Page 5

I can’t remember the last time I heard him say something nice.

Luckily, everyone else has Kellen’s back.

A ripple of compliments surges through the crowd as he finally makes his entrance.

Not a single head remains unturned as he strides out from the main building and goes over to join his boyfriend.

I’m shocked to see he’s wearing a black jacket too – though he’s put a Kellen twist on it, and that’s what’s got people talking.

The jacket has a hint of a sparkle to it and he’s not wearing a shirt underneath, there’s just his bare torso, and he’s paired the outfit with glimmering black heels.

I have to admit I’d expected him to wear something more colourful – he had painted his nails red, after all – but now I see he’s stripped the colour from them too.

He must have changed his outfit at the last minute to match his boyfriend’s.

He’s holding his mask, and it’s exactly the same as the one Rhys is wearing.

He’s gone to so much effort to match his boyfriend’s distinct lack of effort, but I see Rhys glance at the heels and grimace.

I could actually punch him, but Kellen doesn’t seem to notice as he loudly tells him how handsome he looks in his plain black suit.

I literally can’t watch this.

‘OK, who is that ?’ Chase says, pulling my attention away from the happy couple.

Someone’s coming towards us.

They’re wearing an extravagant blue-and-gold-patterned jester’s costume, the little bells on the tri-pointed hat jingling as they approach.

Their hands are covered by silk gloves, and a grinning white mask obscures their identity.

‘It’s Josh,’ Bec says confidently as he reaches us.

‘Class clown, right?’

‘Ta-da!’ he says, pulling off the mask, the artificial grin replaced with the real one.

‘Whaddya think? Outrageous, right?’ He shakes his head to make the bells jingle.

That’s what I love about Josh.

Everyone else is so preoccupied with looking hot or expensive , but here he is making himself look ridiculous.

Anything to get a few laughs.

‘It’s definitely something,’ I say.

‘You know it actually kinda suits you?’

‘I know, right?’ He adjusts himself down there .

‘I think it’s the spandex.

It shows off my best features.

And, by best features, I mean my ass.’

‘Such a way with words.’ Bec laughs.

‘How are you not boiling alive in there?’

‘Oh, I absolutely am.’ Josh lolls his tongue out for emphasis.

‘But we must suffer in the name of fashion.’

‘And jester outfits are in this season, are they?’

‘They will be after tonight.’ He beams. ‘ Vogue are gonna slide straight into my DMs.’

‘Oh, absolutely,’ Chase says.

‘I hear Anna Wintour is constantly checking Instagram to see what random teenage boys are wearing to prom.’

‘Who?’ Josh says, oblivious, fiddling with his hat.

‘Have you guys seen Owen yet? He’s really trying to solidify his allyship status.

He’s actually wearing a Pride flag.’

‘I am not,’ Owen says, approaching.

He’s wearing a plain suit with a shimmering sparkle and a matching sequinned mask.

Josh is kinda right: it does sort of look like he’s dressed as a rainbow, almost as if he got lost on his way to a Pride parade.

‘Allyship!’ Josh says, making him do a twirl so we can get a better look.

‘It’s not a rainbow,’ Owen says with a laugh.

‘It’s iridescent.’

‘Sure it is,’ Josh says, letting his hand fall limp for emphasis.

Some straight guys would be annoyed by the implication, but Owen is just taking it with his usual dopey grin.

I hear raised voices then and look across to see Cameron and Ethan seemingly in some kind of argument.

Their energy has changed drastically in the past thirty seconds.

‘What’s going on?’ I ask.

‘I’ve no idea,’ Bec says, noticing it too.

I look around and see people checking their phones.

They’re whispering and pointing very unsubtly in the direction of the twins.

Tiffany marches over to Ethan, their conversation growing heated before she pulls out her own phone and makes a call.

‘Oh shit …’ Josh mutters, looking down at his phone now too.

‘What is it?’ I ask.

Chase and Bec appear equally confused.

‘Pictures of Ethan,’ Josh says.

‘They must have been leaked …’

‘Pictures? What kind of pictures?’ Chase says, peering at the screen.

I realize what Josh is talking about before Chase does.

‘Oh. Pictures. ’

‘They’re everywhere,’ Josh says, showing us his phone now.

‘Celebrity Buzz … Girl Gossip … Influencers Gone Wild …’

‘I don’t think we should be looking at this,’ Bec says, pushing the phone away.

I see one of the images for just a split second.

It’s Ethan, posing in the mirror.

He’s completely naked, but sort of half covering himself with one hand.

You can’t see that much , it’s more playful than pornographic, but even so – for a picture like this to leak without his consent …

‘How did this happen?’ Chase says.

‘Someone must have gotten into his phone …’

‘You mean you think it was someone at Oakbrook?’

‘That or he’s been sending them to other girls behind Tiffany’s back.’

I find her in the crowd again.

She’s acting erratically now, waving her free arm about as she speaks to someone on the phone.

She’s understandably furious.

I never thought I’d say it, but I actually feel bad for the two of them.

Of all the times this could happen.

‘Just make it go away!’ she screeches, pacing up and down.

‘I don’t care, Daddy!

I swear to God, if I see anything about this in the Herald …

!’

So that’s who she’s talking to.

Surely the Herald wouldn’t publish pictures of a teenage boy?

I mean this in the nicest possible way, but he’s not even that famous.

She hangs up, looks around for a moment as if searching for someone.

Does she actually know who did this?

I follow her gaze as she searches for the culprit.

And then her eyes land on Chase.

‘What’s going on?’ I say as she heads in our direction.

‘I know it was you!’ she says, on the warpath.

‘Do you really think we’re that stupid?

That we wouldn’t figure it out?’

‘Figure what out?’ Chase says, baffled.

‘Drop the act!’ She’s practically foaming at the mouth.

‘Don’t even try to deny it!’

‘Tiffany, I have literally no interest in pictures of your boyfriend.’

‘So it’s just a coincidence, is it?

This morning you hacked into my laptop and –’

‘Now wait a second!’ he interrupts.

‘I never hacked into your laptop . I changed a few results around in that stupid leavers’ poll.

I never touched your laptop!’

‘What’s the difference?’

she says. ‘You’re still hacking things!’

‘Oh my God,’ he says.

‘This is ridiculous.’

‘Is it? You’ve had it in for us ever since you had your ten minutes of fame.

Obsessing over me, telling everyone it was me who leaked that story.’

‘That’s because it was you,’ I interject.

I can’t believe she can be so brazen.

‘And do you have any proof of that, Zach? Or are you just making baseless allegations as always? You know that’s defamation, right?

I’d watch what you say if I were you.

You do realize my father knows everyone in the media?

Whoever you sent those pictures to, there’s gonna be a paper trail.

A couple of phone calls and I’ll have all the evidence I need.

Honestly, Chase, you’re supposed to be the clever one.

With all those big-boy brains, I’m quite surprised you could be so stupid.’

‘Call him stupid again, I dare you …’

‘It’s fine, Zach,’ Chase says, stepping in between me and Tiffany.

‘It obviously didn’t come from me.

What could I possibly gain from doing something like that?’

‘You know something like this could ruin us. That’s why you did it, isn’t it?

Thought you could take us down a peg?

Bring us down to your level?’

‘What level? What are you even talking about?’

‘You know what I’m talking about!

And you’re not gonna get away with it!’

Everyone’s listening now, and people are starting to whisper.

Surely they’re not actually believing her?

Chase would never do something like this.

‘Do your worst,’ he finally says.

‘You can’t prove anything .’

‘We’ll see,’ she says.

‘Oh and Chase?’ She looks him up and down.

‘Just love the outfit. I hope nothing tonight ruins it.’

‘The prom prank,’ Bec says.

‘You wouldn’t …’

‘What prank?’ Tiffany smiles innocently.

‘You know exactly what prank …’

‘I heard a rumour they’re going to toss someone in the lake …’

She shrugs. ‘But that’s nothing to do with me.

It’s not like I could lift Chase anyway – he’s a big strong man now, remember?’

‘Watch it,’ I say.

She smirks at that. ‘Have fun tonight, won’t you?’

‘I’m going to murder her,’ Bec says as Tiffany turns on her heel and walks away.

She’s so angry she’s shaking.

I look down at my hands and realize I’m shaking a little too.

‘It’s fine,’ Chase says.

‘Tiffany is full of shit. They said they’ll expel any students that try to pull off a prank this year.

Zero tolerance, remember?’

‘They say that every year . Expulsion on the last day of school is hardly a threat. Besides, do you really think they’re going to try to expel Tiffany?

She could push Harrington in the lake and still leave with a glowing letter of recommendation.’

‘Just don’t worry about it,’ Chase says.

‘If they throw me in the lake, they throw me in the lake. It’s not a big deal.’

‘But your outfit …’

‘Will dry …’ he says with finality.

Then frowns. ‘She doesn’t really think I leaked those photos, though, right?

Like, this is just an act?

To get back at me?’

‘I don’t know,’ I say.

‘But we know it wasn’t you.

That’s all that matters.’

‘But she just seems so convinced. Even she’s not that good an actress.’

‘Let her believe what she wants,’ Bec says.

‘Nobody’s gonna listen to Tiffany.

I know this might surprise you, but people actually like you, Chase.

They love you, in fact.

Nobody says a bad word about you.

Doing something like this?

They know it’s not in your nature.’

‘I don’t know,’ he says, looking around with trepidation.

You can hear the sound of gossip obscured behind masks.

‘It feels like people might actually believe her.’

‘She’s just trying to get in your head,’ I say.

‘Don’t let her. She can’t prove it was you because it wasn’t you.

You’ve absolutely nothing to worry about.’

‘I guess,’ he says.

‘I just have a bad feeling, that’s all …’

I don’t say it, but I have a bad feeling about this too.

‘It’ll be fine,’ Bec says, wrapping her arm round him.

‘And, for what it’s worth, at least Ethan seems to be taking it pretty well.’

I look across and see him laughing with his friends.

They’re pointing at the screen as if revelling in the attention.

I don’t know how he’s so unbothered by it.

I’m not sure I would cope if the whole world was looking at pictures of me like that.

I haven’t long to think about it, though, because prom night is about to get under way.

The huge wooden doors open and the teachers step out.

They line up, looking only marginally less bored than we do as Mr Harrington gives some grand speech about preserving tradition .

He drones on and on about tonight being a night to connect with the many who’ve walked through these doors before us.

It’s not a sentiment I disagree with, but after he’s said the same thing eighty-six times it definitely starts to wear on me.

‘And on the subject of traditions,’ he says, after speaking for a full ten minutes, ‘some of them are best left in the past. I know the leaver’s prank has been a long-standing institution here at Oakbrook.

I know some of your parents might even have been involved when they were students.

But such behaviour is tantamount to bullying, and what might have been winked at in the past is no longer acceptable today.

So this is your reminder that there is to be no prank this year.’

‘You all look wonderful in your prom outfits,’ Miss Madzikanda says, cutting in.

‘So let’s keep it that way.

I know you think the staff are entirely oblivious to what goes on in this school, but we’ve got eyes and ears in places you’ve never dreamed of.

So let me assure you when I say that nobody is going into the lake this evening, and I mean nobody .

Got it?’

‘What about skinny-dipping, miss?’ asks Josh.

‘There’s nothing I’d rather see less than your bare backside,’ she says.

‘You don’t have to look!’

‘Well, I’m sure your classmates don’t want to see it either.’

‘I’m not so sure about that.’

He grins. ‘Half of them have already seen it.’

Madzikanda squeezes the bridge of her nose.

‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.’

‘I meant in the showers, miss. I’ll have you know I’m still a virgin .’

He shoots me a wink, as if him not being a virgin is our little secret.

Madzikanda groans. ‘I truly do not need to know anything about your sex lives.’ She claps her hands together to change the subject.

‘And on that note I think that’s enough speeches, don’t you?’

There’s a sigh of relief from all of us.

Mr Harrington tries to indicate he’s not finished, but she mercifully cuts him off by throwing open the giant doors.

‘Welcome to the masquerade!’

‘That’s my line,’ Harrington grumbles as she shoos him away, the crowd surging forward excitedly.

Half a dozen smartly dressed waiters hold out trays of sparkling drinks as we enter.

They’re non-alcoholic, of course.

The school can’t sanction underage drinking, but the staff will turn a blind eye.

They know every student fully intends to ‘secretly’ get drunk.

‘Who lit all these?’ Chase says as we walk through the corridor.

The lights have been dimmed, and hundreds of tiny candles are nestled in gaps between the old bricks.

‘Like, seriously, this must have taken forever. I feel like I’m in a movie or something!’

He’s absolutely right.

I’ve walked this corridor a thousand times, but tonight it feels like a different place.

It’s amazing how the right lighting and decoration transforms it completely.

As we walk beneath an archway, it makes me feel like I’m going back in time.

‘That’s what money can do,’ Bec says.

‘Gotta keep the Hawthorn Elite happy or they’ll be demanding a refund …’

The sound of a string quartet reverberates round the old walls, and silence falls upon us as we reach the top of the stone staircase that overlooks the hall.

‘Wow,’ Chase breathes.

Candelabras are lit in every corner, with banners hanging in crimson and gold, the colours of Hawthorn – their reward for winning Capture the Flag.

That should annoy me, but right now it’s hard to care.

It’s beautiful. I can’t believe this is the same room we had lunch in just a few hours ago.

A stage has been constructed on one side, where the string quartet are playing now, but they’ve already cleared away all the tables to make room for a dance floor, so presumably the music will get livelier later on.

Phones rapidly appear to snap photos, people lift their masks to get a better look, and, even though I probably only post on social media once a year, I find myself reaching for mine too.

You expect a lot from a private school, but this is truly beyond .

‘I don’t think anyone’s gonna be asking for that refund,’ Chase says.

‘I wouldn’t speak so soon,’ Bec says, nodding in Tiffany’s direction.

She’s actually pouting as she looks at the decorations.

‘Literally, what is her problem?’

‘I don’t think that girl will ever be happy,’ he says.

‘Oh well –’ Bec shrugs – ‘more for us to enjoy. Shall we?’

She holds out her arms. Chase and I take them and lead her down the stairs together, as if we’re her double prom dates, and in that moment I feel so grateful to have them both as my friends.

‘Yearbook?’ Chase says as we reach the bottom, pointing to the candlelit table that now houses it.

This is the first time I’ve seen it not behind glass.

It’s open to a random page, and there’s dozens of scrawlings fighting for space, all in different handwriting.

The top of the page reads Class of ’26 in elaborate lettering.

‘It’s hard to believe anyone was really here back then,’ I say, staring up at the interior of the building, trying to imagine how it looked all those years ago.

‘Don’t you feel weird, thinking about a time before any of us existed?’

‘Because the whole universe revolves around you?’ Chase teases me.

‘A world without Zach Evans? The unimaginable horror!’

‘Funny,’ I say, leaning closer to the book.

I thought it would be full of uplifting messages of positivity and affirmation, but someone has written To the night I never thought would end.

Jeez. Surely their prom can’t have been that bad?

‘No drinks near the book!’ Mr Harrington interrupts us, rushing over.

‘There’s a hundred years of history right there!’

‘Sorry,’ I say, taking a big step backwards.

They should put a sign up or something.

How was I supposed to know?

‘Pick a year,’ Bec says, handing me her drink.

‘Erm … sixty-nine?’ I say.

‘You’re an actual child.

I guess you really can’t get Cameron off your mind.’

She starts flicking through the pages.

‘Here,’ she says, ‘class of sixty-nine. Wasn’t this the summer they wrote songs about?’

She reads some of the words on the page.

‘Huh … I’m right.’

‘What do you mean?’ I say, still holding both our drinks, trying to see from a distance.

‘See right here? These are Beatles lyrics!’ She flicks forwards a few pages.

‘And look, this is that song by The Police!’

‘The song about watching every move a person makes? Truly the creepiest thing anyone has ever written,’ Chase says, horrified.

‘I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make.’

He pushes his drink into my hands so I’m now holding three glasses.

‘Look,’ he says, ‘this is ridiculous. Someone has just written “ Long live the mullet! ”’

‘Mullets are back in fashion …’ Bec says.

‘Don’t remind me,’ he says with a groan.

‘Miss!’ Bec calls, spotting Madzikanda.

‘What year did you graduate? Seventy-six?’

‘Ninety-eight!’ she says, scandalized.

‘How old do you think I am?’

‘Sorry!’ Bec laughs.

‘Numbers were never my strong suit.’

‘It’s lucky you’re good at sports then, isn’t it?’

‘I’ll take that coming from you!’

Bec beams, flicking through the pages again.

‘Here it is. Class of ninety-eight.’ She studies the page for a moment.

‘Which one is yours, miss?’

‘The only one without a signature,’ Madzikanda replies, mysterious as ever.

‘Why doesn’t it have a signature?’

Bec says, looking for it.

And then her jaw actually falls open.

‘ Oh my God ,’ she says.

‘You didn’t wanna incriminate yourself!’

‘What?’ I say. ‘What on earth does it say?!’

‘There’s a reason we don’t let you read that thing until the last night,’ Madzikanda says with a twinkle.

‘How are we supposed to discipline you if you know what we used to get up to?’

‘Yeah, but this, miss … This is … I didn’t know you had it in you.’

‘It’s not as bad as it sounds …’

She chuckles. ‘Trust me.’

‘What did she write?’ I say again, desperately trying to get a look at the book.

‘Never you mind,’ Madzikanda says, turning the page to the class of 2025.

‘Write whatever you want.’ She hands the pen to Bec.

‘Don’t let them influence you.’

‘Thanks, miss,’ she says, watching as Madzikanda goes to busy herself elsewhere.

Bec thinks for a moment, staring at the empty page, and then she scribbles something down, looking incredibly proud of herself.

Chase leans in to read what she’s written.

‘Taylor Swift.’

‘I don’t know why you thought I was joking …’

‘I just thought maybe you’d write something more meaningful.’

‘ Pfft! ’ She scoffs.

‘Come on then, Plato, your turn.’

‘I need more time,’ Chase says, pushing the pen away.

‘It’ll come to me.’

‘I look forward to being wowed.’

‘OK, I’ve had enough of being a cupholder,’ I say, holding out their drinks.

‘Sorry!’ They laugh as they relieve me.

‘Did you want to write something, Zach?’ Bec asks.

‘Not yet,’ I say. ‘I was kinda hoping to talk to Cameron.’

‘I get it,’ Bec says, her tone suddenly changing.

‘I’m a bit worried about him.’

‘Huh?’ I say, following her gaze to where he’s sitting on the stairs.

He’s staring down at his phone, not engaging with anyone, a worried look spread across his face.

‘Do you think it’s what happened with Ethan?’

Chase says.

‘Maybe,’ Bec says.

‘It wasn’t his pictures that were leaked, but they’re twins, so …’

‘Fuck,’ I say. ‘I hadn’t even thought of that.’

‘Me neither,’ Chase says.

‘Maybe you should go and talk to him?’

‘I dunno,’ I say.

‘Perhaps now’s not the right time.’

‘Of course it’s the right time!’

Chase says. ‘Go and be a friendly face.’

‘OK,’ I say.

I have no idea what to say to Cameron, so I just go over and sit down next to him.

‘Hey,’ he says, putting his phone down and letting out a long-drawn-out sigh.

‘I guess you heard the news then?’

‘Yeah,’ I say.

‘Kinda. I mean, I didn’t look or anything, but …’

I fumble over my words awkwardly for a moment.

‘I just don’t understand why anyone would do that.’

‘I can think of a few reasons,’ Cameron says.

‘It’s not like he’s short of enemies.

Not that he’s bothered anyway.

“ As long as it boosts our followers ” …’

He looks at his phone again.

‘You know we’ve gained almost five thousand since the news broke?’

‘Seriously?’ I say.

‘Are people really that shallow?’

‘Evidently so. It’s all he ever talks about – gaining followers?

He wants to make a career of it.

Says we can make a killing if we start doing a few lip-syncs.’

‘But you don’t want that?’

I ask. I always assumed that’s why they were doing it.

‘I don’t know what I want,’ Cameron says.

‘It’d be nice to make my own money.

Not have to rely on Dad going forwards.

But that’s not why we started the twinsta.

It was just supposed to be a bit of fun.

And then the followers started rolling in and –’