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‘Your brother started seeing dollar signs?’

‘I don’t know,’ he says.

‘Sometimes I think he doesn’t care about the money.

But the fame? The way he lights up when he talks about it.

That’s the thing Ethan really wants.’

‘I mean, doesn’t everyone?

That’s the goal, right?

To be rich and famous.’

‘It depends what you’re famous for,’ Cameron says.

‘Everyone thinks we’re the same, just because we’re twins.

And maybe we used to be.

But I don’t even know who he is any more.

I might have called him my best friend once.

But this place has changed him.’

‘Well,’ I say, ‘have you talked to him? Tried telling him all this?’

‘I’ve tried,’ he says with a shrug.

‘I just don’t want being a hot twin to define me.

That’s all anyone thinks when they see our account.

Oh my God, look how cute they are …’

‘People have said worse.’

‘I know …’ he says.

‘I’m not trying to play the victim or anything.

I just want people to follow us because they care about what we say, not what we look like.’

He takes out his phone.

‘See these girls? They’re the same age as us and they have over a million followers!’

There’s a lesbian couple onscreen doing some dance challenge and kissing for the camera.

‘They’re from Woodside.

That’s, like, three towns over from here.’

‘Are you sure? It looks like they’re in London.’

‘They’re visiting friends,’ Cameron says.

‘See.’

I spot a guy in football kit with CHENG written in bold letters along the back.

‘Oh, he’s cute,’ I say, pulling the phone right up to my face to get a closer look.

Maybe I shouldn’t be gushing over other boys in front of Cameron.

But maybe it’s good he sees this side of me.

Maybe I should play a little hard to get?

That’s what you’re meant to do, right?

‘Yeah, he’s really cute,’ Cameron says, nodding.

‘I prefer his boyfriend, though.’ He points to an adorable floppy-haired boy in the background.

He has painted nails, a crop top and a pair of shoes that can only be described as outrageous.

‘That boy is the fantasy.’

‘Really?’ I say.

Is he now playing hard to get too?

‘He looks a bit like you, actually.’

‘Huh?’ I say.

It catches me off guard.

‘Me?’

‘Yeah,’ he says.

‘You don’t see it? It’s something in the eyes, I think.’

I look closer at the video that’s now playing on a loop.

He’s definitely attractive, it’s a compliment for sure, but I really don’t think I see the resemblance.

‘Anyway,’ Cameron says, bringing us back to the original point, ‘these girls use their platform to talk about things that matter. See, here’s a post on queer book bans.’

‘Then why don’t you do that?

You can make whatever content you want.’

‘Because Ethan doesn’t wanna “ make things political ”,’ he says.

‘He just wants to wear matching outfits and take cute pictures. And the thing that bothers me most is that it works . It doesn’t matter that we don’t have anything to say as long as we look cute, right?

They call us “influencers”, but what the fuck are we actually influencing?’

He taps into a web browser to show me the comments from one of the gossip blogs.

We need Cameron’s nudes to leak next!

Just how identical do you think they are …

?! says the first, followed by a string of suggestive emojis.

‘I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘People are awful …’

‘Yeah.’ He sighs, and an awkward silence falls over us.

I wonder then if my thoughts about Cameron have ever crossed into the inappropriate.

Just this morning – watching him from our dorm-room window – wasn’t I objectifying him then too?

Am I any better than the people in the comments?

I want to say something to set the record straight, to let him know that I like him for his personality and not just his looks.

But the words refuse to come.

Another moment of silence passes.

‘Love the outfit,’ he finally says.

‘I knew you’d turn it out.

Cute mask too.’

I get what he’s doing.

If you can’t think of something to say, just compliment something they’re wearing.

My mum taught me to do that as well.

‘Yours too,’ I say. ‘Definitely prefer the white …’

‘Black for the evil twin ,’ he whispers, nodding in Ethan’s direction.

He’s trying to wave Cameron over.

‘Duty calls.’ Cameron sighs and stands.

‘Come save me later?’

‘Sure,’ I say, watching him plaster on a fake smile as he goes to join his brother.

I don’t know why he feels the need to keep up the charade.

Surely he could just cut ties with him?

Though I suppose that’s easy for me to say, being an only child.

‘Making any progress?’ says a voice from behind me, making me jump.

It’s Kellen. I’m surprised.

I wasn’t sure he’d speak to me at all tonight.

That’s something at least.

‘I don’t know,’ I say with a shrug.

‘With everything that’s happened tonight, it doesn’t seem like the right time to be making a move on him.

It feels like taking advantage.’

‘I get that,’ he says.

‘But it’s the last night, Zach.

You’re not some predator.

You’re just talking to a guy you like.

You won’t get a second chance.’

‘I know,’ I say, groaning.

‘I just wish I had a bit more time! Just a few more days! Expecting me to conjure up a romance in one evening is unreasonable. This isn’t some fairy tale.’

‘You’ve had, like, two years …’

‘I’m not very good with time management.’

Kellen laughs. ‘You’ve got a few more hours.

You can still get your kiss by midnight.’

Everyone is obsessed with a kiss before midnight.

Cinderella has a lot to answer for.

I look across the room at Cameron.

‘Do you really think so?’

‘I know so,’ he says, placing his hand on my shoulder.

‘You’ve got this.’

‘Thanks,’ I say.

‘How are things going in the shark tank?’

‘Oh, they’re going.’

He chuckles. ‘Tiffany won’t stop going on about being Prom Queen.

She’s talking like it’s a given that she’ll win.

I mean, she probably will, but even so.’

‘Well, for what it’s worth, I hope you beat her to the crown.’

‘I don’t need a crown to be a queen,’ he says, flashing perfect white teeth.

‘But thanks for the vote of confidence. See you later, yeah?’

Despite Kellen’s encouragement, it’s almost eleven and I still haven’t managed to make my move with Cameron.

Every time I think it’s the moment , something happens to distract me.

He asked me to come save him later, but he always seems wrapped up in something.

Whenever I want to go over, it just feels like I’d be interrupting.

Looking around, it doesn’t seem as if anyone else is having the same issue.

Everyone is losing their inhibitions and getting much more flirtatious.

Half the students have ditched their masks, and I see people coupling up left, right and centre.

People I would never have imagined getting together.

I guess people actually do wait for the very last moment to say how they really feel.

That or the spiked punch is a lot stronger than I originally thought.

I look down at the cup in my hand and take a big gulp.

‘Still staring at Cameron?’ Bec says, joining me.

‘Oh, I actually wasn’t.’

I laugh. ‘For once.’

She smiles at that.

‘He totally wants to take you to the boathouse.’

‘I don’t know,’ I say, watching him.

He’s laughing with Owen and Josh about something.

‘I don’t think he’s like that, you know?

He doesn’t seem the type to have a meaningless one-night stand?

I think he’s more the take it slow kinda guy.’

‘One-night stands don’t have to be meaningless,’ says Bec.

‘Think about you and Josh. That wasn’t meaningless, right?’

She makes a good point.

It might not have been romantic, but it’s certainly something I’ll always remember.

It was special, in its own way.

‘Besides,’ she continues, ‘you can’t keep delaying the inevitable.

You do realize we’re leaving tomorrow, right?

I’m not sure you have the time to take it slow , Zach.’

‘I think it would be nice to just … hang out, you know? Spend some time with him. We don’t need to tear each other’s clothes off.’

‘Easy to say when you already saw him naked today …’

‘I didn’t look!’

‘Course you didn’t.’

‘I didn’t!’

She smiles at that.

‘You’re sweet, Zach.

You know that? They don’t make a lot of guys like you.

Cameron would be lucky to have you.

Even if it is just for one night.’

‘It’s hot as balls in there,’ Owen says, wiping sweat from his brow and unbuttoning his shirt.

‘You’re such a straight boy!’

Josh laughs as he comes to sit down on the grass next to me.

‘You put in all that effort dressing up in a snazzy suit, grooming and manscaping to make yourself look like a real gentleman, and then you come out with “ hot as balls ”. And you wonder why you’re single.’

‘Hey!’ Owen fake frowns.

‘I’ll have you know my mum says I’m a catch.’

Bec and Chase laugh at that.

We’re out by the lake, moonlight rippling on the surface, fireflies hovering.

It’s getting far too hot in the hall.

People’s outfits are already starting to look a little dishevelled, and most of the students have revealed their not-so-secret identities by taking off their masks to escape the heat.

I get the aesthetic of all the candelabras, but open flames on an evening as hot as this one?

Ice sculptures would have been better.

Imagine a frozen sculpture of Huckleberry!

I wonder if they have a suggestion box …

‘Who do you think’s gonna be first in the boathouse?’

Chase gestures to the old wooden building.

Nobody has gone in yet, but it’s early.

It’s more of a late-night institution.

‘I’m ready for round two just as soon as you are, Zach.’

Josh squeezes my leg.

I try not to read too much into that – he’s flirty by nature.

It doesn’t mean anything.

‘Mind if I join you?’ Cameron says from behind, dropping down next to me so I’m sandwiched between the two boys.

Considering the temperature, they’re both sitting unusually close, and it feels deliberate.

Maybe one of them really is my secret admirer.

I swallow hard, and Bec gives me a knowing look, barely managing to conceal her smirk.

Chase has noticed too and uses the opportunity to do some not-so-subtle stirring.

‘So I’m curious,’ he says, leaning back on his hands.

‘Who did everyone vote for in the leavers’ poll?

I wanna know who you all picked for hottest boy.’

‘It was a tough choice,’ Owen jokes.

‘I mean, there’s just so many fit guys here …’

‘Oh, come off it,’ says Josh.

‘I still placed a vote for hottest girl. Bec obviously.’ He shoots her a wink.

‘I hate it when straight guys pretend they can’t see that a guy is attractive!

Just because you’re hetero, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t vote!’

‘He’s right,’ Bec says.

‘I voted Sam for hottest girl. Easy choice, really. I think it’s the pink hair.

If I was a lesbian, I would slide into her DMs so hard .’

Owen laughs at that.

‘I never said I didn’t vote!’

‘I fucking knew it!’ Josh says.

‘It was you that voted for me!’

‘Pity vote, naturally.’

‘Yeah, whatever. I know you’re secretly in love with me.’

He blows him a kiss and Owen catches it, pretending to push it deep into his chest. If these two were in a romcom, everyone would ship them.

The class clown and the gentle giant.

It practically writes itself.

‘So was this a reciprocal vote?’ Bec pushes the point.

‘Who did you vote for, Josh?’

‘I’m not telling,’ he says.

I feel his fingers grazing my leg.

‘Maybe I voted for Owen. That’s what a good friend would do.

Or maybe I voted for someone else.

Maybe they’re sitting here right now.’

I feel my heart rate quicken slightly.

‘Or what if I just voted for Rhys like everyone else? Maybe I’m gunning for Kellen’s man.

That boy really does have muscles.’

‘Not you as well.’ I groan.

‘Please tell me you didn’t.’

‘Why, are you jealous?’ He smiles mischievously.

‘Who did you vote for anyway?’

‘Oh … erm …’ I can feel Cameron’s leg pushed up against mine.

‘I … erm …’

‘He voted for me,’ Chase says, coming to my rescue.

‘Best friends stick together.’

‘I’m just that good an ally,’ I joke, shrugging my shoulders.

Chase actually groans at that.

‘He knows I hate that word.’

‘What, “ally”?’ Josh says, intrigued, sitting upright.

‘Yeah,’ he says. ‘I just hate how some people claim it as such a badge of honour. I’m an ally!

Cool, congrats for not being phobic.

And don’t even get me started on people who think it belongs in the LGBT+ acronym.’

‘I think it belongs!’ says Josh.

‘Laura Ann Carleton!’

‘Who?’ Owen looks baffled.

Josh throws him some side-eye.

‘She was that incredible woman who was murdered in California. People kept tearing down her rainbow flags, but she kept putting up new ones. She ended up paying the ultimate price. She wasn’t queer, but she will always be one of us.

There’s space for her in our acronym, and I will fight you on that.’

‘That’s fair.’ Chase nods like he’s deep in thought.

‘I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t want every straight person with a LOVE IS LOVE tote bag to start claiming they’re part of the community.

That’s the “allyship” I have an issue with.’

‘You mean the T in LGBT doesn’t stand for “tote bag”?’

Josh pretends to be shocked.

I laugh. ‘OK, if we’re being controversial,’ I say, ‘I hate LOVE IS LOVE as a slogan.’

‘What?’ Cameron says.

‘Hate is a strong word for something so inoffensive.’

‘I hate it because it’s inoffensive!’

I say. ‘It’s like diet allyship.

Being supportive without actually being supportive.

It doesn’t mean anything!’

‘Not to mention it’s not trans inclusive …’

Chase says.

‘OK, I hear you,’ Josh says.

‘But I think it’s about context, right?

Sure, LOVE IS LOVE isn’t the most inclusive statement, but imagine you’ve got a homophobic grandparent, and you spend years trying to convince them that your identity isn’t criminal.

And then one day they show up wearing a T-shirt with that written on it?

It would mean the world to a queer kid.

It’s accessible because it’s easy.

Allyship doesn’t always have to be radical.

Sometimes it’s the little gestures that mean the most …’

‘Well, fuck ,’ Chase says.

‘I guess you make a good point. Just a shame I can’t take it seriously because you’re dressed like an actual court jester.’

‘Just here to entertain the royal court,’ says Josh, jingling his bells.

‘Speaking of which …’ He looks at his watch and hops to his feet.

‘We should probably head back inside. They’re about to announce our prom kweens.’

‘Kellen and Rhys are not going to win,’ I say.

‘It’ll go to Tiffany.’

‘Oh ye of little faith!’ Josh says.

‘I think you might be forgetting something …’

‘And what’s that?’

‘That love –’ he grins, offering me his hand – ‘ is love .’

We gather in the hall, at the front of the stage, ready for the crowning ceremony.

The music has already stopped, and the crowd murmurs, waiting for Harrington to approach the mic.

The votes are counted by an independent adjudicator and sealed in a little golden envelope, meaning even he doesn’t know who’s going to win.

‘Here,’ Tiffany says, pushing her phone into Owen’s hands.

‘Live-stream this.’

It wasn’t a request; I can’t believe the audacity.

‘You know you don’t have to do what she says, right?’

Tiffany shoots me a death stare.

‘I’m sorry, Zach, how does this concern you?’

‘I’m just saying.

You do realize he’s not your servant?’

‘It’s fine, Zach,’ Owen says.

‘I don’t mind, honestly.’

‘See,’ she says.

‘He doesn’t mind.’

‘What makes you so certain you’re going to win anyway?’

‘Do I ever lose?’

‘So you have rigged it then …’

‘I’ll let you in on a little secret, Zach.’

She leans in close and lowers her voice.

‘I don’t need to rig anything.

I know you think everyone wants the gay couple to win.

But nobody’s gonna vote for them because everyone knows their relationship’s done for.

Being prom king and queen is part of mine and Ethan’s story.

It’s something we’ll tell our grandkids one day.

But Kellen and Rhys?

What’s the point in them winning if they’ll be broken up in a couple of months?’

‘What?’ I say. ‘How can you say that?’

‘I’m sure Rhys thinks it’s fun to rough it with a scholarship kid.

But they haven’t got a future together.

Not like me and Ethan.

I doubt they’ll even make it through the summer.’

She says it with a smirk that actually turns my stomach.

Rhys is supposed to be her best friend, but she couldn’t care less about his happiness.

I don’t exactly love him and Kellen as a couple either, but now?

I want them to win just to spite her.

She turns to Owen. ‘Start the stream as soon as Harrington starts talking.’ She goes to disappear into the crowd.

‘And may the best woman win.’

Just when I think I can’t hate her any more.

My eyes burn into the back of her head.

I can’t stand her arrogance; it’s all I can think about as Mr Harrington approaches the microphone to launch into another long-winded speech about tradition.

Owen starts the live Instagram stream and, over his shoulder, I can see people already starting to comment.

It amazes me that people actually care about this.

The viewing numbers go from double to triple.

Countless strangers who don’t even go here.

Why on earth are they all so invested?

Mr Harrington drones on for so long that even the people in the live stream are getting impatient.

I’ve got it open on my phone now, just so I can read the comments.

Get on it with it, old man!

Is he getting paid by the word or something?

Am I the only one who thinks he’s kinda hot?

OK, Daddy.

I’ll pretend I didn’t see that last one.

‘And so, without further delay,’ Mr Harrington finally says, after delaying for fifteen whole minutes, ‘it’s my honour to announce this year’s Prom King and Queen.’

‘Prom Royalty!’ Josh yells from behind me.

‘It’s gender neutral.’

‘Oh … erm, yes,’ Harrington says.

‘This year’s Prom Royalty …’

The crowd groans as he fumbles with the envelope.

It’s been eighty-four years …

some Titanic fan quotes in the live feed.

I look for Kellen and Rhys in the crowd.

I know it isn’t going to be them, but I will it to be anyway.

Surely our classmates know how important this is?

A school like ours finally crowning a same-sex couple?

I have to believe people would vote for that at least. Even if it is going against the queen bee and her endless reign of tyranny.

The envelope opens.

‘Tiffany White and Ethan Clark!’

I really shouldn’t have got my hopes up.

Everybody claps as the two of them take the stage.

They approach from different sides – it’s all been perfectly choreographed.

It wouldn’t surprise me if they’d already rehearsed this.

Mr Harrington crowns them, and gold confetti bursts from above, filling the room with tiny pieces of plastic landfill.

I don’t think Greta would approve.

‘Thank you, Mr Harrington,’ Tiffany says, taking the microphone.

‘And thank you to everyone who voted for us. I know it’s not really traditional to give a speech,’ she says, ‘but if it’s all the same to all of you, there is something I’d like to say.’

‘Oh God, here we go …’ Bec whispers from behind me.

‘Most of you are already aware that this afternoon somebody did something truly awful. Not to me, but to my dearest partner.’ She squeezes Ethan’s hand for sympathy points.

Like a true politician.

Of course she’d try to make this about her.

‘So I just want to take this opportunity to say that revenge porn is never OK. There’s no place for this kind of behaviour in civilized society.’

Her gaze drifts down to where Owen is standing, speaking directly to the live stream.

‘And, although I could easily expose the culprit and tell you all his – or her – name right now, we’ve decided to rise above it.

Refuse to give them the attention they so clearly crave.

Karma will out eventually.

I have every faith in that.’

She pauses for a moment, and the crowd actually goes wild with applause.

She can’t seriously still be trying to imply this was Chase?

And people are actually eating this up?

I look down at the live stream to get the general consensus.

I heard it was the trans guy.

She should expose him!

He belongs in prison!

I glance back at Chase.

He’s white as a sheet.

‘So let’s not get caught up in all this negativity,’ she continues.

‘We’re here to celebrate, so that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

So we invite all of you to join us in a toast.’ She raises her glass in the air.

‘To the class of twenty-five.’

‘The class of twenty-five!’ everyone choruses.

‘She’s full of shit,’ Bec says from behind me.

‘If she had any proof it was Chase, she would have shared it everywhere . What an absolute cop-out!’

‘Right,’ I say.

‘People aren’t going to believe that.’

I look down to see Chase reading that people are, in fact, believing that.

‘They’re saying it was me,’ he says, his voice cracking.

‘You guys know it wasn’t, right? I never went anywhere near her laptop.’