‘Well, maybe not all about them,’ she says, just as the first fireworks go shooting up into the sky, raining down in soft pinks and blues. ‘You’ve got a minute left, Zach. Do you really want to spend it here with me?’

I look down at my watch, the second hand ticking round towards midnight, and, when I look back up at Kellen, I realize he’s looking at me too.

‘Go on,’ Madzikanda whispers. ‘Make every second count.’

‘Thanks, miss,’ I say, walking across the hall to Kellen. He’s walking towards me too, and it feels like the crowd parts just to let us through.

‘So this is it?’ he says, reaching me. ‘We didn’t fuck it up this time?’

‘I think this is it,’ I say. ‘But, even if it’s not, I’m not sure I care. As long as I’m stuck here with you.’

The fireworks come faster now, crackling above us.

‘Well,’ he says, ‘whatever happens …’ He offers me his hand. ‘Kiss me.’

‘You really think that’s gonna make a difference?’

‘Nah,’ he says. ‘I just want you to.’

‘See you on the other side then?’

‘Yeah.’ He leans in. ‘See you on the other side.’

8

‘Prom night, baby!’

The video plays on an endless loop on Cameron’s phone: Chase jubilantly popping a bottle of champagne for the camera as the cork goes flying and hits Mr Harrington squarely in the side of his head. That’s what made the video go viral. That and the fact that it’s nine seconds of pure chaos. There’s just so much going on in the background.

Firstly, there’s Josh and Owen – in their ridiculous outfits – running through the hall drenched in pig’s blood. Then there’s Bec dancing with Cameron. She spins him round so aggressively that he stumbles backwards into one of the candelabras. It no doubt would have sent the whole place up in a blaze if it wasn’t for Madzikanda stepping in to catch it.

Then there’s Rhys and Tiffany. If you look closely, you can see them arguing furiously up on the balcony. You can’t hear what they’re saying, but you can tell it’s a gloves-off kind of argument. I don’t know which of her heinous actions did it, but it seems that even Rhys – for all his flaws – had finally had enough of her. You can feel the venom through the screen.

And finally me and Kellen. Off to the side, barely even visible, sharing one single long, meaningful kiss. The fireworks explode above us all, setting the scene, like a modern-day Feast of Dionysus. Except instead of a painting it’s a TikTok video that loops in perpetuity. I like to think that future generations will see this video playing somewhere in the Louvre.

‘I can’t believe it’s hit three million views,’ Bec says.