‘Because look,’ he says, scrolling through the results.
Kellen Thomas – 0 votes.
‘He never loved me, Zach. And you know what? I’m fine with that.’
I pause to take this all in.
‘Well, for what it’s worth,’ I finally say, ‘I should have voted you for hottest boy. And if I could go back and change my vote, I’d do it in a heartbeat.’
‘You could get Chase to change the results again?’
I groan. ‘Don’t even joke.’
‘I’d quite like to change my vote too,’ he says. ‘Voting for Rhys? It seems silly now.’
‘It’s not silly,’ I say. ‘You were in love.’
‘Nah,’ he says. ‘I don’t think I was, actually. Not really. I was in love with the idea of him. Of being in a relationship with the hottest guy in school. But real love? I think that’s something different. We’re just starting out, but … I was kinda hoping we could maybe try to find it together? It’s you I want, Zach. I only wish I hadn’t waited until the last day of school to realize that. We might get out of this mess today. But even if we don’t? Even if we have to go round a hundred more times? I don’t care if we’re stuck here forever because I get to be stuck here with you.’
‘Mind if we join you?’ I ask as Kellen and I approach Bec and Chase at lunch.
‘So it’s true!’ Bec says. ‘You two are actually? I almost didn’t believe him …’
‘Why would I lie?’ Chase laughs.
‘I don’t know,’ Bec says. ‘You are prone to exaggeration …’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘You know what that’s supposed to mean,’ she says, raising an eyebrow. ‘Sorry about Rhys,’ she adds to Kellen. ‘You really are better off without him, though.’
‘I know,’ he says, looking at me and smiling.
‘Well, for what it’s worth,’ Chase says, ‘I’m glad you’ve come back. From the dark side, that is.’ He nods over to Hawthorn. ‘We’ve missed you sitting with us.’
‘You have?’
‘Course,’ he says, tapping the seat next to him.
As Kellen sits, I spot Owen across the room. He’s oblivious to what’s about to happen. He’s been silently putting up with Hawthorn’s bullshit this whole time, letting them walk all over him. No wonder he feels like he can’t stand up to them. And what’s worse is that nobody has stood up for him either.
I see Ethan whispering to the rest of Hawthorn, and I know what I need to do.
‘Think fast!’