Wednesday 10 August

With just a little more than a month until the formal, Bec and Tash and I find ourselves saddled with a boading house representative on the organising committee: Iris Banks. We can’t leave the precious boarders out. She’s completely redundant; we’ve got it all covered.

Basildon and St Hilda’s have always had a combined Year 10 Formal. It saves people actually having to get dates. Although many of us will have dates.

The Basildon reps are Theo Ledwidge, Bryce Katz and Jonno Nesbit.

We’re sitting around a table in a quiet study room in our library at the end of the day, schoolbags strewn about the floor. It’s our third organising committee meeting, Iris’s first.

‘Hoxton can play at the formal,’ says Bryce.

‘Wow, good get,’ says Tash.

Great get – Hoxton is mostly former Basildons; they’ve had a successful album release and done lots of touring in the last couple of years following a Triple J Unearthed win when they were in Year 12.

‘I’m surprised they said yes – aren’t they way too famous for a Year 10 formal?’ I ask.

Jonno is turning crimson, poor guy. ‘Hamish is my brother.’

I can see it: lead singer Ham Nesbit is a hotter, cooler, hairier, larger, older version of shy Jonno.

‘His mum told them they had to do it,’ says Bryce.

‘Well, send thanks to your mum from us,’ I say.

‘They don’t mind,’ says Jonno, crimson deepening further. Fascinating.

‘So that’s our work done – what are you girls bringing to the table?’ asks Theo.

I like this dude a little less each time we meet. I know he’s some kind of chess whiz, and he’s kind of good-looking, but his manner is Mr Patronising. Iris has not stopped staring at him since the boys arrived. He hardly seems to notice her.

‘Tash has a food report,’ I say.

‘So, yeah, we’ve got tables and chairs hired, and we’ve booked River Cafe Catering. The menu is roaming appetisers with drinks, two types of paella and salads, and we’ll be having a gelati and patisserie table. Every course has vego, dairy-free, gluten-free and fructose-intolerant options.’

‘Sounds good,’ says Jonno.

‘It’s no-frills, but yes-delicious,’ says Bec.

‘We’re putting together a “Moments” powerpoint – Basildon and St Hilda’s fun times, year to date. You can send me pics that we might not already have,’ says Tash. ‘Combined activities only.’

‘And I’m editing some footage to play behind the band,’ I say. ‘Unless they want to bring their own stuff?’

‘No, they’ll do an hour and a half, and then we’ll Spotify.’

‘Let’s make sure we’ve got an agreed list,’ says Tash. ‘Lola’s party list is excellent.’

‘According to . . .?’ asks Theo.

‘Every party-going teenager in Melbourne, basically,’ says Tash, clearly implying he’s not in that group.

‘Agreed,’ says Bryce, tapping a note to himself.

I make a mental note to ask Kate for music suggestions, too.

‘Who’s having pre-s?’ asks Theo.

Bec and Tash and I sit tight-lipped. There is no way he’s getting asked to our pre-s, which are at Tash’s.

‘So,’ I say. Theo gives me a cold look. Tough. ‘Let’s have two laptops on the night. I need lots of grunt for the film, and we’ll use a different one for lighting, I guess . . .’

Iris pipes up. ‘One from each school?’

‘Sure,’ I say. ‘We’ll do a tech check on the afternoon.’

‘Kate Turner and I are St Hilda’s tech support,’ says Iris.

‘And I’m Basildon’s,’ says Theo.

‘Dance floor’s getting laid on the day,’ says Bec.

‘Main decorative element is lots of potted trees with white fairy lights,’ I say. We can get them at a super cheap rate from Lainie’s parents, who own an events hiring company – Henry the Hirer.

‘Okay, that’s it for now, then,’ says Theo. ‘Unless you want some help with editing the footage, Ady?’

‘No, thanks – I’ve got it sorted.’ I haven’t actually, and I need to get started, but I don’t fancy hours in front of a computer rubbing shoulders with Theo Ledwidge. Seriously.