Surely he knows I hate sci-fi by now? It’s just about the only genre I don’t have time for. He’s just doing this to annoy me.

‘OK, well, you both sound equally ridiculous,’ Bec says. ‘A time machine? This is bonkers even for you two. What’s going on, Zach?’

I sigh with exasperation. ‘What’s the point? You’re not going to believe me anyway.’

‘Well, I think I might draw the line at time machines,’ she says, leaning against the cabinet. ‘But you never know. I’m listening. Try me.’

I take a deep breath. ‘I think we’re stuck in some sort of … loop,’ I say. ‘Like in Groundhog Day. Where Bill Murray keeps living the same day over and over?’

‘Never saw it,’ Bec says with a shrug.

‘You never saw Groundhog Day? It’s literally a classic!’

‘And I literally don’t care …’

‘I never saw it either,’ says Chase.

Just my luck. Neither of them have seen the one movie that would explain my situation.

‘But I think it’s a bit like Russian Doll,’ he continues. ‘The one where Natasha Lyonne keeps falling down the stairs.’

‘Ohhhhh,’ Bec says. ‘I loved that show! It’s like Happy Death Day or Palm Springs!’

How have they seen every rip-off but not the original?

‘I love those movies!’ Chase says. ‘Where they keep dying over and over! That’s what you’re saying is happening to you, Zach?’

‘What? No! I never said anything about dying!’

‘You said it was like Groundhog Day.’

‘Nobody dies in Groundhog Day!’

‘Well, that sounds very boring. You should watch Russian Doll, Zach.’

‘Oh my God!’ I say. ‘Will you just listen?’

‘I am listening,’ Bec says. ‘You’re stuck in a time machine. Continue.’

‘There’s no time machine!’ I blurt, so loud that people actually look in our direction. I see Kellen give me a really weird look before continuing to fuss over Rhys. At this rate, everyone is gonna think I’m a lunatic. I’ll be spending prom night in a padded cell.

Chase is laughing now. ‘See, I told you he’d lost it.’

‘I’m stuck in a time loop!’ I say. ‘Prom was yesterday. Everything that is happening right now has already happened. I know everything – I’m impotent!’

Bec splutters. ‘You’re impotent?’

‘It means “all-knowing”.’

‘That’s not what it means, Zach.’

‘Huh?’ I swear that’s what it means.

‘OK,’ Bec says patronizingly. ‘So, if you know everything … what number am I thinking of?’

‘It doesn’t work like that.’

‘What animal then? No, what vegetable!’

‘I dunno – a carrot?’

Bec blinks in mock surprise. ‘Oh my God, he’s right!’

I pinch the bridge of my nose. ‘I don’t possess magical powers.’

‘No. You just came from the future in a time machine …’

‘That is not what I said!’ Why are they both being so annoying?