‘I suppose so,’ I say. ‘But I can’t have another heart-to-heart right now. Talking to Josh was one thing. We have history as you oh-so-coyly put it. How am I supposed to ask Owen if he’s secretly gay and if he fancies me?’

‘Well, good job I came up with a Plan B then, isn’t it?’ Kellen smiles smugly. ‘If he is your mystery kisser, that gold suit should be hanging up in his wardrobe.’

I have to admit this is a really good idea.

‘So you think we should break into Owen’s room? What if we get caught?’

‘The day’s just going to repeat anyway! Consequences don’t matter!’ Kellen beams. ‘Besides, we don’t need to break in.’ He holds up a key.

So he wasn’t with Rhys the whole time. That’s where he’s been.

‘How did you get that?’ I say.

He grins. ‘I have my ways. Come on. While everyone’s still at lunch …’

‘How do you know which room is his?’ I ask as we climb the final flight of Hawthorn stairs, reaching the top floor. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been up here.

‘I’ve been in all the boys’ rooms,’ Kellen says. ‘I’m a social butterfly.’

‘That’s true. I remember you brought me a house plant back in first year.’

‘You seemed homesick! I thought you might need a project.’

‘You said our friendship would blossom as long as the plant did.’

Kellen raises an eyebrow. ‘And how long did it take you to kill it?’

‘A week,’ I say. ‘Me and plants do not get along.’

He laughs at that. ‘Maybe we’d have stayed closer if you’d done a better job of watering it.’

‘Are you really gonna blame a plant for us drifting apart?’

‘No,’ he says. ‘We’ve just had very different lives here. I wish we’d stayed close, though. I honestly mean that.’

‘Well, be careful what you wish for. What if we get stuck in this loop forever?’

‘We won’t,’ he says, stopping by one of the dorm rooms. ‘Every story has an ending.’

‘Is this it?’ I say, trying the door to see if it’s already open. It’s locked.

‘This is it,’ he confirms, taking the little key out of his pocket and holding it up. ‘You wanna do the honours?’

‘I guess,’ I say, taking the key and unlocking the door with a click.

Doing this feels necessary, but I still can’t help thinking that what we’re doing is terribly wrong. I’d hate it if somebody went snooping around in my room – not that I really have anything to hide.