Tiffany reaches the stage, accepting her crown as she looks around for Ethan. But he’s not moving. He’s frozen in place, phone in hand, his face stony as he glares at her. She keeps the smile stapled to her lips, gesturing for him to join her. Phones start to appear, filming this, live-streaming this, documenting this all in glorious 4K. Ethan finally raises his hand and flips her off before turning on his heel and heading straight for the exit.

‘Ethan!’ she calls, but he doesn’t stop. She grabs the microphone, shouting his name a second time, the speakers screeching with deafening feedback. She tosses her crown to the ground and chases after him, leaving Mr Harrington holding the other one.

‘Right,’ Mr Harrington says, setting the crown down again. ‘Well, I suppose nothing to see here …’

He gestures frantically to the DJ, and the music comes back on as he swiftly leaves the stage. Gossip erupts all around us, and Kellen seizes me in the tightest of hugs.

‘We did it! We actually did it!’

‘The evil has been defeated!’ Bec celebrates, coming to join me, Chase and Kellen out by the edge of the lake. She’s got four cups topped to the brim with God knows what. ‘I don’t know how you two pulled that off, but I’m impressed.’

‘Thanks,’ Kellen says, taking a little bow. ‘But do you think maybe it worked a little bit too well? Like, I didn’t wanna ruin her whole life or anything.’

‘She’ll bounce back,’ Bec says. ‘Have you seen the sycophants on her Instagram? They’re trying to argue that she’s somehow the victim. They’re using #Justice4Tiffany.’

Chase snorts. ‘Yeah, I wouldn’t feel too bad for her, Kellen. That girl has nine lives. You just took a swipe at one of them.’

‘What about her and Ethan?’ I ask. ‘Do you think that’s the end of them?’

‘Nah,’ Bec says. ‘They’ll soon realize that they’re both as evil as each other. They’ll be back together in a couple of hours. Ready to breed and make devil spawn.’

‘What’s this about breeding?’ Josh says, bouncing over towards us, the bells on his jester hat jingling. His ankle seems to have made a miraculous recovery. ‘Not planning an after-party without me, are you?’

‘An after-party with you four?’ Bec says. ‘Well, that’s one way to absolutely guarantee I won’t get laid.’

‘We’ll invite Cameron as well,’ Josh says with a twinkle. ‘How are things going? Rumour has it that a couple matching your description was spotted earlier headed for the boathouse …’

‘We were not!’ Bec protests. ‘We went for a stroll round the lake.’

‘Is that what we’re calling it now?’ he teases. ‘Well, I’m happy for you.’ He looks at Bec and then at me and Kellen. ‘Seems like everyone found their happily-ever-after.’

‘You sound disappointed,’ Chase says. ‘You know, the clock has yet to strike midnight. Was there someone you had your eye on?’

‘Maybe,’ Josh replies. ‘You guys really haven’t picked up on it?’