‘Then I guess I’d be grateful for this,’ I say. ‘Sitting here with you. It’s not exactly the prom night I imagined, but I have to admit this was pretty special.’

‘I think so too,’ he says, the fireworks reflecting in his eyes as he stares intently into the night sky. They look even more incredible from up here, illuminating the school grounds around us. ‘Ten seconds.’ He checks his watch again and sighs. ‘You ready?’

‘Do I have a choice?’

‘I guess we’ll find out. See you on the other side?’ He offers me his hand.

‘Yeah,’ I say, taking it. ‘See you on the other side.’

4

‘Prom night, baby!’

I wasn’t surprised when Chase hit me with the pillow this morning. In fact, it was everything I was expecting. It’s confirmed that Kellen and I are indeed trapped here, even if we don’t understand why. I thought about going straight up to his room but, after that conversation last night, I thought he might need a little time to himself. Or to be with Rhys. I don’t know. Having his boyfriend break up with him every night, just to wake up right back there in his arms seems an especially cruel torment, like something out of a Greek myth. I think I’d rather have my liver pecked out, quite frankly.

Bec and Chase are running through their usual script at lunchtime – how they can’t believe school is nearly over, yada yada – and I’m playing along with it. Kellen hasn’t come down yet, but Rhys is sitting with the other Hawthorns, looking grumpier than usual. It makes me wonder if Kellen said something. Could he have actually broken it off with him? Like some sort of pre-emptive strike?

‘I’ve been thinking,’ I say, interrupting Bec and Chase as we take our usual seats. ‘Imagine you were stuck in a day that looped over and over. What would you do in that situation?’

‘Well, that came out of nowhere,’ Bec says, surprised. ‘But you mean like in the TV show? Like a real-life Russian Doll?’ It still pains me that they haven’t seen Groundhog Day.

‘Yes.’ I sigh. ‘Exactly like Russian Doll.’

‘I guess I’d work on a new skill?’ Chase says. ‘Like learn to speak Japanese or get really good at roller skating.’

‘You realize you could do those things any time?’

‘Yeah, but it’s different when you have an eternity.’

‘OK, nobody said eternity – let’s not get carried away.’ I shudder inwardly at the thought. ‘Let’s say the day was repeating, but it was only, like, Day Four.’

Chase laughs. ‘Well, if it was only Day Four, I’d still be freaking out! Figuring out the rules, still hoping that tomorrow might actually be tomorrow?’

It’s as if he’s reading me like an open book.