‘What do you mean?’ Kellen looks across at me. Was there something we missed?

Josh looks between us before letting out a sigh. ‘Owen. I really like Owen.’

‘You have a crush on the straight boy?’ Chase says. ‘Oh, that’s rough.’

I want to correct Chase, but I know it’s not my place to out Owen. Even now, to his closest friends. I can’t even tell Kellen.

‘Wait,’ I say. ‘Where is Owen anyway?’

‘He’s with the banshee,’ Josh says with a shrug.

‘What?’ Kellen demands. ‘He’s with Tiffany? Why?’

‘I don’t know,’ Josh says. ‘She said there’s something private they need to discuss. She made it sound like it was super urgent.’

Oh my God. Not again. The prank!

‘When did this happen?’ I say, looking back at the school.

‘Like, just now? A minute ago? Why?’

‘Fuck,’ Kellen says, already on his feet.

‘She’s going after Owen!’ I cry, breaking into a run.

After everything we’ve done today, how could we be so stupid to think Tiffany wouldn’t be out for revenge? Owen was the one who ‘ruined’ Capture the Flag, the one who live-streamed her demise. In her eyes, he’s public enemy number one.

‘What’s going on?’ Josh says, following us into the building. ‘What’s happening?’

‘Pig’s blood!’ I pant, pointing to the top of the stairs. ‘Owen is the target!’

‘Shit,’ he says, trying to push through the crowd of heaving bodies. It seems even busier than usual, almost like everyone’s trying to get in our way.

I look to where the bucket is hanging, and there’s Owen, standing directly beneath it, flicking idly through his phone. Tiffany must have planted him there and gone to release the bucket. Without Ethan’s help, she’s having to pull the whole thing off by herself.

‘Owen!’ Josh yells, finding a gap in the crowd and breaking through. ‘Owen!’

But it’s too late. I see Tiffany up on the balcony. She tugs the rope, and the bucket comes swinging down from the rafters.

‘Look out!’ Josh yells, pushing Owen out of the way. Owen stumbles to his knees as Josh takes the hit himself. He stands there, drenched, his jester’s costume ruined.

My heart sinks. We’ve really fucked up this time. I might as well take a blowtorch and set this place on fire again. Speed things along a little. Just when things were going so well, now we’re gonna have to go back and do it all over again. I understand now why Madzikanda looped so many times. Just when you think you have all the puzzle pieces slotted together, something else falls out of place.

But then something incredible happens and Josh starts to laugh.

He doesn’t stop. He’s literally shaking with mirth, the bells on his cap jingling in time with his heaving shoulders. Class clown right until the very end.

For a moment, Owen just looks at him, stunned. Then he starts laughing too.

‘Oh my God. You look ridiculous,’ Owen says, catching his breath. ‘I can’t believe you did that. You saved me!’