Petra’s lip trembles and I force myself to lower my voice and tone slightly. She’s already had Natalia yell at her and it didn’t do too much good. And if what Audrey told me last week is true, Yin’s disappearance set off a grief ripple about her aunt, so maybe I should be showing a bit more compassion.

‘Don’t get me wrong,’ I tell her, ‘I don’t want to hold a grudge, but this isn’t even a proper apology yet. I currently don’t care why you complained. Do you know how hard I worked on that photo?’

Petra has no idea how much it took from me to put myself out there like that, to take a risk, to submit an entry to the prize. I wouldn’t expect her to understand. She’s been bred for lifelong, all-round excellence.

‘Okay…’ Petra takes a big shaky breath and I can almost hear the cogs of her brain working. ‘I’m sorry that I got you eliminated from the exhibition and the prize. It must have been disappointing for you…’

‘It was.’

‘Especially since you worked so hard on it. So—for all your hard work to go to waste like that—and—I can see why you hate me.’

‘I don’t hate you. Honestly, Petra, I don’t.’

Petra gets a panicked look on her face and waves her hand down low, shooing. I turn and see Audrey and Brooke slink away. Girls are trickling into the corridor, so the bell must be close to ringing. Or maybe none of us are in our classes. Most of the Year Tens have been coming in this week, but the days don’t have their normal structure. Small groups have been sent to counselling sessions, movies have been playing in the Great Hall for anyone to attend, candles are being lit with the chaplain.

I haven’t seen Claire or Milla or Natalia all week, and Natalia still hasn’t replied to my message.

‘I know you thought you were doing the right thing.’ I’ve spent some time over the last few days trying to put myself in Petra’s shoes and not being that great at it. ‘I was trying to do the right thing too, in my own way. But I’m sorry I upset you with the subject matter of my photo.’

She dares to look at me. ‘Really?’

‘I’ve been wondering if I did the right thing. Maybe I should have thought about other people’s reactions more. Audrey said—’ I have no idea if this is a no-go topic or not so I tread lightly, ‘that Yin’s abduction might have brought up some family stuff for you.’

Petra sighs; I see her whole body inflate and then deflate completely.