter just hearing him say that.

‘Me too,’ Bec says. ‘Is there anything else we should know?’

I think about telling them about the pig’s blood and what happened to Chase that first prom, but I don’t think he needs to know that right now.

Instead, I settle on something more positive.

‘Well,’ I say, ‘there is one other thing. You know how I’ve always had a crush on Cameron?

’

‘Oh my God!’ Bec exclaims. ‘Did you and him actually …?’

‘No.’ I laugh.

‘I wish .’

‘So what then?’

‘He told me he has a crush on someone else.’

‘Ouch!’ Chase winces.

‘That must have stung.’

‘You’d think so,’ I say.

‘But then he told me who it was and it softened the blow a little … Bec, he was talking about you.’

I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look more stunned.

‘Me?’

‘Yeah, I know you don’t feel the same, but –’

‘Whoa, whoa, whoa,’ she interrupts.

‘I didn’t say that.’

‘Huh?’

‘I never said I didn’t feel the same.

’

Now it’s my turn to look gobsmacked.

‘So you’re telling me you do like him?

’

‘Kinda …’

Maybe Kellen was right when he said that everyone is carrying secrets.

‘Then why didn’t you say something?

Because you thought he was gay?

’

‘What? I’ve always known he’s bi, Zach.

I didn’t say anything because I knew you liked him.

There’s plenty of other boys at this school, but he was the one you really fancied.

I wasn’t about to get in the way of that.

’

‘This whole time?’

‘This whole time,’ she says.

‘It’s not a big deal.

’

‘It kind of is, though.’ Talk about selfless.

‘I don’t know what to say …

’

‘You don’t have to say anything,’ she says, laughing.

‘Except that you wouldn’t mind if I …

’

‘Of course not!’ I exclaim.

‘If there’s one good thing that comes out of this, please, for the love of God, let it be at least one of us seeing him naked!

’

Bec shakes her head.

‘OK, I didn’t say we were going to get naked.

I was thinking more like going for tapas.

’

‘Tapas and then tap that ass!’ Chase says.

‘Go immediately to jail,’ she says, laughing again.

Prom is in full swing by the time I finally have the two of them caught up.

If they had any doubts, they don’t once they see Tiffany screaming for her father to ‘ make it go away! ’ Their jaws drop in perfect synchronization as they watch it happen in real time.

I just wish this wasn’t all going to reset again at midnight; it’s nice to have them clued in for once.

The hall is once again decorated in both Sycamore and Hawthorn colours.

I could tell that annoyed Tiffany when she got up onstage to be crowned Prom Queen.

She must have given Owen clear instructions not to get any Sycamore banners in shot because this time he streamed her win from the most awkward angle.

Bec and Cameron are standing together, and I think they may finally be making progress.

I definitely sense a spark between them.

I think they just need that little extra push.

I make a mental note to try to play Cupid later, but I’m still confused about what it is exactly that I’m supposed to be doing to break the loop.

Bec and Chase have thrown out some compelling suggestions, but I think they’re too preoccupied with the outside world rather than what’s going on right here.

That’s something I’ve come to understand – this isn’t about winning the lottery or finding a cure for Covid .

It’s about something that is happening within the walls of this school.

I look across the hall at Kellen awkwardly dancing with his boyfriend.

He’s convinced that this was all about saving his relationship, but I’m certain he’s got that wrong.

This isn’t about them .

Whatever is going on here, it’s about us .

It has to be. Why else would we both be stuck here?

Rhys is just one great big oversized distraction.

I’m not bitter. Honest.

But then there’s still Owen.

On that first night, when everything went so disastrously wrong, he was the one to come after me in that dazzling gold suit.

He’s probably the nicest and most gentle person I’ve ever known, a real-life Prince Charming.

I hate that I don’t reciprocate those feelings, but maybe I’m just not looking hard enough.

Maybe there is something there …

something I’m missing?

Could this be our love story?

Am I just too stupid to see it?

It can’t be a coincidence that this was all started by that kiss.

Maybe if we could just recreate it – kiss a second time – then maybe those feelings would come?

With the intensity that Kellen is kissing Rhys, you’d think he was working on a similar theory.

It’s like he thinks the solution to this problem is in the back of Rhys’s throat and the only way to get at it is with his tongue.

It’s so intense that it’s clearly making people uncomfortable.

So much so that if it was a pair of straight students that were doing this they’d definitely be asked to stop.

Nobody wants to say that to the gay kids, though.

What if someone yells homophobia?

I look around for Madzikanda.

She’s the only member of staff who really understands that equality is about treating everyone exactly the same.

Watching them kiss is starting to turn my stomach, so I resolve to go looking for Owen.

I’d rather kiss him than spend even one more second watching Kellen and Rhys.

I find him and Josh sitting out by the lake.

They look like they’re having a heart-to-heart, so I hang back for a moment and pretend to be busy on my phone.

It must be hard for them, having built this incredible friendship, knowing that it won’t be the same after tonight.

That’s something we all have to deal with: life won’t be the same once we finally cross midnight.

At least me and Kellen have endless opportunities to make sure we get this right.

Owen shakes his cup, signalling that it’s empty, and Josh stands up to go and get them some more drinks.

This is my opportunity and so I take it.

Owen is definitely not unattractive .

In fact, he’s kind of handsome in his own soft, dorky kind of way.

On paper, he’s boyfriend material.

Kissing him wouldn’t be that bad.

I just need to reprogramme my stupid brain into fancying him.

How hard can that really be?

‘Hey,’ I say, approaching.

‘I’m not interrupting, am I?

’

He chuckles. ‘Yeah, I was deep in conversation with my imaginary friends.’

I take that as an invitation to sit down.

‘So?’ Owen says, reading me perfectly.

‘You’ve gone all serious, Zach …

’

‘Yeah,’ I admit.

Where do I even start?

How am I supposed to make a move on a guy that I’m not even attracted to?

‘I just don’t really know how to do this.

’

‘Do what?’

I hold eye contact for a moment, thinking about the past two years we’ve spent together.

He’s always sort of faded into the background, but could it be …

?

‘It’s our last night,’ I say, moving my hand a little closer to his leg.

‘And I honestly don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

I don’t even really understand how I feel any more.

’

‘OK?’ Owen says.

I can tell he’s confused, but he’s listening like he really cares.

‘You’ve always been so nice to me,’ I continue.

‘You’re nice to everyone.

That’s what makes you Owen.

And yet somehow you’re always single, never dating anyone …

’

Owen shrugs. ‘Dating isn’t everything, Zach.

I can find happiness in other ways.

’

‘I know,’ I say.

‘But what if you didn’t have to find other ways?

What if happiness was right here in front of you the whole time.

What if you just couldn’t see it?

’

Owen’s face turns serious now too.

Like he suddenly understands what I’m saying.

‘Do you not think it’s worth giving happiness a shot?

’ I ask, holding eye contact.

I look at the stars reflecting in his eyes, hear the sound of the water lapping beside us.

This might actually be it.

We’re finally going to have our moment.

And so I take a deep breath and lean in …

‘Whoa!’ Owen says, withdrawing.

‘What are you doing, mate?’

‘It’s OK,’ I answer.

‘There’s no one here.

I know you like me.’

‘What?’ he says.

‘Zach, what are you talking about?’

‘It’s hard to explain,’ I say.

‘But you don’t need to hide it.

I know .’

He withdraws further.

‘I think you’re confused …

Where is this coming from?

’

‘Your wardrobe,’ I say.

‘Don’t be mad, but me and Kellen kinda broke into your room.

We had our reasons, I promise.

And, well, we went in your wardrobe, and –’

‘You did what ?’

‘It’s not what it sounds like!

’

‘Well, it sounds like you went rummaging through my things …’ He doesn’t seem angry, he seems hurt.

‘And you found something that makes you think I’m gay?

’

‘The suit,’ I say.

‘The gold one …’

‘You think I’m gay because of a sparkly gold suit?

It isn’t even mine, Zach.

’

‘Wait. It isn’t?

’ I’m so confused. It was in his room.

Who else would it belong to?

And then the realization hits me.

‘Your room-mate … So wait … you’re not gay?

’

‘You’re an idiot, you know that, Zach?

’

‘Yes, I know, but your room-mate …’ I say.

‘Who is it?’

Owen just shakes his head in disappointment.

‘I’m gonna take a walk.

’

‘Owen, wait!’ I say, but he’s already on his feet, and my phone starts ringing.

I look down to see it’s Kellen.

I’m surprised he managed to unstick himself from Rhys’s face.

I want to ignore it, but what if it’s important?

What if ‘something bad’ is happening all over again?

‘What do you want?’ I reluctantly answer, barely disguising my annoyance.

‘Zach.’ I hear his muffled voice.

‘I … I got it wrong.’

‘Huh?’ I say, softer now.

‘Why, what’s wrong? What happened?

’

I automatically imagine the worst.

‘Everything was fine,’ he says.

‘Everything was perfect …’

‘And then?’

‘Just out of nowhere …’

‘He broke up with you again?’

There’s just silence on the other end of the phone.

‘I could kill him!’ I swear.

‘Where is he? I’m gonna actually murder him!

’

‘Forget about him, Zach,’ he says meekly.

‘He’s not worth it. I’m such an idiot.

’

‘You’re not an idiot,’ I say.

‘He’s just a fucking asshole.

’

‘I can’t do this any more,’ he says.

‘I can’t wake up with him again tomorrow.

We have to get out of this, Zach.

There has to be a way out of this!

’

‘Where are you?’ I say, already heading for the building.

‘Out front,’ he says.

‘With Huckleberry.’

‘Meet me inside? I’m coming.

’

‘OK …’ he says, hanging up just as a firework goes shooting into the sky.

I look at the time. It’s already 11.

58 p.m.

Fuck , I think, rushing in through the side door and into the crowded hall.

If I can just get to him, maybe we can stop this day from resetting.

I know what we need to do now.

I think I’ve known deep down for a while.

In every fairy story, it’s always the same thing that breaks the spell.

A kiss. Just before midnight.

It’s been a Cinderella story all along.

‘Hey, Zach!’ Cameron says, clutching me by the shoulder.

‘Have you got a sec?’

‘I’m kinda busy,’ I say, trying to get round him.

‘It’s about Bec …’

‘I know,’ I reply.

‘She likes you, Cameron. You just need to make a move.’

‘Huh?’ he says.

‘How did you –’

‘Just go and make a move! It’ll work, I promise.

We’ll talk later, OK?

’

‘Is everything all right?’

‘Everything’s fine!

’ I say, looking at my watch.

It’s already ticked past 11.

59.

And that’s when I see Kellen appear at the top of the stairs.

Even from here, I can see his eyes are puffy from crying.

‘Kellen!’ I call over the crowd of heaving bodies.

‘I’m coming!’

‘Zach!’ he calls back, rushing down the stairs towards me.

Everything feels like it’s moving in slow motion.

This is the movie moment we’ve been waiting for.

The moment where we reach each other at the very last second.

He’s just a couple of metres away now.

Almost within my grasp.

He reaches out his hand, and I reach mine out too.

Our fingers finally touch.

‘I can’t do it again, Zach.

’

‘You don’t have to,’ I say softly, looking down at his lips, his fingers wrapping round mine.

We make eye contact.

The clock’s ticking down to midnight.

This is finally it. We both know what’s coming, and all eyes are on us now.

I take all of him in, those beautiful eyes, that perfect smile.

I don’t know how I didn’t see it sooner.

I close my eyes and lean in.

He leans in too, and, as the fireworks explode above us, there’s this static charge between us, pulling us closer.

For just a moment, it feels like everything is exactly how it should be.

Like the spell’s about to be broken.

Like the two of us are finally free.

And just as our lips touch …