‘Were you hoping for a little longer? Hoping I’d drop the soap?’ He throws a towel round his waist. ‘I’m in a rush. I still haven’t decided what I’m gonna wear tonight.’

‘You haven’t? I thought you’d have figured that out weeks ago.’

‘Too many options! I’ve got, like, five outfits to choose from. Though I was thinking I might do a quick costume change later. Serve two different looks.’

Two different looks? I think of the masked stranger. I already know Josh has his jester outfit. Could that sparkly outfit be hanging in his wardrobe too?

‘You don’t have anything gold, do you?’

‘Why do you ask?’

‘I just thought it would suit you, is all.’

‘Black and gold.’ He gestures to his skin. ‘I suppose they do say they go together.’

‘That’s really not what I meant …’

‘Course you didn’t,’ he teases. ‘Well, I’m not giving you any spoilers. You’ll just have to wait and see.’ He winks and heads for the door. ‘Don’t spend all day in there now!’

‘Wait!’ I call, but he’s already gone.

Could that gold outfit really belong to him? I’ve spent all year telling Chase and Bec that Josh and me was a one-time thing. But maybe there is some chemistry there? Maybe they were right? Maybe they could see what I couldn’t?

I think of the vote for hottest boy.

The kiss last night at prom.

Could it actually be Josh?

‘Wow,’ I say, walking back into my room to find that Bec and Chase are already dressed. Somehow they look even more incredible than yesterday. I don’t even need to fake my reaction. Everything felt like such a whirlwind the first time round that it’s kinda nice to get to live this moment twice, to pay attention to the details and savour these feelings. It’s like going back to your favourite movie and noticing something different every time you watch it. I hadn’t realized before how Bec’s earrings matched her dress so perfectly, nor how Chase’s belt buckle is shaped like a swirling dragon. ‘You guys look amazing.’

‘You should have seen Bec scaling the fire escape!’ Chase says.

‘That’s how you got up here?’ I feign surprise. ‘You’re like an Asian Lara Croft.’

‘That’s what I said!’ Chase gasps. ‘We really do spend too much time together.’

‘Yeah, that must be it,’ I say, and I have to admit that was kinda fun. Maybe I can do more with this repeating-day thing than I realized.

‘You’re just in time for a selfie,’ Bec says, whipping out her phone.

‘Well, maybe wait till I’ve got dressed?’ I laugh, pushing her phone away. ‘Why don’t you get some pictures of Chase? He needs to send some to his mum.’

‘Oh my God, please,’ he says. ‘Before I spill something all over myself. I overheard Harrington talking about brie and cranberry canapés. I don’t want either of those things anywhere near this!’