When I got home about three hours later, Willow jumped on me, bowling me over. I laughed as she licked me all over. 

She finally backed up, giving me space so I could get to my feet.

"Josh!" I called out into the house, and a "yeah?" was my response.

I grinned as I pinpointed the sound. I shut the front door behind me and jogged to the lounge room, dumping my overnight bag on the couch and dropping next to my twin, who was searching stuff up on the youtube tv.

"When did you get home?" I asked; normally Josh would be at sport by now.

"Soccer practise was cancelled," he answered, ignoring my question but still somehow answering it. Willow padded up to us and leapt up onto the couch, shoving me aside and parking herself right in between us, looking up at me with expectant mismatched eyes.

I sighed, giving into the adorableness and attacking her with pats and cuddles, which she lapped up adoringly. 

"Is dad here yet?" I asked my brother, who hadn't made a move.

"No," he replied offhandedly, and I stared up at the program he was watching. "He and mum are having coffee in town. Oh, this one's funny," he commented as he clicked on "Markiplier Makes: An Egg Drop".

I sighed. I had watched it recently and didn't really want to watch it again, so I pushed myself up from the couch. "Didja take Willow for a walk?" I asked.

"No."

I walked over to the shelf where we kept the leash and picked it up. Willow went crazy and I stifled my laughter.

"Come on lil' tree, let's go," I cooed, clipping the lead onto her collar. Willow practically shot off towards the front door, pulling me along behind her. "I won't be long! Love you!" I called over my shoulder, making it to the front door in a record time of six seconds thanks to my dog.

We went out the front door and I shut the screen door behind me.

The wind picked up, and I relished the feeling of it gliding across my skin.

The dog tugged on her lead and we set off on our walk.

I decided to drop by Gracie's. She'd have walked TillyMae by now, and I wanted to ask her if she wanted to hangout at the cinemas or something.

Willow had other ideas, though. She wanted to head to the park, and she pulled on the leash. "Later," I promised her.

We walked the streets, passing by others walking their dogs and strolling prams around. It wasn't as busy as I thought it would be, thank God.

I made it to the Lakeholds' house and knocked on the door.

A white-haired girl answered.

"Gyps!" She beamed, inviting me in with frantic waves of her hand.

Willow attacked her with licks and nuzzles, wagging her tail charmingly, and Gracie gladly accepted them.

"How are you?" She asked, clipping the lead off Willow's collar as the door closed behind us.

"I'm doing great! I wanted to ask if we could hang out?" I asked, stroking Willow's excited face.

"Of course. Mum and dad aren't home yet, and Caleb's in his room. He won't be any trouble," Gracie murmured the last part, perhaps a bit cautious of her big brother. 

I raised an eyebrow. "Caleb isn't..."

"He's quit the booze," she replied. "He's been having withdrawals all day. But it's really for the better, he'll get used to it soon, I know he will."

I knew what she was really saying: I hope he will.

TillyMae padded downstairs and barked a greeting at Willow, who returned it. The smaller dog crouched down in a play pose, and my border collie returned it. The two continued to wreak havoc in the lounge room.

My friend lead me to her kitchen and opened the fridge, passing me a can of coke half a second later. She grabbed one for herself and shut it, then hopped up on the counter, opening her can simultaneously.

"Listen, we don't have to go out, I, uh..." I trailed off, fiddling with the pin. I picked it back like the can was a grenade, then took a sip.

"What's up?" Gracie asked, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

I inhaled. "I like girls. Only girls."

She raised her eyebrows in surprise, then smiled. "Another of Jess," she muttered into her can.

I stifled a giggle, trying to keep serious. "I was thinking... could you help me? Since your cousin's –?"

"Yes yes, of course, no worries. Jess is already comfortable with being gay, and I'm sure she'd be delighted to help you," Gracie cut in, sipping her coke.

I set my can down. "That would be great. I appreciate all the help," I smiled, wondering if I should tell her the other thing.

She caught my look and raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Gyps?" She prompted.

I sighed, and turned my head when a bark sounded throughout the lounge room behind us. Gracie raised her can to her lips again.

"I think the person who made me realise that was someone in the gang."

With impeccable comical timing, she spat out her drink, black liquid spurting everywhere.

I couldn't stop my laughter this time, the joyful noise making me forget all the bad things for a second.

Grace glared at me, wiping her mouth with her sleeve. "Well? Don't leave me in the dark, Gypsica. Who is it?"

<⚙︎>

When Willow and I got back home, it was almost dark. Gracie and I had gone to the cinemas and hung out at the food court afterwards. We walked back to her house so I could grab Willow and get back home. It was a wonderful hangout all in all, and definitely helped me get my mind off everything troubling me.

I trudged into my room threw a groan at the homework I had neglected all day sitting on my desk.

Willow apparently decided she couldn't get enough of me, since she padded upstairs into the room and leapt onto my bed, making herself comfy.

Josh had gone out with a friend for dinner (I didn't catch much of the convo – bits and pieces like "Dot" and "date". The less said about that the better). I had briefly greeted my parents, who were watching one of their boring adult tv shows in the lounge room.

I sighed, my mouth sputtering like a horse's retort. You know the one.

Staring at my sheet of equations, my mind went blank. All I could think about were two things; horses (which I always thought about, even in sleep), and my self-discovery crisis. I wonder when I was going to tell the rest of the gang.

That was what we had always called ourselves: the gang. Maybe short for Stirrup Gang, but that was a timeless debate. I distinctly remember offering to call ourselves the SaddleClub after the popular book series, but quickly took it back as it was uncreative.

Skye often called it "Gang Gang" in a reference to something or other, and that had all worked with us so far.

Also "Sled Gang" – that one got thrown around a lot too, along with the quote "sleep last, smoke grass and sled fast!" 

Willow's sharp bark made me jump right out of my skin, spinning me back to reality yet again.

"Geez boi, what's wrong?" I asked, leaning over and ruffling her fur.

She was alert, her ears pricked up, her different-coloured eyes staring out my window. 

I followed her gaze, overlooking the disappearing sun. People bustled around in the city below, and I thanked my luck that my room was on the second floor, and therefore harboured a window which had the gorgeous view of the horizon, regular neighbourhood buildings surrounding our house with trees dotting the place.

And then I realised what the Border Collie had barked at.

Someone was walking towards our house.

I jolted in alarm, making Willow spook and bark again. I stumbled and tangled myself in my doona. Fell to the floor with an "oof!" and sighed in defeat.

Willow leapt down from the bed (much more elegantly, might I add) and stood alert, kindly waiting for me to get back up.

The second I was on my feet, the doorbell rang. 

Willow barked thrice more and pelted downstairs, and I couldn't help but giggle at her antics.

"I'll get it!" I heard my mum call.

I descended the stairs and saw mum frantically waving someone inside, Willow nuzzling their leg.

"Hey, Gyps," a voice said shyly. 

I inhaled.

Mum stepped aside to reveal Evelyn flicking her dark hair over her shoulder, staring at the ground. 

<⚙︎>

"So, I'm really really sorry," Lyn finished tearfully, drawing a breath after her long sentence.

I reclined back onto my pillows, an exhale whooshing out of my mouth. "I forgive you," I spoke, accepting her apology. Because, come on, of course I did. She's one of my best friends, and I knew she didn't mean to snap at me.

Lyn threw her arms around me and I returned the hug, warmth sparking in my stomach.

Willow got in on the hug and nosed herself in between us, my bed creaking beneath the added weight.

Lyn broke away, laughing. "Silly dog," she sniffed again, stroking the border collie.

"So, we're okay?" I asked hesitantly.

Lyn's eyes flickered to mine. "Of course," she smiled. "Sisters for always, Gyps. Even in arguments."

I nodded, returning the smile. "So. If we're going to tell each other everything now, then I have something to tell you," I chanced, making her turn her gaze to me.

"Oh?" She said slowly.

The front door opened and closed downstairs, and an obligatory "hey mum!" from Josh sounded up through my open door. 

I decided to bite the bullet. "I like girls. As in, I think I might be gay."

Lyn didn't hide her smile. "Cool," she stated.

I opened my mouth and stopped, realising what she had just said. "...oh," I breathed, and Lyn giggled. 

"What? You really expected a fight?" Lyn shoved my knee. "Come on, Gyps! I'm not homophobic."

My breath caught in my throat. "Good, because there's something else I gotta tell you, something only Gracie knows so far – I told her earlier today."

Lyn's smile faded and her features fixed back into seriousness. "You okay? What's wrong?"

I stared down at Willow, unable to meet Lyn's eyes.

Willow's blue eye glinted in the orange-yellow light of my bedside lamp, her amber eye appearing like flame. Fire and ice.

"It was someone in the gang who made me realise this," I recited my words to Grace like a scripted line in a play.

Now Lyn's expression changed again to that of complete fascination (with some mischief). 

"OOooh! I finally get to tease my bestie about these things! So, who is it?" She queried, leaning closer.

Before I could answer, Josh burst in in the room.

Saved by the brother.

 "Dinner's on!" He announced. "Come on you two, we're binging Friends like all the other stereotypical, patriotic American families!"

My friend, my brother, and myself laughed at the joke all the way downstairs.