The room is altogether unremarkable, barely different from mine. The only thing that sets it apart is that it has a much better view. Unsurprisingly, Hawthorn have all the rooms that look out over the lake. Though I suppose, from the Sycamore side, we do get to watch the rugby team, so there are some perks …

‘So, is Owen top or bottom?’ I ask.

‘I can’t say I’ve given it much thought,’ Kellen says, looking at me weirdly. ‘There is a certain masc energy about him, but –’

‘The bunks, Kellen!’

‘Ohhhh,’ he says. ‘Bottom, obviously. Owen is a conventional neat-and-tidy person. Look, his bed’s made perfectly, the corners tucked, the pillows fluffed. The top one, however …’

‘Who’s his room-mate?’ I say, looking at the messy bunk.

‘I dunno, one of the rugby boys?’ Kellen shrugs.

I’m so glad I don’t have to share with a straight guy. I really lucked out with that one. Things could so easily have been different.

Kellen nods to the wardrobe. ‘Ready to find out if Owen is your mystery man?’

‘I guess.’ I sigh, walking over to grab the handles. ‘I bet it’s not him,’ I say, flinging the doors open. ‘See …’

We both fall speechless as the sun strikes an elegantly cut suit, setting it shimmering in the light. Gold fabric that looks way too familiar. By pulling open those wardrobe doors, we pull Owen out of the closet.

‘That’s it,’ I say, reaching out to touch the fabric. ‘I can’t believe it.’

‘Me neither,’ Kellen says, but his voice is strained.

‘Are you OK?’ I ask. There’s a flash of something on his face that suggests there’s something he’s not telling me, like his brain is working overtime.

‘I’m fine.’ He reaches for a familiar mask on the top shelf of the wardrobe. ‘And this?’

‘Yeah,’ I say, taking it from him. ‘That’s it. It was actually Owen.’

‘Maybe it’s not as surprising as we thought,’ Kellen muses. ‘He’s always been a bit of an outsider, always kept his cards close to his chest. The Hawthorn kids are constantly awful to him. Maybe he thought coming out would make things even worse?’

‘Maybe,’ I say. ‘But something about this doesn’t make sense …’

‘Could it be that you’re disappointed?’ Kellen says cautiously. ‘I mean, you were hoping it was someone else, right? You were still hoping it was Cameron?’

‘Maybe,’ I say. ‘Owen isn’t exactly my type …’

‘Well,’ he says, ‘perhaps that’s all you need to know? Just because Owen kissed you, Zach, that doesn’t mean he’s the one.’

‘True,’ I say. ‘But I kinda thought figuring this out might … I dunno … break the spell?’

Kellen shakes his head. ‘We’re in this loop together. Surely whatever we have to do to get out of it has to be something to do with both of us, right?’