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I’m telling Madzikanda.’

‘Don’t,’ he says.

‘It’s not worth it. Snitches get stitches, Zach.’

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realize we were in a prison yard all of a sudden!’

‘Just leave it,’ he says.

‘If we report them, they’re just gonna hate us for it.’

‘I’m sorry to break this to you,’ I say, ‘but they already hate us, Kellen. I know you want them to like you, but Tiffany and Ethan? They’re never gonna really accept you.’

‘I know,’ he says, and it surprises me.

‘But it’s the last day.

I just want everything to be chill.

They’re Rhys’s friends.

I’m going to have to spend prom night with them.

I just don’t want anything to ruin it.’

‘That doesn’t mean we have to let them get away with this.’

‘Zach, please …’ he says.

He looks at me with a sense of desperation I’ve never seen from him before.

‘I need tonight to go perfectly.’

I think on it for a moment.

I don’t really understand why, but this seems to mean a lot to him.

Maybe Bec and Chase are right.

Maybe I do need to try harder to accept his relationship.

‘OK, fine,’ I finally say.

‘But you owe me.’

‘Thanks, Zach,’ he says, opening his arms for a hug.

‘Don’t mention it,’ I grumble, reluctantly accepting it.

He squeezes me tightly for a moment, and it actually feels kinda nice.

I let it linger for just a second before pushing him off.

I don’t want him getting the wrong idea about us.

It’ll take more than a game of Capture the Flag to mend our relationship.

We’re not suddenly best friends again.

‘I’m gonna go say congrats,’ he says, looking over at Rhys.

I can tell he’s already starting to itch from being away from him.

This is exactly why we can’t just go straight back to being besties.

His friends will always be his second choice.

I take a deep breath and try not to let it bother me.

‘OK, have fun.’ I try to sound sincere.

‘But see you later, yeah?’

I’m not sure he even hears me.

His boyfriend consumes his whole world again as he rushes over to throw his arms round him.

And, just like that, me, Chase and Bec are forgotten about all over again.

I wonder if he’ll even bother to talk to us at prom.

‘Three–two to Hawthorn!’ Miss Madzikanda booms through her loudspeaker.

Hawthorn erupt all over again.

‘Congratulations to this year’s winners!’

I watch as Kellen fist-bumps Ethan and exchanges air kisses with Tiffany.

I almost choke on the venom that sits in the back of my throat.

‘I really thought we could beat them,’ Chase says as he and Bec come to join me.

‘Just this once. Show them that they’re not better than the rest of us.’

‘They’re not,’ I say.

‘They cheated. Ethan stole a blue bandana. He pretended to be Cameron to get close to our flag, then stole it from right underneath us.’

‘What?’ Bec says.

‘Are you serious? Why didn’t you say something?’

‘Because what’s the point?’

I say. ‘It’ll be my word against his.

It’ll just make us look like sore losers.

I’m not sure that’s even against the rules anyway.’

‘What about Kellen?’ Chase says.

‘He’ll back you up, right?’

‘What do you think?’ I say, watching him fawning all over his Hawthorn boyfriend.

‘Well, you know what? Let’s just not give them the satisfaction,’ Bec says.

‘We go high. It’s just a game.

Who honestly cares, right?’

‘Right,’ I say.

But I do care.

More than I’d like to admit.

Golden afternoon light pours through the windows of the old shower block as I peer inside.

Result! There’s nobody here yet.

Getting the showers to yourself at Oakbrook is a rarity.

And I know: communal shower, private school – that’s a gay teenager’s wet dream, right?

But honestly? The whole thing just makes me uncomfortable.

It’s like forced exhibitionism.

As if the students of Oakbrook aren’t already judgemental enough in the classroom and the dorms. I don’t want them sizing me up in the shower too.

The pipes groan as I turn the tap and step under the hot water, and just as the room starts to slowly fill with steam –

‘Oh, there you are!’

It’s Cameron.

He only glances in my direction for a second, but even that’s enough to make me want to cover up.

‘I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’

‘You have?’ I squeak back.

And yet you had to find me here …

‘Yeah,’ he says, peeling off his T-shirt and throwing it down on one of the benches.

He keeps his eyes averted.

Good locker-room etiquette, but he’s still making me nervous.

He’s still got dirt on his face from the game, drops of sweat beading on the tips of his jet-black hair.

‘So is it true?’

‘Is what true?’

‘What Bec said.’

My heart stops.

If she’s told Cameron I fancy him, I swear to God –

‘That my brother cheated?’

Relief floods through me.

‘Oh. Yeah. He pretended to be you. We shouldn’t have fallen for it, but –’

Cameron swears.

‘He’s such an asshole.

Why didn’t you say something?’

‘As if anyone would have believed me.’

‘I’d have believed you,’ he says, glancing over again as he kneels to untie his shoes.

He holds eye contact for a moment, and I try not to get flustered.

‘I don’t blame you for not speaking up, though.

They can be kinda intimidating, but you know you can talk to me, right?

Just because he’s my brother, it doesn’t mean I’m gonna take his side.’

‘I thought twins were supposed to have this unbreakable brotherly bond?’

He laughs, pulling off his shorts so he’s just in his black designer briefs.

I turn away so I don’t feel like I’m staring.

This is exactly why I hate communal showers – it’s unreasonable to expect anyone to act normal under these circumstances.

It’s so much easier for straight people.

They don’t have to deal with any of this.

‘I guess I was close with Ethan once,’ Cameron begins.

‘When we were younger. But we’ve both changed so much since then.

These days I sometimes wish we weren’t related.’

Shucking his underwear, he comes to join me in the showers, no concrete divider, no nothing.

Just his naked body confronting me.

‘I get that,’ I say, feeling my mouth go dry.

I try to keep my gaze fixed firmly on the wall.

He’s trying to open up to you.

Don’t ruin the moment by making this weird.

‘Anyway,’ he says with a shrug, ‘it’s whatever.’

I feel like Cameron wants to talk about it more, but I don’t push it.

‘You know,’ he continues, rubbing shampoo into his hair, ‘I never understood why you didn’t join the rugby team.

You’d be perfect, you know that?’

‘I can’t catch a ball to save my life,’ I say, feeling myself blush.

‘It just takes practice,’ he says.

‘And with your build? A little bit of training, you’d be unstoppable.

I’m jealous, to be honest. I’ve always struggled to put on muscle.’

‘Muscle?’ I say, glancing down at my shapeless body.

‘There’s no muscle on me.’

‘Are you kidding?’ He laughs.

‘You’ve got good genes, Zach.

Lift a few weights and you’d be bigger than me in no time.’

‘But you’re totally ripped,’ I say, my eyes trailing down to his abs, and snapping back up to his eyes before they travel too far south.

Be careful, Zach.

‘That’s just low body fat,’ he says.

‘I can’t put on muscle to save my life.

No matter how much I eat.

No matter how much I lift.

It’s a curse, really.

Look, flex for me.’

‘What?’

‘Flex,’ he says, flexing his own arm to demonstrate.

I tentatively do as he says.

I have never felt more self-conscious.

‘You see? Your biceps are bigger than mine, Zach.’

‘Huh,’ I say.

He’s actually right.

‘I guess I never noticed.’

‘We’re all our own biggest critics.’

‘Well, I think you look great,’ I say, holding eye contact for longer than is sensible.

It’s the closest I’ve ever come to making a move on him.

I can feel my heart thundering.

‘Thanks, Zach.’ He smiles.

‘We should hang out later. Me, you. Chase. Bec.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah. It’s funny – I feel like I should have made more of an effort to get to know you all these past two years.

It just seemed like we had all the time in the world, you know?

And now suddenly …’

‘We don’t.’

‘Exactly,’ he says.

‘We’ve still got tonight, though.’

He twists the tap until the water comes to a stop.

‘See you in a bit, yeah?’

And, with that, he strides back over to the lockers and throws a towel round his shoulders instead of his waist. I open my mouth to reply, but I’m cut off by a bunch of the other boys noisily filing into the room.

They go about tearing off their clothes and making a mess of the place in rowdy straight-boy fashion, completely unaware of the gay romance playing out right under their noses.

At least that’s what I’m calling it.

Even if it is just wishful thinking.

‘Looking forward to seeing your outfit later!’ Cameron calls over the noise, wrapping a second towel round his waist and heading for the door.

‘Yours too!’ I call back as he disappears and leaves me to the straights.

‘Are you kidding me?’ Chase says.

‘Of course he was flirting!’

‘It was just banter,’ I say.

‘Isn’t that what guys do in the locker room?’

‘What? Compliment each other’s bodies?

That’s gay as hell, Zach.’

‘It’s a thing! I’m telling you.

“Sick gains, bro.” The straight guys do it all the time.’

Chase rolls his eyes hard.

‘But Cameron’s not straight, is he?

Of course he was flirting.

I don’t know how he could make it any more obvious.

The boy was literally naked!’

‘Is he supposed to keep his clothes on to take a shower?’

Chase laughs at that, taking his usual spot on the window sill.

‘Maybe I’m wrong,’ he says.

‘But you really need to wise up to the idea that you’re a catch.

First Josh, now Cameron.

At this point, I’m surprised you didn’t get more than one vote for hottest boy.

Everyone seems to want a piece of you, Zach.’

‘OK, well, that’s just two people …’

I say. ‘Not everyone . Besides, I’m telling you, Josh isn’t into me either.

Whatever we had back then is over.’

‘If you say so.’ Chase shrugs, peering outside.

‘What on earth is Bec doing now …’

‘Huh?’ I say, looking out to see her scaling the fire escape.

‘What is she doing?’

She’s wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt, her hair’s still wet from the shower, and she’s precariously carrying a garment bag and a pair of high heels.

She disappears from view, and then, a few moment later, there’s a knock at the door.

It’s her, calm and collected; she hasn’t even broken a sweat.

‘What was that? You’re like an Asian Lara Croft.’

Chase laughs, pulling her in.

‘You’re not supposed to be up here.

What if someone sees you?’

‘That’s why I took the fire escape,’ she says.

‘Anyway, what’s the big deal?

It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve been in the boys’ dorm …’

‘It isn’t?’ Chase says.

I’m as surprised as he is.

‘I’ve been in Jacob’s room …

and Kyle’s for that matter …’

‘Isn’t that the same room?’

Chase says.

‘Yeah, but I was there for two very different reasons.’

‘Oh my God,’ I say, laughing.

‘Why is this the first time we’re hearing about this?’

‘I told you I hooked up with them!’ she says.

‘Where did you think it happened?’

‘I don’t know,’ Chase replies.

‘I just assumed you did it in the boathouse or something. That’s where everyone goes to hook up!

Tell her, Zach!’

‘What do you mean “tell her, Zach”?’ As if I’m the authority on hook-ups!

‘You and Josh!’ he says.

‘I don’t know why you insist on playing innocent …’

‘Well, whatever!’ says Bec.

‘I’m not having sex in some crusty old boat!

I don’t understand why you boys all want to do it in there.

You realize there’s, like, two hundred beds in this place?’

‘Where’s the fun in that?

Zero risk of splinters!’

Chase says. ‘Besides, do you really think these beds are any better?’ He shakes the squeaky frame of his bed vigorously.

‘The sound of passion,’ she says.

‘Music to my ears.’

Chase laughs.

‘You’re disgusting.’

She shrugs.

‘Not like I’ll be getting any tonight anyway.’

‘Why would you say that?’ I ask.

‘Course you will! You’re a catch!’

‘Yeah, but apparently I’m intimidating …’

‘Who said that?’ Chase looks annoyed.

‘That’s what all the boys say about me.

They call me the praying mantis .’

‘Like the weird bug thing?’ I say.

‘Exactly. The females eat the males after having sex. They use them and then mercilessly rip them apart.’

‘Well, as far as nicknames go,’ Chase says, ‘that is kinda iconic.’

‘I guess.’ Bec sighs.

‘But now none of them dares ask me to prom. Is it so much to want some guy to knock on the door with a big bouquet of flowers?’

She looks at the door as if she expects that to happen.

It would be romantic for it to suddenly fly open, but alas, this isn’t some romance novel.

The door remains firmly shut.

‘I didn’t think you bought into all that anyway,’ Chase says.

‘You’re a feminist!’

Bec gives him a flat stare.

‘I can be a feminist and still want to be given flowers.’

‘It’s not like there’s a florist on campus …’

‘They don’t need to buy me flowers, Chase!

There’s meadows out there full of them.

I just wish one of these boys would step up.

Why does it always have to be me who initiates?’

‘Maybe there’s a boy outside your room as we speak?’

I say. ‘There could be hordes of potential suitors lining up down the corridor. It’s not like anyone knows you’re up here.’

‘Why are you up here?’ Chase asks.

‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Bec shakes her garment bag.

‘I didn’t wanna get ready alone so I came to prep with my besties.

My last room-mate abandoned me, remember?’

‘I didn’t abandon you!’

Chase laughs. ‘You’re the best room-mate I ever had!’

‘Hey! What about me?’ I protest. I’m just as good as Bec!

‘What about you? You snore and you wipe your juices on the bedsheets.’ It’s true, but he doesn’t need to say it.

‘I said what I said, Zach. Bec was a way better room-mate.’

‘Damn straight,’ she says, sticking her tongue out at me.

‘So are we finally going to get to see this outfit you’ve been oh-so-secretive about?’

She turns to the wardrobe.

‘It’s not in there,’ Chase says.

‘It’s in the box.’

He gestures to the trunk in the corner of the room.

It’s sat there for so long, unopened, that I sort of forgot about it.

I always assumed it was empty.

‘Mysterious,’ Bec says, crouching down to get a closer look.

‘It’s padlocked?’

‘Here,’ Chase says, reaching under the corner of his mattress to pull out a tiny silver key.

Who knew this whole time he was holding on to a secret?

He tosses it to Bec and she pops the lock, peering inside like she’s unearthing hidden treasure.

‘Remember my mum’s old prom dress?’

Chase continues as Bec delicately lifts up the elegant gold fabric.

‘The one she gave me and always wanted me to wear tonight? I obviously wasn’t gonna wear a dress, but –’

‘It’s incredible,’ Bec says, marvelling at the craftsmanship.

It’s been transformed into a type of formal masculine robe.

The original gold fabric has been cut with white, transforming the western dress into something that connects both him and his mum with their heritage.

I don’t know the exact terminology, but there’s this cute guy I follow on Instagram who posts these incredible martial arts videos while wearing something that looks just like it.

‘So you made this?’ Bec asks.

‘Yes, I made it.’ The sarcasm is thick in his voice.

‘I’m actually not going to study computer science at all.

I’m going to secretly run off and become a tailor.’

‘Really?’ Bec says, oblivious.

‘No!’ He laughs. ‘Of course I didn’t make it, Bec.

You think I’ve been hiding a sewing machine under mine and Zach’s bunkbed and working away in the middle of the night?’

‘Well, I don’t know!

Everyone knows Zach’s a heavy sleeper!’

It’s true. Before Chase moved in, the fire alarm went off and we all had to evacuate.

The headcount came up one person short because I was still upstairs dreaming about having a sleepover with all seven members of BTS.

I wish I was joking, but that’s actually what my dream was about.

I was kinda miffed when I instead woke up to a frantic Mr Harrington.

Chase takes the garment from Bec and holds it up against his body.

‘I sent it to a family friend who works in fashion. They weren’t sure about cutting up Mum’s dress without asking her, but I think it works, right?

I just hope she’s OK with it …

She’s either gonna be really touched or really, really angry …’

‘Why would she be angry?’ I say.

‘You made something special, something even better. And this is like … super Chinese, right? She’ll love it.’

‘Yeah, it’s super Chinese ,’ Chase says, mocking me.

‘You sound like an idiot, Zach.’

Bec laughs at that.

‘It’s Hanfu, right?’

‘Exactly,’ he says, starting to get changed.

‘I’m actually impressed you know that.’

‘You showed us some outfits a while back,’ Bec says.

‘Right after you transitioned.’

I think I do sort of remember that.

‘Always said you’d love to be able to wear them one day.

But you were worried about somehow being disrespectful.’

Chase smiles. ‘I’m glad you remembered,’ he says, adjusting the outfit.

It really does look incredible on him.

‘Though I am still worried about it being perceived as disrespectful. I just hope Mum likes it. I’m kinda nervous about showing her.’

‘Don’t be,’ Bec says.

‘She’s lucky to have a son like you.

Anyone else would have sold the dress and bought themselves an outfit on ASOS.

This is … something else .’

‘Thanks,’ Chase says with a smile.

‘Uh-huh.’ Bec is now busying herself with her own outfit.

In a second, she strips down to her underwear – in front of us because apparently we’re that close.

I never realized before, but she’s got a set of abs to rival Cameron’s.

‘Could you give me a hand?’

‘Sure,’ I say, helping her into her sparkling black dress and zipping her up.

‘Thanks, Zach, you’re a peach,’ she says, stepping into her shoes.

‘What do you think?’ She puts on a matching feathered mask and spins round so we can get a good look at her.

‘Obviously we need some make-up, and I need to sort out this hair …’

‘Wow,’ Chase says.

‘I have literally never seen this side of you.’

‘Me neither,’ I add.

When not in uniform, Bec’s always dressed in jeans or sportswear.

In all the time we’ve been here, this is the first time I’ve seen her in anything even close to formal.

I think of all those movies where the girl walks down the stairs in her prom dress and the guys’ mouths fall open.

That’s what Chase and I must look like right now.

And both of us prefer guys.

‘Little black dress,’ she says with a smirk.

‘Every girl should have one.’

‘Ten out of ten. Five stars. Absolutely no notes,’ Chase says.

‘He’s right,’ I say.

‘Talk about a forty-five-second transformation. You always look good, but this? It’s amazing!

You’re starting to make me feel underdressed.’

Fashion’s never really been my thing, but as I look down at my plain white suit I wonder if I should have made more of an effort.

It’s been in my wardrobe for a while, and I must have had a late growth spurt or something because it’s ever so slightly tight on the chest. It kinda looks deliberate, though, as if I’ve done it as a style choice.

I feel the tightness in the sleeves and remember what Cameron said in the showers.

Maybe he’s actually right?

‘What do you think of this?’ I say, holding up the mask I panic-ordered last week.

It’s one of those intricate Venetian masks, the colour of ivory with sparkling silver stones.

It only covers one side of my face – phantom of the opera style.

‘Well, it’s a terrible disguise.’

Chase laughs. ‘I can see your entire face, Zach.’

‘It’s his moneymaker,’ Bec says.

‘If he covers that up, what’s he got left?’

‘Er, thanks?’ I say.

I think there was a compliment in there somewhere.

‘Now this is a mask,’ Chase says, reaching into the trunk and revealing the final part of his costume.

It’s shaped like the head of a dragon and far more elaborate than mine and Bec’s.

He puts it on, and it matches the rest of his incredible outfit perfectly.

Now I really feel underdressed.

‘The perfect disguise! Nobody’s gonna know it’s me!’

‘Yeah, the Singaporean guy with the obviously Asian dragon mask.’ Bec smirks.

‘Nobody will see it coming! You’ll have everyone totally stumped.’

‘Shit,’ he says.

‘I actually hadn’t thought of that.’

I laugh. Only Chase wouldn’t see the parallel.

‘It’s gonna be obvious who everyone is anyway.

A mask doesn’t disguise a person’s identity.

The whole concept is ridiculous!’

‘I think you might be surprised …’ Bec says.

‘All those Hawthorn boys look the same to me. And you just know they’re all gonna be wearing identical black tuxedos.

There’s no way I’m telling them apart once they’ve got masks on.’

‘So you don’t think I’ll stand out too much?’

Chase asks, looking in the mirror.

‘Of course you’re going to stand out,’ Bec says.

‘But that’s the point, isn’t it?

You look stunning. Like someone straight off the latest catwalk.

Not to mention you look hot as fuck.’

‘Thanks,’ he says.

‘But I know what people are gonna say. I thought Chase was supposed to be a guy. Why’s he wearing a dress?’

‘It’s not a dress,’ Bec reiterates, smoothing down the fabric.

‘You’re twice the man of any one of those boys.

And this outfit just proves that!’

‘Couldn’t have said it better myself,’ I say.

‘Come here. I wanna take a selfie.’

‘That’s how you know you look good,’ Bec says.

‘You’ve even got Zach wanting to post on social media.’

‘It’s not for social media.’

I roll my eyes. ‘It’s for Mum!

I promised I’d send her one.’

‘I need to fix my hair first,’ Chase says, holding his hand up to stop me taking a picture.

‘Though that reminds me. I better call my mum, actually. I want to show her the outfit before I spill something all over it. I overheard Harrington talking about brie and cranberry canapés. I don’t want either of those things anywhere near this!’

‘You’ll be fine,’ Bec says with a laugh.

‘I promise to protect you from the canapés, but you absolutely cannot call your mum right now.’

‘Huh?’ Chase says.

‘Why not?’

‘Because she’d lose her mind if she saw us drinking this .’

She reaches into the bottom of her garment bag to pull out some questionable-looking tequila.

‘I haven’t got shot glasses so it’ll have to be straight from the bottle.

Some Dutch courage to start the evening!’

She unscrews it and passes it over.

‘Jeez,’ I say, grimacing as I take a sip.

‘Toxicquila,’ I read from the bottle.

There’s a picture of a cartoon cactus with a culturally insensitive moustache and sombrero who’s violently throwing up.

‘Where the hell did you even get this?’

Bec shrugs.

‘It’ll put hairs on your chest.’

‘I’ll take all the help I can get.’

Chase takes a big gulp, grimaces and then peers underneath his binder.

‘Nothing yet.’ He frowns.

‘How long does this stuff take to kick in?’

‘Give it a year,’ Bec says, smiling.

‘I’m sure it’ll happen a lot sooner than you think.’

We manage to get through a third of the bottle of Toxicquila, and I completely forget about taking that picture for Mum.

But it’s fine – there’ll be plenty of opportunities later.

Even if it does mean that Hawthorn banners will be in the background.

Not that she’d care about that in the slightest. I guess that’s what separates us from the legacy families.

They describe us as ‘ new money ’ and make it very clear that we’re not like them.

Not yet anyway. We have to earn our place if we want to be a part of their silly little club.

I don’t know if it’s the tequila swishing around our bellies, or if we’re just genuinely in a good mood, but the three of us head downstairs with a spring in our step.

We’re some of the last to join the big huddle of students gathered by the fountain on the front lawn and, surprisingly, Bec was right.

As I glance around the crowd of designer suits and thousand-dollar dresses, I realize it’s really difficult to tell anyone apart.

There are a few outliers, of course: Sam’s the only girl with bright pink hair, and no mask is gonna hide the fact that Brett is 6 foot 5.

‘All right, put your dicks away,’ Bec says as wolf whistles come from the throng of suited and booted salivating straight boys.

‘Two years with these idiots and all it takes is a pretty dress to turn them into Neanderthals.’

Golden hour is upon us, and the sky is slowly coming to life with dashes of orange, pink and blue.

The fountain features a statue of the founder of the school from, like, a hundred years ago.

A stern expression is chiselled into the cold stone, and a carved bull mastiff sits obediently by his side.

Nobody can ever remember the name of the man, but we all remember the name of his dog – Huckleberry.

He’s a bit of a school mascot around here.

Petting him is supposed to bring good fortune and, although nobody really believes that, the top of his head is polished smooth from everyone taking it in turns to give him a good rub.

‘And you’re sure the outfit isn’t too much?’

Chase asks self-consciously.

‘Not to sound narcissistic or anything, but it kinda feels like everyone is staring at me …’

‘It’s because you look incredible,’ I say, putting my arm round his shoulder.

‘You really think so?’ He tugs on his sleeves a little.

‘I’m telling you, you might just be the best-dressed person here.

You’re probably even gonna upstage Kellen.’

I look around, but he doesn’t seem to be here yet.

‘Thanks, Zach,’ he says, smiling.

‘You look great too by the way. Never would have thought the whole suit thing would look good on you … but yeah. Masc.’

‘Masc?’ I actually cackle.

‘Seriously?’

‘One hundred per cent,’ he says.

‘I’m as shocked as you are.’

Bec smiles. ‘Just wait till Cameron gets a look at you.’

‘Where is he anyway?’ I ask, scanning the crowd for him.

‘Over there.’ She nods towards the grassy bank where he and Ethan are posing for photos.

They’ve gone for a yin and yang look, Cameron in white with sparkling black accents, and Ethan in the exact opposite.

It’s weird that I can tell them apart, even like this, but there’s something about the way Cameron moves that just stands out to me.

He has an easy-going energy about him, whereas Ethan seems more rigid.

They snap a few photos in their masks before taking them off, along with their suit jackets, and continue to take pictures.

Cameron jumps on Ethan’s back, and they seem to be actually having fun.

I think of what he said in the shower block – ‘ I sometimes wish we weren’t related ’.

And yet right now that doesn’t seem to be the case at all.

‘We kinda match them,’ Bec says, holding the slack of her black dress up against the white of my suit.

‘I suppose we do,’ I say.

‘Maybe we should be a couple?’

Chase laughs.

‘As if you’d know what to do with her, Zach.’

‘I’ll have you know I used to have a girlfriend,’ I say.

‘I was thirteen, but …’

Bec snorts at that.

‘Well, if it’s any consolation, none of these straight boys know what to do with me either.

And I’m speaking from experience.’

I raise an eyebrow.

‘Got your eye on anyone this evening?’

‘There is one person,’ she says.

‘But I think he’s got eyes for someone else.’

‘Someone else? Have you seen yourself? You’re the hottest girl here!’

‘That’s true,’ she says, flicking her hair back.

‘But that doesn’t mean I’m everyone’s type.’

A ridiculous statement, honestly.

You’d have to be blind.

‘Why don’t you two get a photo with them?’

Chase says, nodding in Ethan and Cameron’s direction.

‘In your matching outfits. It’ll give you a chance to talk to Cameron, Zach.’

‘But then we’ll also have to talk to Ethan,’ I say with a groan.

‘You know, sometimes I think he’s just Tiffany’s puppet,’ Bec says.

‘He’s a dick, I’m not denying that, but …

maybe he’d be nicer if it wasn’t for her pulling his strings?’

‘He bullies Owen for no reason,’ I say.

‘Let’s not forget that.’

‘And I think one day he’ll regret it,’ she retorts.

‘Tiffany on the other hand …’

I glance across at her.

She’s wearing a red dress with a matching mask and shoes.

I can hear her loudly dropping names like Marc Jacobs and Jimmy Choo.

I don’t really know who those people are, but I know they’re synonymous with expensive .

Her designer bag is shaped like a glittering heart – not a love heart, but an actual human heart.

Ripped from someone’s chest no doubt.

Some of the other girls are fawning over her, admiring every detail as she holds the hideous thing up for them to get a closer look.

Her outfit is probably worth more than Mum’s house.

The bag alone would probably require a mortgage.

Rhys is standing next to her, dressed in a plain black suit with a plain black mask.

It’s funny because Kellen used to complain about exactly this.

He’d say it was misogynistic for girls to be expected to dress in extravagant colours while guys wore the same dull suits to every occasion.

I look around for him again.

He’s still not here.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s excited to see what he’s wearing – he must still be working on the finishing touches.

‘Where is he?’ I overhear Rhys complain.

‘I don’t understand what’s taking so long.’

‘Oh, let him take as long as he likes.’ Tiffany waves him away.

‘If he wants to miss his own prom, then that’s up to him.’

I’m sure she’d absolutely love that.

‘It’s just so annoying,’ Rhys replies.

‘He has to be late to everything . He looks the same with or without the stupid make-up. I don’t understand why he always does this!’

As someone who never leaves her room without a full face, I sort of expect Tiffany to say something to that.

But she doesn’t. Though I’m not really sure she’s even listening.

Rhys continues to complain, calling Kellen ‘high maintenance’ one moment and a ‘ball and chain’ the next.

I hate that about him.

Whenever Kellen’s not around, he always has something bad to say.