I stand with Kellen as the music dies down and the crowd start to murmur. It’s time to carry out Kellen’s plan. There’s so much that could go wrong, but I am utterly confident it won’t. I feel it in the pit of my stomach. Maybe it’s what Madzikanda said about the last day of the loop feeling different, or, I don’t know, maybe it’s just indigestion – the brie and cranberry canapés were definitely not my friend. Can you imagine if this whole looping-day situation was just to figure out that I’m lactose intolerant?

Mr Harrington approaches the microphone and clears his throat before beginning his familiar speech. I can parrot it word for word by now. He clutches the same envelope as always, Tiffany and Ethan’s names tucked inside.

‘Ready, Zach?’ Kellen says, squeezing my hand.

‘As I’ll ever be,’ I reply with a smile. ‘Let’s do this.’

Tiffany is alone as we approach. She’s ready to make her grand entrance, sipping a blood-red mocktail as she listens to Harrington’s speech. She nods along as if deeply inspired by every word.

‘Can I help you?’ she says, keeping her eyes fixed on Mr Harrington.

‘Oh, we just came to wish you good luck,’ Kellen says with a smirk.

‘I don’t need luck,’ she replies. ‘So if you don’t mind? I’m trying to listen.’

‘Sure,’ I say. ‘But there is just one thing we need. Before you go onstage.’

‘And what would that be?’ she says, rolling her eyes.

‘Your confession,’ Kellen says, deadpan.

Tiffany laughs. ‘And what exactly am I supposed to confess? Other than being the best dressed, of course.’ She holds up her hideous bag. ‘For that, I’m very much guilty.’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ muses Kellen. ‘How you leaked your boyfriend’s nudes, maybe?’

‘And pretended to be a boy to file that complaint about Chase,’ I add. ‘Ironic, really, that you have such an issue with trans people, and yet you then pretend to be a guy yourself?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Her poker face is impeccable. She doesn’t falter even slightly. Her gaze is fixed on that golden envelope, eyes forever on the prize. ‘Why would I leak photographs of my own boyfriend anyway? Don’t you think that’s just a little bit far-fetched?’

‘Oh, it’s completely insane,’ Kellen agrees. ‘Absolutely batshit crazy.’

‘But –’ I place a hand thoughtfully on my chin – ‘a scandal like this might drive up his profile. Yours too. All publicity is good publicity – that’s what you always say, right?’

‘Are you going somewhere with this?’ Tiffany pretends to yawn.

‘How many followers have you gained today? Like, ten thousand?’

‘I don’t pay attention to that.’ She shrugs. ‘Literally couldn’t care less.’

‘Funny because I saw you checking your follower stats earlier,’ Kellen says.