-Sky-

Getting through the rest of Thursday and then the entire Friday was nearly torture for me. Time went by way too slowly, and even though I loved spending time with Max and Troy at school, I was way too excited for Saturday. I just couldn't wait! The project was happening after all, and if the camping trip crossed my mind even briefly, I got way too hyper for my own good.

Thankfully, Max didn't seem to mind my enthusiasm. I may have annoyed him to death several times during Friday, but he wasn't showing it. He was so great. And he seemed happy as well that we didn't have to change our project after all!

Then it was finally Saturday! I woke up at six in the morning, and I didn't even try to sleep longer. Instead, I started packing my bag. Again. For the hundredth time. I had written down everything we needed on our trip to the barn, so I carefully checked the list as I was going through my bag. I had absolutely everything we needed – even my parents couldn't think of anything else to add – but I still had the feeling I was forgetting half of it.

When I was done checking my list, I sat down on the ground and massaged my aching ankle. I couldn't see my splint anywhere. I had kept it on when I went to sleep, but apparently, I had taken it off during the night. I had no memory of doing so, so I must've done it in my sleep. I scolded myself for it. Even though we now had a way to get to the barn, I still needed to walk around while we were there, so I couldn't afford to make the ankle any worse than it already was. It still wasn't showing any signs of improvement, and it was entirely my own fault.

I sighed as I pushed myself up from the floor. I finally saw the black-and-blue splint in the furthest corner of my room, and limped to it. Once I had pulled it on, it was easier to walk, but I still hated it. It was too hot, and I couldn't wear a shoe with it, so I had to be careful not to get it dirty. As if it was even possible for me to keep it clean – the second I saw something interesting, I forgot all about the mud and puddles on my path.

After getting dressed, I still had way too much time to spare. My entire family was still fast asleep, and I didn't want to wake them up, but I was getting hungry already. I tried to be as quiet as possible when I made my way to the door and stepped outside, but of course I tripped on the carpet. On my way down, I knocked over a small table right next to my door, and my whole family was successfully awoken.

"Sky?" Mom's sleepy voice came from behind the closed door of their bedroom. I didn't need to ask how she knew it was me making all that noise – it was always me.

I groaned silently at my luck as I pushed the table back up while Mom opened their door.

"Why are you awake so early?" she asked sleepily when she stepped out into the hallway.

"I couldn't sleep," I whined in misery, trying to get up from the floor.

"Why don't you have your crutches?" she asked and helped me up. "I'll go get them for you."

I sighed and leaned against the wall. Sometimes I really wished I was someone else, but my misery lasted only for a second before I remembered what day it was.

"Mom!" I said excitedly when she returned to me with my crutches. "It's Saturday!"

"I know, honey," she chuckled. "I was going to ask if you're excited, but I suppose I already have my answer."

"I am excited!" I told her with a grin. "I was so sure this project wasn't going to happen. I'm so happy Luke is letting us use his ATV. He's a really great guy!"

"Yes, you told me," she said with a smile as she helped me to the stairs. "Watch your step."

"I thought he hated me, but–" I bit my tongue when I missed a step. "Ouch..."

"I told you to watch your step," Mom said, holding me tightly with both hands. "Max is going to be disappointed if you break your neck."

"I don't think he cares that much. He'd probably be pleased if he didn't have to go," I said quietly, and Mom gave me a stern stare.

"He'd be very disappointed! You said it yourself: he wants to do the project with you," she said in a scolding manner. "I haven't met him properly yet, but I know he'd be sad if you couldn't go with him."

"Yeah?" I asked shyly.

"Definitely," she said with an encouraging smile. "Now watch your goddamn step!"

I giggled as we continued walking down. She followed me all the way to the kitchen and made sure I was safely sitting behind the dining table before she went to make breakfast for us.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I don't know... A sandwich or something?"

"Nonsense. You need a power-breakfast," she said, grabbing a frying pan.

"Yess," I smirked – that was exactly what I wanted for breakfast.

I loved her power-breakfast. It was an omelet with all sorts of vegetables and plenty of cheese, sided with yogurt with oat flakes. I may be small, but sometimes I felt like I could eat like a horse.

"Have you packed everything?" Mom asked.

"Like a thousand times already," I said. "I still feel like I'm forgetting something, though."

"Do you have warm clothes?" she asked.

"Yup," I nodded.

"Spare clothes? Socks? Undies?"

"Yes, yes, and yes."

"Did you clean your boots?"

"Yes."

"Did you check your tent? Do you have enough pegs? Did you check the guylines? Did you see any holes in the canvas?" she went on.

"Everything is in perfect shape," I said reassuringly.

She kept asking me similar questions even though it was just yesterday when she helped me to pack my bags – I had a tendency of unpacking everything and then forgetting to repack them all. Eventually, she ran out of ideas.

"Did you pack warm clothes?" she asked, placing the omelet in front of me.

"You asked that already, and yes," I said, grabbing my spoon – I ate everything with a spoon and Freddy always made fun of it.

"Then I think you are set," Mom said with a smile. "If you don't forget to take your bags with you, that is."

I sneered at her. I would probably forget to take the bags.

*****

Max and I agreed to meet at Luke's at one o'clock, and when it was about time for my dad to take me to them, I was nearly shaking from excitement. I tried to keep myself calm so I wouldn't spend all my energy before we even started moving, but it was hopeless. I had no idea how I survived all those boring hours in the morning while waiting for noon.

But finally, it was time to leave! I was proud of myself since I didn't forget anything! Well, at least I realized I forgot to take my camera before Dad had backed the car all the way down our driveway.

I was so excited Dad had to remind me to breathe three times during that twenty-minute drive to Luke's. I was embarrassing myself, but luckily it was only my dad who was there to see it. He was already used to my childish behavior.

After an eternity, we arrived at Luke's. My dad parked the car while I stared out of the window with my nose practically pressed against it. I could see the big blue ATV already loaded on a trailer at the end of their driveway. Luke was there with someone else, securing the straps around the trailer. When they heard our car, they both turned to wave at us.

I had to admit, I was a little bit surprised to see the person Luke was with was a transgender.

"Oh! It's the Frosts!" Dad said while parking the car. "You didn't tell me you're friends with their son!"

I turned to stare at him. "How do you...?"

Then it clicked. Of course my dad knew the quarterback of the team. Dad was such a mad football fan, after all.

"I've met Luke's moms," Dad said with a wide smile. "Or... Mom and dad? I don't know, it's still a bit confusing... Parents. I've met Luke's parents."

"Why is it confusing?" I asked.

"Everyone keeps using different pronouns," Dad whispered while opening the door, and then waved at the Frosts. "Hey Gwen! Luke! I didn't realize my son was talking about you guys!"

"Oh hi Bernard! How have you been?" Gwen spoke with a wide smile as they walked to our car.

I followed dad outside and waited while the adults exchanged their greetings.

Gwen was very tall, just as tall as Luke, and she looked so much like him it was clear Luke was her son. She had long, curly hair tied in a ponytail, and a faint layer of makeup on her face. She was wearing simple jeans and a beige blouse, but none of it could quite hide her very masculine traits. It really was a shame that nature made mistakes like that, giving people bodies they didn't belong in.

Soon, Gwen turned her attention to me.

"Hello! I'm Gwen," she said and shook my hand. "You're Sky, right? Luke told me what happened to your leg, and we're glad we can help with your school project."

"Yes, it's really awesome we can use your ATV. I just can't walk all the way to the farm," I explained, peering down at my splint.

"It really is quite the hike with crutches," she said empathetically. "So you're the one driving it?"

"Yup – my uncle taught me how to handle it," I told her, trying to sound confident. "We should be able to bring it back in one piece."

"Hey!" Luke frowned at me. "You'd better bring it back in one piece."

"Don't worry – if something happens to it, I will pay for it," Dad said, probably worrying that I'd see a rabbit and crash.

"I'm sure everything will go all right," Gwen said with a kind smile. "We'll bring the ATV for you since we have the trailer already hooked up to my car and show you how to get to the farm."

"Thank you! That's so great of you," I said.

Gwen nodded to me and turned to say something to my dad, but at that moment, I heard an excited bark, followed by loud whining, coming from behind the gate of their yard. I quickly sprung around and saw Luke's boxer, Bella, jumping up and down against the gate, demanding for attention.

"Oh my goodness! You are so pretty," I told the dog and walked up to her, completely forgetting my surroundings. "Hello! You must be Bella."

She was wagging her tail like there was no tomorrow and barked at me enthusiastically. I didn't dare to pet her without permission. She really was pretty. Her brown fur with black stripes was shining brightly in the sun, and she had a cute little white stripe on her face and a white spot on her chest. And I was so unbelievably happy to see she had a tail, not a stub. Poor girl had a flea collar, though.

"She loves people," Luke grunted right behind my shoulder. "Definitely not my dog."

I chuckled and peered up at him when he leaned against the gate. Bella got even more excited, if possible, and tried to lick his face while holding onto the top of the gate with her front paws.

"You're so annoying," Luke told her, but there was a small smile tugging at his lips.

"She's really pretty," I told him, and he glanced at me. "Can I pet her?"

"Sure – there's not enough petting in this world, according to her," he told me.

The second I moved my hand closer to Bella, she jumped closer and started licking my hand, whining like crazy. Her tail was even crazier. The difference between her and her human dad was so huge that describing it as night and day wasn't enough. But still, it was clear they belonged together. There was such a soft look in Luke's eyes when he watched his puppy, and I had never seen that before.

"She knows tricks, right?" I asked, rubbing Bella's ears.

"She does, but she doesn't have the attention span to actually do them," Luke said, patting Bella's neck. "So loves to fetch, though. And if you're lucky, she may remember to bring the toy back to you."

I laughed lightly at his words. We both focused on Bella for a moment. She absolutely loved scratches, and she looked like she was in heaven while the both of us petted her. These were the moments I wished I had a dog too, but... Maybe one day.

"She looks like she's constantly laughing silently," I told Luke. Bella had her mouth wide open as she panted in her excitement, and it looked like a massive grin.

"She sure does," he said and snorted in amusement as he watched her. "She also drools everywhere..."

I chuckled as well, but then he peered at me with a careful gleam in his eyes.

"I uh..." Luke suddenly muttered, and his expression turned awkward. "We're cool, right? I know I've been a jerk, but..."

"We are cool," I said reassuringly. "We all have our bad days."

"Bad days, huh..." he mumbled.

"Yup," I said.

It was easy to tell Luke had things going on, and not all of them were good, but I knew him well enough not to ask. He'd only get mad at me, or at least shut me out. I wasn't anywhere near his inner circle, but he was finally letting me in, so I didn't want to try my luck.

"Better get the trailer ready – Max will be here any second now," Luke suddenly said and left without giving me a second look.

I watched him for a brief moment, but then turned my attention to his dog. I had the feeling that getting into Luke's inner circle would take a lot of time and effort, but at the same time, I knew it would be worth my while. I could tell that underneath all that ice, there was a warm heart.

"You better take good care of your daddy, okay?" I whispered to Bella.

She barked as a reply.