‘I don’t know!’ I say. ‘What else am I going to pick the lock with? In the movies, they just sort of shove it in and jiggle it about a bit.’

‘Maybe we really do need to get on Grindr,’ says Kellen, giggling.

‘Will you stop talking about Grindr!’

‘Oh, this is so stupid.’ Kellen pushes me aside, takes a step back and rams the door with his shoulder. I think Kellen is as surprised as me when it actually bursts open.

‘Masc,’ he says, checking his nails.

‘I can’t believe that actually worked …’

‘Never underestimate me, Zachary.’ Kellen crosses to Madzikanda’s desk. ‘Jackpot!’ he says, opening the drawer and pulling out her car keys.

‘And you’re really sure about this? There must be a better way to get out of here.’

‘It’s, like, twenty-five miles to the nearest town, Zach. It’s this or start training for a marathon. And you know how I feel about sport.’

‘OK!’ I say. ‘But you know what you’re doing, right?’

‘Of course not. Whatever gave you that idea?’

‘What are we doing?’ I mutter to myself as Kellen unlocks Madzikanda’s car.

She’s down on the playing field, getting the rest of the students ready for Capture the Flag. Really not all that far away, considering what we’re about to do. Hopefully, she’s focused on the game because if she looks over she’s definitely going to catch us.

‘Like, never in a million years did I think I’d be carjacking a teacher …’

‘Really? I sort of always knew this was on the cards for me,’ Kellen says sarcastically.

I hear Chase’s voice in my head. We’re talking about kissing a boy, Zach, not stealing a car. If only he could see me now!

I hop in the passenger side. Kellen gets into the driver’s seat and … opens TikTok.

‘How to drive a car,’ I read as he types it into the search bar. ‘You can’t be serious?’

‘Well, how else are we gonna learn?!’

‘I sort of thought you already knew the basics …’

‘How would I know the basics?’

‘I dunno. Maybe your parents taught you or something?’

‘Yeah, my dead dad was the perfect instructor!’

‘Shit … sorry.’ You’re an idiot, Zach. You literally just had that conversation!

‘And Mum had loads of time to teach me between working multiple jobs. Most of the time we were just driven around in a limousine, though. Obviously.’

‘All right, I get it,’ I say, rolling my eyes.

‘It’ll be fine,’ Kellen says, studying the video that’s now playing. ‘Seems pretty simple. You just sort of have to …’ He fumbles with the keys as he puts them in the ignition. ‘See?’ He beams as the car grumbles to life. ‘I’m getting the hang of it already.’

‘You’re going to get us both killed.’

‘I already told you we can’t die!’