‘Kellen,’ I say, ‘don’t even joke. Maybe you’re right; maybe the day would just start over. But are you really willing to risk it?’

‘Well, what if it was just one of us? Then the day would still have to restart, right?’

‘I don’t want to talk about this,’ I reply, ‘and honestly you’re making me wanna get down from here. The roof isn’t the place to discuss this …’

‘All right, all right. It’s not like I was gonna do it!’

‘Good,’ I say sternly. ‘Because I’d rather be stuck here indefinitely than see something happen to you!’

‘Aw,’ he says, smiling. ‘You like me.’

‘Oh, whatever! I’d feel the same if it was Tiffany! I just don’t wanna see you splattered all over Huckleberry. And what if the fall didn’t kill you? It’d take forever for an ambulance to get here! What then? You’d be stuck writhing around with two broken legs!’

‘You worry too much,’ says Kellen. ‘Here, chill out. Let me show you something.’

‘Where are you going?’ I say, watching him climb the pitch of the roof.

‘Just trust me,’ he says, disappearing over the top.

‘Can you slow down?’ I call. ‘You’re like Spider-Man.’

‘But which one?’ he asks, his head popping up over the ridge.

‘Miles Morales, obviously.’

‘Because I’m Black?’

‘No,’ I say with a laugh. ‘Because he’s the best one!’

‘Hmm,’ he says. ‘Well, you are right about that. I’m just surprised, honestly. I would have pegged you for an Andrew Garfield kinda guy.’

‘Nah,’ I say. ‘Morales is the real hero.’

‘Well, I’m glad we agree. Guess you’re not as basic as I thought.’ He disappears over the roof again as I nervously try to follow. On all fours, of course. I’m not risking anything.

‘Where are we going?’ I say, cautious with my footing.

‘Here,’ he says. ‘Look.’

I climb over the ridge to see what he’s pointing to.

It’s the giant skylight over the dining hall. We can see right down into prom.

‘Wow,’ I say, marvelling at the view. Tonight the hall is decorated entirely in blue and white – Sycamore’s colours. It looks incredible. Way better than the tacky red and gold.

‘This way we can keep an eye on everything, make sure nothing goes awry.’

‘And if things do go awry?’ I ask.

Kellen shrugs. ‘We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it,’ he says.

I see him searching for Rhys in the crowd. He watches him longingly for a few moments: I can tell he wants to be down there with him. Is hiding up here really the best course of action?