‘Didn’t realize you were such a softie.’ Kellen smiles, taking his eye off the road for longer than is sensible.

‘Please watch where you’re going,’ I say. ‘What if the police pull us over?’

‘Do you see any police?’ He gestures to the empty road ahead of us. ‘Or anyone, for that matter? Anyway, a Black kid without a licence in a stolen car? I’m sure they’ll be just fine with it.’

‘Does it even matter if we get arrested?’ Am I really saying this?! ‘Like, we’ve got a get-out-of-jail-free card as soon as the clock hits midnight.’

‘True, but knowing our luck this will be the day that sticks. Can you imagine? Stealing Madzikanda’s car and then the day doesn’t reset?’

The car actually slows as the realization of this possibility dawns on Kellen.

‘It’ll be fine.’ I laugh. ‘But maybe let’s try not to get arrested. Just in case?’

‘Deal! What’s the speed limit here anyway?’

‘I dunno. Thirty?’

‘We’re never gonna get anywhere going thirty.’ He puts his foot down.

‘Yeah, but just don’t crash the car, OK? I don’t even know CPR.’

‘Wait, what?!’ Kellen says, slamming on the brakes. Only my seat belt stops me from being thrown through the windscreen. ‘You seriously don’t know CPR?’

‘No?’ I say.

‘What is that mother of yours teaching you?’ he demands. ‘Get out.’

‘Huh?’

‘Get out!’ he repeats, unbuckling his seat belt and opening the door.

Against my better judgement, I do as he says.

‘What are we doing?’ I ask.

‘Lie down,’ he says, gesturing to the space in front of the vehicle. ‘There.’

‘I’m not lying down in the road, Kellen!’

‘There’s nothing coming!’ he says.

‘Even so!’

‘Ugh, fine. Let me put the hazards on.’ He leans back into the car before quickly reappearing. ‘How do I put the hazards on?’

‘How should I know?’ I laugh. ‘Why don’t you ask TikTok? I’m not lying in the road.’

‘You need to learn CPR,’ he says. ‘What if we crash and you need to save me? I don’t even have a licence!’

‘Exactly why we shouldn’t be driving!’

‘What happened to the “romance in a road trip”? Just when I thought you were lightening up a little!’

‘I just don’t want to see you getting hurt!’ I say, remembering the vivid dream I had. Kellen’s body lying on the stone-cold floor of the hall. People running and screaming around him.

‘Well, do you wanna walk back to school?’ He gestures to the road behind us.

I don’t say anything to that.

‘Just lie down, Zach.’

‘OK, fine!’ Reluctantly, I lie down in front of the car.

‘Here,’ he says, straddling me.

‘I thought you said this wasn’t a romance?’

‘Oh, shut up,’ he snaps. ‘Just be a corpse.’

‘Sexy.’

‘Zach.’