A firework goes screeching up into the night sky, exploding in deep crimson red. The colour of Hawthorn. The colour of pig’s blood. The colour of Tiffany’s extortionate Jimmy Choos. At the centre of the fountain, Huckleberry’s expression seems different now, the glare of the fireworks accentuating his bared fangs. He’s calling for revenge.

‘Zach, wait!’ Bec calls as I march back towards the hall. I know I should stop, but I don’t. I don’t even know what I’m going to do, but I have to do something.

Repetitio Est Mater Studiorum. I read the school motto as I head through the doors. The candles have all gone out now, but I can see the lights of the masquerade flickering from the end of the corridor. The sound of music and laughter twists my stomach. How can anyone be enjoying themselves after what Tiffany and Ethan just did?

I step out on to the grand staircase and see happy faces turned to the skylight, watching the fireworks burst in time to the music. I see happy couples holding hands and sharing this moment, and think of Cameron waiting out by the lake. I look down at my watch: 11.59. I was supposed to be meeting him right now. Tiffany’s fucked that up too. All this talk of a Cinderella story. I think I was actually starting to believe it. The idea that me and Cameron could have had our happily-ever-after, that I could have had the perfect last night with my friends. With Bec and Chase. Josh and Owen. Maybe even Kellen too.

It’s then that I feel my rage give way to sadness. It’s our last night here. Our last chance to be together. We’ve had all that snatched away from us. And for what?

‘Zach?’

The voice is so faint I barely hear it beneath the sound of the music. I might even have imagined it, but then I turn and see someone’s silhouette among the shadows. They walk towards me, and I can make out the sparkles in their outfit. A guy, wearing a glittering gold jacket and trousers. A matching mask and bow tie dazzling as they catch the light.

‘Who is that?’ I say, not recognizing the outfit. But they don’t say anything. They just stand there, looking awkwardly down at their own feet. I’m not in the mood for guessing games right now, and I’m half tempted to walk away, but something about their energy holds me there. It’s almost as if something tells me they feel just as lost as I do.

‘I need to find Tiffany,’ I say.

‘Wait,’ they reply, their voice cracking as they catch my hand and stop me, squeezing as if begging me not to go.

Our eyes meet, and I know I recognize them, and yet right now I can’t seem to place them. He tugs my hand, inviting me closer, and there’s a tenderness there that makes me want to give in. Maybe it’s just the emotional weight of everything that’s happened, but right now it doesn’t seem to matter that I don’t know who it is. I take a step forward, and then another, until he grips my waist and pulls me into him.