‘And I already told you that you don’t know that!’

‘Oh ye of little faith!’ he says, releasing the handbrake.

‘OK, we’re not doing this,’ I say, trying to reach across for the keys.

‘It’s not rocket science, Zach!’ Kellen declares, just as I spot Madzikanda heading in our direction. Fuck. She must have heard the engine.

‘Floor it!’ I say in a panic as she furiously blows her whistle, the shrill shriek sounding right across the school grounds.

‘What do you mean floor it?’

‘Drive! Accelerate!’

‘How?!’ he says, fiddling with the gear stick.

He slams his foot down on one of the pedals and the car jolts backwards.

‘Abandon ship!’ I say, getting tangled up in my seat belt as I try to release it.

‘What in God’s name are you doing?!’ Miss Madzikanda shrieks, racing towards us, but it’s too late because Kellen’s figured it out, and we’re actually moving forward.

With a squeal of tyres, the car flies out of the car park, down through the open gates and on to the road that snakes down through the woodland that surrounds the school. Oakbrook and Miss Madzikanda disappear in the rear-view mirror, and we drive until there’s nothing but nature surrounding us.

‘I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.’ Kellen finally exhales, his hands clamped firmly on the wheel, not daring to take his eyes off the road for even one single moment. I can tell he’s scared but exhilarated because that’s exactly how I feel too.

‘OK, I hate to admit it,’ I say, winding down the window and letting the wind rush in, ‘but I think maybe you were right?’

‘See,’ Kellen says. ‘Only good things can happen when you put your trust in me.’

‘Is that so?’ I laugh, the leaves of the overhanging trees rustling in the breeze. ‘You know, we’re really lucky we’re stuck in a perfect summer’s day. Imagine if we had to live through a blizzard?’

‘Sounds romantic,’ Kellen says. ‘We could build snowmen, cosy up by the fire.’

‘Get soaking-wet socks … frostbite …’

‘You really don’t like winter?’

‘I hate winter!’ I say. ‘Besides, what could be more romantic than this?’

I fumble with the cable and plug in my phone. I have a playlist of my favourite movie soundtracks that’s perfect for the occasion. It would turn even the most simple drive into something cinematic. The forest practically comes alive as the score begins to play.

‘So this is a romance now, is it?’ Kellen says. ‘Don’t get your hopes up, Zachary. Whatever our relationship is, I assure you it’s strictly platonical.’

‘Not a word.’

‘Huh?’

‘Platonic,’ I say. ‘There’s no such thing as platonical.’

‘Same difference.’

‘Besides,’ I say, ‘there can be romance in friendship too, you know? There’s romance in a road trip. Romance in a summer’s day!’