‘I know,’ said Jasmine. ‘I just don’t think there should be secrets.’ She threw the banana skin onto the fire.

Georgia laughed. ‘Not knowing each other’s secrets is the only reason we can all be friends.’

After a dinner of pork sausages cooked on the smoky campfire and salad, all of the campers sat in loose knots. The Fab Four and Carmen sat in a semi-circle, on a straw mat that had been left behind in the Trapper’s Hut. On the other side of the fire, Scarlett, the year-level captain, had set up a portable speaker and her Triple J playlist beat against the sound of crackling fire and conversation. She was the only student who’d been allowed to bring her phone, although she’d be sharing a tent with Miss Ellis tonight, right beside the Trapper’s Hut, so the privilege kind of cancelled out.

Without their phones, the rest of the girls chatted about normal things – the girls from school, the boys from school, the boys from town, the girls from town. Jasmine ignored a few not-so-subtle remarks about her and Jack, who they all noticed kept glancing across at her. Carmen seemed especially miffed by it. Jasmine knew she had a crush on him, but she didn’t even have the energy to feel pleased about that. All she felt now was nervous. The first chance she had, she was going to sneak away and smoke some of her dad’s weed. Tonight, of all nights, she had earned it.

As the evening drew on, most girls were content to stay up and chat. Miss Ellis went to bed not long after the first group of girls did, telling the rest, ‘Remember, we have a long walk tomorrow,’ but in the sort of resigned voice of a teacher who knew the girls would do whatever they wanted.

Mr North had finally made it to camp a little before dinner, having seen Missy Carswell safely home. He chatted to Jack and a smaller group of the football girls. He, too, eventually stood up, warned the girls to get their rest before the long hike tomorrow, and headed off to his tent.

Jasmine watched him all the way, just to make sure he didn’t try to sneak into anyone else’s tent. Cierra and Madison’s, for example.

Jack stayed where he was, at the other end of the communal area, staring into the fire. He seemed to be trying his hardest not to glance at Jasmine. If she was a good person, she’d break up with him tonight. But she knew that she wouldn’t.

‘Looks like Mum and Dad have gone to bed,’ said Madison. She huddled closer to the girls and pulled her phone from her pocket.

‘Madison,’ hissed Carmen. ‘How did you smuggle that in? You’ll get suspended.’

Madison passed her phone to Cierra. ‘Who wants a story?’