Jasmine and Georgia walked a little way by themselves, leaving the track and gathering sticks, checking for insects before picking them up. Jasmine couldn’t stop thinking about the twins. It wasn’t good for them to be keeping secrets, not right now. After a few more moments, she dropped her bundle of sticks on the ground.

‘Madison is up to something.’

Georgia sighed. ‘Yeah, duh. We all are.’

‘That’s not what I mean. I’m gonna go listen . . .’

‘Jasmine!’ said Georgia, but she was already moving off through the bush.

She walked softly on the ground, avoiding branches and shrubs: she’d had practice sneaking through the bush, following her dad and uncle when they visited their secret marijuana crop. Soon she heard Madison and Cierra’s voices, and she stopped and crouched lower.

‘. . . three new players,’ Madison was saying.

‘Where are they from?’ said Cierra.

‘One from Surfers Paradise, one from Geelong, and one from Hobart,’ said Madison. ‘Ew. Hobart.’

‘Any guys this time?’

‘Two.’ Madison chuckled. ‘Look at this one. Hot as a Hemsworth. Jackpot.’

‘Hopefully they all send their nudes by tonight . . .’ Cierra’s voice was sombre. A moment later, she started sniffling.

‘Don’t cry – hey, we talked about this,’ said Madison softly.

Jasmine backed away, worried they were going to start moving again and stumble across her in the bushes. She returned to the trail, but Georgia had gone already. She retrieved her own pile of wood and headed back to the campsite.

Once she’d added to the growing firewood pile, she spotted Bree sitting by the fire. Jasmine took a breath. It was probably now or never. Time to see if she had an ally.

She walked over and sat beside her.

‘What do you want?’ snapped Bree.

‘I heard Madison mention the game again, and nudes,’ said Jasmine softly. ‘I think you’re right: it’s something like Honcho Dori.’

Bree gave a great heave of sarcasm. ‘That’s what I told you.’ She glanced across, angry again. ‘You can drop the act, bitch. I know you’re spying for her.’

‘No, I’m not, bitch.’

‘Spare me,’ said Bree. ‘Just keep your end of the deal and I’ll keep mine.’

Jasmine watched her stalk off. She was frustrated, but it was alright, she’d have time to talk to Bree in their tent tonight. Jasmine could be convincing when she needed to be.

Georgia returned to the campsite, her hair full of little twigs, and delivered her armful of wood to the pile. She stopped by the gazebo, where there was a box of squashed fruit from someone’s pack, and then sat down next to Jasmine, handing her a banana. ‘We can’t afford to fight right now, Jaz,’ she said. ‘We have to stick together.’ She unpeeled her own banana, watching Jack, who was helping some girls still struggling to set up their tent.

Madison and Cierra returned, still arm in arm.