It looks like today is my turn to walk home by myself. Over the course of the last hour, I've gotten messages from all three of my sisters telling me they won't be around to walk together after school. Rhiannon, once again, is already at home. Reece and Reilly apparently have better things to do than just go home and start their homework.

I take my time gathering all my stuff into my locker. The weather is starting to go beyond the level of cold that I'm okay with, I’m in no rush to get outside. Hopefully, once December rolls around, Dad will take pity on us and start swinging by after last period to pick us up. At least those of us who want a ride would have the option. Dad swears that the middle of the afternoon is his most productive time of day, and, to be fair, we usually find him locked in his office when we get back from school, if he hasn't started cooking dinner yet.

A lot of other people seem to be hanging around after classes today though I can’t guess why. If there's something going on that my sisters are involved in, I'm already a little bummed that they didn't decide to tell me. But no one seems to be doing anything in particular, I know Fairview has a lot of after-school activities. I just don't choose to get involved in any of them. Not my thing.

The gym is the loudest spot in the whole school, with the basketball team practicing on one end of the gym, and a few girls playing volleyball on the other. The bleachers are about a quarter full of people hanging around and watching the athletes. It's only by chance I catch sight of a familiar face during my cursory glance of the room. Reilly is sitting by herself near the top of the bleachers, watching the volleyball game. She's not even on her phone. Instead, she actually seems to be enjoying volleyball, but it seems weird that she would stay after school just for that. Since I have nowhere better to be, I step inside the gym, sticking to the wall so I don't get in anyone's way before I reach the bleachers and climb up.

Reilly spots me as I'm maneuvering up the steps and immediately blushes. It's something I don't see her do often. Why would she feel weird about my finding her here?

I almost wish I hadn't stopped to say hi.

"Hey," Reilly says, giving me a big smile that I don't quite believe.

"Hey." I sit down beside her. I'm already here, and it would be weird to leave now. "Did not expect to find you here." I say, tilting my head toward the game. Reece is the only one of my sisters who has any interest at all in sports. If anything, I'm surprised she's not here too, potentially even playing volleyball. Though she’d probably have the same issues getting on that team as she did with soccer. Reilly doesn't say anything right away, and pointedly looks away from me. "You're not avoiding me are you? Did I do something?"

Right away, Reilly looks back at me, concern in her eyes. "No, no. Not at all. This will sound so stupid, I don't even know why I didn't just tell you. I'm just hanging out with someone after-school, and she's on the volleyball team, so I had to wait."

It takes me a second to figure out why she would feel weird about having plans after classes, something that happens a lot. I look over at the volleyball game and try to figure out who it is she's talking about, but don't have any ideas. Reilly's mentioned some of her new friends already, but I haven't been able to put any names to faces yet. An idea dawns on me. "Oh. Do you have a date?"

Now Reilly's face is beet red, and she seems to be trying not to stammer out a response. "No. No dates."

"Okay, so why are you being so weird?"

"I'm not being weird," Reilly says though there's no denying her behavior at this point.

I grin, finally getting it. Reilly hasn't dated much, but when she likes someone she turns into a flustered, stammering romantic. "You like someone then." I don't even bother to ask. She definitely likes someone.

"Shut up." She's smiling but there's more to her expression than merely being excited about meeting someone new. "I haven't told anyone here yet," she explains.

Oh. She likes someone and is clearly loving being around them. If no one here knows she’s gay, then there's a good chance that the girl she likes might not feel the same way. But it seems like there's an obvious solution. "Why not tell? You were out back home and seemed happy with the decision. You’ve been out for like two years."

Reilly's smile disappears, replaced with worry. "At first, I didn't want to be known as the gay one, or to deal with any questions about it. This isn't a big city. I wish I knew how people here would respond, you know?"

I nod, understanding on my own level even if we don't quite share the same experience here. I want to say who cares what people think, but I know if I were in her position, I would absolutely care. Any more attention drawn to me would be entirely unwelcome. Being the subject of rumors and scrutiny would be Reilly's worst nightmare. She's already making friends here, and I can see why she wouldn't want to risk that.

"At least you know if people in Fairview get weird about anything, Mom would be all over them in a heartbeat."

Reilly laughs, probably remembering the same day back in eighth grade that I am. One moronic kid, Kimberly Greystone, gave Reilly a hard time, accusing her of having crushes on all the girls in their change room. My sister came home in tears. And then my mother shook the world, getting a written apology from the kid and the school. The only reason she didn't force the principal to do an entire assembly on acceptance was because Reilly would have been mortified.

Some kids back home were occasionally ass holes, but for the most part, it was not an issue. At least for the people who mattered. "So, you're hanging out with this girl and just trying to get an idea of if it might go anywhere?"

Reilly throws her hands up in the air. "I don't even know what I'm doing. I just like being around her. Sasha. It probably won't go anywhere, I worry I'm going to end up as that lesbian girl who has a crush on her friend who ends up being straight. When she asked if I wanted to study together after classes, I couldn't say no."

"Will there be other people there?" I ask, really hoping that this ends well for my sister. She shakes her head in response.

Even if Fairview ends up being the most progressive small town ever, there's already a shortage of people our age to choose from, Reilly will have a harder time of it than any of us. Except maybe me, since I can't seem to ask out a guy even if I do like him and know he's single.

Now that I think of it, I don't know that he is straight, I should know better than to make assumptions.

Shit. One more thing to worry about.

Just then a loud whistle sounds from the floor, ending the volleyball practice. Girls standing on both sides clap enthusiastically before departing. "I guess that means I should go," I say, knowing I'm about to become an unwelcome distraction in a situation where Reilly is already stressing. I stand up and get ready to go.

"You can stay," she says. I can't tell whether she wants me to stay or go, but I remember how I felt back at the haunted house when I had a chance to be alone with Kent, and how it felt having him touch me. Even mostly by accident. There's a chance of that happening for my sister, I don't want to be the one to get in the way.

"Next time," I say already stepping down to the next level of the bleacher. "And there will be a next time. You're a Donovan. You're irresistible."

"Something you should remember some time," she says before sticking out her tongue.

"Good luck."

I take off as fast as I can without tumbling down the steps and drawing attention to myself. In less than a minute, I'm back outside the gym doors. I can't help but pause, pretending to check my phone so I can wait to see the girl that has my sister swooning. It's almost a full minute before someone strides up the bleachers towards her. The girl is tall and black, with curly hair tied back in a tight ponytail. I can't tell much more from her without getting closer, but all I really need to understand is the way that my sister is smiling as she approaches. I force myself to go, but silently continue to wish Reilly luck as I make my way out of the school.