‘So I just won’t take the bait,’ he says. ‘They can waste their whole prom night trying to get me up there. Meanwhile, I’ll be having fun.’

‘Exactly,’ I say. ‘So … you’re not upset? That they want to humiliate you like that?’

‘Tiffany has been trying to humiliate me from day one,’ he says. ‘Being hated by her is the biggest compliment a person can get. If someone like her hates me, that means I must be doing something right.’

‘You’re right about that,’ Bec says.

‘Anyway,’ Chase continues, ‘enough about her. There’s something more pressing we’ve yet to discuss!’ He opens his phone to the results of the leaver’s poll, and, just like that, it’s as if he drops back into his original script. ‘Zach has a secret admirer!’

‘Oh my God, I saw!’ Bec says excitedly. ‘Who do you think it is, Zach?’

I think of the masked stranger from last night. The feeling of his lips against mine.

‘I think it’s Josh,’ Chase says. ‘It’s gotta be, right? Ever since you two –’

He’s cut off by the sound of the huge double doors opening as Miss Madzikanda strides into the room. I watch her taking each predetermined step, like she has no free will.

‘For what reason is it this hot?’ she demands. I look for any clues that things might be different today, but everything’s the same. Not a single hair out of place.

‘All right, you lot,’ she says, clapping her hands together and commanding everyone’s attention. ‘I want volunteers for team captains.’

Tiffany’s hand shoots in the air before she can even finish the sentence. She elbows Ethan and his hand shoots up too.

‘Why am I not surprised?’ Madzikanda says, taking out a couple of red bandanas and tossing them over.

I think back to yesterday. How Ethan cheated to win the game for Hawthorn. I can’t bear the thought of them winning again.

Maybe this is something I can change as well? If I can prevent Chase from being drenched with fake blood, maybe I can stop Hawthorn from stealing the game too? I already know the outcome of the coin toss. Chase and Bec will think I’ve lost it if I volunteer for team captain, but if I put myself forward I can get us the hill …

‘And Sycamore?’ Madzikanda says, turning to our side of the room. Bec puts her hand up, like before. I just have to get in before Cameron does.

I go to raise my hand and –

‘I volunteer!’ Kellen yells with the intensity of Katniss Everdeen.

The whole room turns to look at him. What the hell is going on?

‘I volunteer,’ he says again, going completely off script.