‘You would’ve been my second choice,’ he says. ‘But no, I voted for someone else. It was a wasted vote, really. I went for one of the straight boys.’

I glance across at Owen, lazing in the sunshine. ‘You voted for him, didn’t you?’

‘I wasn’t about to let my bestie get zero votes,’ he says. ‘These girls are blind if they don’t see what a catch he is.’ I think about Chase then, and regret not voting for him. ‘But don’t you dare tell him! I want him to think it was one of the girls!’

‘OK, I promise. And your backup outfit?’

I need to know for certain.

‘Why are you so obsessed with what I’m going to wear, Zach?’

‘I can’t explain why. I just need you to trust me.’

He looks at me, confused for a moment, and sighs. ‘I really don’t get why this could possibly be so important, but … I was gonna dress up as Obama.’

‘What?’

‘Michelle’s husband.’

‘Yes, I know who he is.’ I laugh. ‘Why on earth were you going to dress as Obama?!’

‘It’s a masquerade!’ he says. ‘You’re supposed to come in disguise!’

‘Yeah, but not like that! I thought you were worried about it being too serious?’

‘He’s a politician! That’s ultra serious!’

‘Oh my God!’ Literally only Josh would come up with this.

‘So you weren’t going to dress in a gold suit then?’

‘Ew,’ he says. ‘No, Zach. What on earth would possess me to do that?’

‘It wasn’t Josh,’ I say, catching Kellen at the main door to the school. He was upstairs for so long that I’m surprised he’s not limping.

‘Are you sure?’ he says, raising an eyebrow.

‘Hundred per cent,’ I say. ‘He went the best-friend route and voted Owen for hottest boy. Wanted him to think one of the girls did it. And he doesn’t have anything gold.’

‘Huh.’ Kellen frowns. ‘I really thought it was him. But if not, that means … Owen?’

‘It can’t be Owen!’ I protest. ‘He doesn’t raise so much as a blip on my gaydar.’

Kellen rolls his eyes. ‘Gaydar isn’t real, though, is it? It’s just a bunch of lazy judgements based on stereotypes.’

‘I think it’s a bit more than that,’ I argue. ‘There’s just that indescribable something. Take Rhys, for example. He’s not exactly one with the fairies, but I absolutely knew he was queer before he came out. And I think you did too! That’s why you pursued him! Gaydar isn’t real when straight people claim they have it. But us gays? We know. We just know.’

‘Well,’ Kellen says, ‘we should at least rule Owen out properly, right? He’s the only other person with a reason to switch outfits. He’s our only lead now, Zach.’