‘This whole time?’

‘This whole time,’ she says. ‘It’s not a big deal.’

‘It kind of is, though.’ Talk about selfless. ‘I don’t know what to say …’

‘You don’t have to say anything,’ she says, laughing. ‘Except that you wouldn’t mind if I …’

‘Of course not!’ I exclaim. ‘If there’s one good thing that comes out of this, please, for the love of God, let it be at least one of us seeing him naked!’

Bec shakes her head. ‘OK, I didn’t say we were going to get naked. I was thinking more like going for tapas.’

‘Tapas and then tap that ass!’ Chase says.

‘Go immediately to jail,’ she says, laughing again.

Prom is in full swing by the time I finally have the two of them caught up. If they had any doubts, they don’t once they see Tiffany screaming for her father to ‘make it go away!’ Their jaws drop in perfect synchronization as they watch it happen in real time. I just wish this wasn’t all going to reset again at midnight; it’s nice to have them clued in for once.

The hall is once again decorated in both Sycamore and Hawthorn colours. I could tell that annoyed Tiffany when she got up onstage to be crowned Prom Queen. She must have given Owen clear instructions not to get any Sycamore banners in shot because this time he streamed her win from the most awkward angle.

Bec and Cameron are standing together, and I think they may finally be making progress. I definitely sense a spark between them. I think they just need that little extra push. I make a mental note to try to play Cupid later, but I’m still confused about what it is exactly that I’m supposed to be doing to break the loop. Bec and Chase have thrown out some compelling suggestions, but I think they’re too preoccupied with the outside world rather than what’s going on right here.

That’s something I’ve come to understand – this isn’t about winning the lottery or finding a cure for Covid. It’s about something that is happening within the walls of this school. I look across the hall at Kellen awkwardly dancing with his boyfriend. He’s convinced that this was all about saving his relationship, but I’m certain he’s got that wrong. This isn’t about them. Whatever is going on here, it’s about us. It has to be. Why else would we both be stuck here? Rhys is just one great big oversized distraction. I’m not bitter. Honest.