I blew out a breath, realizing how close I came to eating concrete. How embarrassing. I thought I was getting the hang of walking in heels, but apparently not. I wasn't used to dressing up. I was more of jeans and flip-flop type of girl, but my interview today required me to look my best.

"Thanks," I said to the person, straightening my button down blouse and skirt. When the person didn't answer, I looked up. It was the guy from before, the one with the headphones. He was good looking in a messy sort of way, although his hair could have used a good brush through. Those black locks were running rampant. But what stood out for me were the dark circles under his eyes. It looked like he hadn't slept in awhile, if at all. Yikes. And I thought I had problems.

He must have noticed my perusal because the blank look he was sporting briefly dropped away. His eyes, so dark they almost appeared black, narrowed. It looked like he was going to say something, but instead he shook his head and looked away.

I felt bad. I knew it was rude to stare, but he looked so tired. I was about to apologize when he pulled the hood of his khaki jacket over his head so it shielded his face and walked away.

Ouch. It wasn't like I was coming on to him. I had a boyfriend for goodness sake!

"God, why isn't anything going my way today?" I muttered.

A sharp wind blew through the station. I rubbed my arms, an eerie feeling crawling down my spine. Felt like someone was watching me. Wary, I hurried up the stairs to platform twelve.

It was crowded. More crowded than I thought it would, but then again, it was a Saturday afternoon. I squeezed my way over to an empty space near the back. Scanning the crowd, I saw the older man. He was just as nervous and jumpy as before, actively avoiding any human contact. I wondered where he was going. This train went all the way up the California coastline.

Close by him was the guy in all black. He still wore that amused expression and I wondered if it permanently etched on his face. Not wanting to get caught staring, especially by him, I averted my eyes.

As I studied the other passengers I noticed how self involved everyone was. They were so busy in their own little worlds they weren't aware of anyone else.

I glanced to my right, and then quickly looked forward. Crap. It was the black haired guy who saved me. What were the chances we'd be on the same train? Now he was going to think I was stalking him or something.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw him look at his cell phone. Curious, I leaned ever so slightly to my right so I could catch a glimpse of the screen. Apparently someone named Violet was calling him. I watched as he sent the call straight to voicemail. Several moments later, Violet called again.

Headphone guy as I liked to call him, gave a small but telling sigh. Whoever this Violet chick was, she frustrated him beyond belief. I bet it was an old girlfriend.

My brother had a few of those that wouldn't leave him alone, especially now that he had won the state football championship and got a full ride scholarship to one of the top football colleges in the States. It'd also inflated his ego like a balloon. For months now, he'd been strutting around the house like a peacock, so damn proud of himself. Not that I could blame him. Everything was going perfectly according to his plan. Mine...not so much.

At first, my plan had been simple. Get accepted into college and then go to aforesaid college. And as it was, that's exactly what happened. I got into my number one choice. It was everything I wanted, but as months passed, and the reality of spending four more years in classrooms loomed, I started to get cold feet. That's when I went to my guidance counselor who handed me pamphlets on taking a gap year. I'd never heard of it before, but basically it allowed me to take a year off. I could go and volunteer in a foreign country and the school would hold my place till I came back. The more I thought about it, the more I realized this was the right path for me.

However, there were a few obstacles in my way. One being my parents. I wasn't sure if they would agree. After all, it took money to take a gap year. Something I was sorely lacking. The second obstacle was Talon. We were both going to colleges on the East coast. Only two hours away from each other by train. We had plans. Lots of them and they didn't include my not being on the continent.

That's why I kept today's interview a secret. Last month, I'd applied to a gap year program not even thinking I would get past the first round, but I did. Today had been the second step. An interview with the committee board. Six people sitting round a table, lobbing question after question at me. It had been nerve wracking and exhilarating all at once.

I desperately wanted to get accepted. They even offered a scholarship program to help with the cost. It was perfect for me and I was scared of out of my mind. What if I didn't get in? What if I did get in and hated it?

Ugh! I needed to stop over analyzing. I had a bad habit of second-guessing myself and then regretting it in the end.

A familiar ringtone started playing. It was Zach. Why was he calling? His phone got taken away after being grounded. Again.

"Hey," I answered. "Did Mom give you your phone back?"

"Yeah, I sucked up and finished all my chores." He paused. "Look, I got to be straight with you, Keels. I got a call a few minutes ago."

A sinking feeling took hold. "I'm afraid to ask."

"It was from Harrington."

The mention of my boyfriend had my mouth going dry as a ball of panic burst in my chest. "He called you? B-But why?"

Ever since their freshman year in high school Zach and Talon have hated each other. Mostly due to the fact that they belonged to competing football teams. They'd started to mend fenced this past year, but no one would consider them friends. Talon must have been really worried if he voluntarily called Zach.

"I know. I'm just as shocked, but he's worried. And I got to say, I am too."

"There's nothing to worry about."

"You're acting shifty. Even Nicky noticed."

"You talked to Nicky too?" The realization cut deep. Felt like everyone important in my life was talking behind my back.

"Hey, she came to me. Wanted to know if I noticed something going on with you."

"If she had a problem maybe she should talk to me about it. Not my brother."

"How could she when you keep denying anything's wrong?

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You're right. Something is going on, but I don't know if I'm ready to talk."

"I get you not wanting to talk to Harrington, but me? Your twin? Come on, Keels. You know you can tell me anything."

I wanted to laugh. "Yeah, right. Do you remember what happened when you found out I was dating Talon?"

"That was different. You know why I freaked out. I had a good reason to."

He did. Talon and my brother had a complicated past. However, I wasn't sure if he would react any better to the news that I could be taking a gap year. My brother liked to act big and tough, but deep down he worried. Our colleges were on opposite ends of the country and he was afraid we'd grow apart. I thought differently. How could we grow apart when we were intrinsically linked?

Zach continued, his voice lowering. "Do you want to break up with him? Is that it?"

It was the last thing I expected to hear. "What? No! How could you ask that?"

"Because you haven't been hanging out with him. And every time he calls or texts you make excuses."

"Does..." I bit my lower lip, my heart pounding. "Does he think that? That I'm breaking up with him?"

"I don't know but if I was in his shoes, hell yeah I would think my girlfriend's ready to dump me. Especially with college coming up. I mean I get why you would want to. College is a whole new ballpark. You'll meet new people, try new things..."

"That's not—I'm not..." I sighed. No one understood. This wasn't about breaking away from Talon. Just the opposite really. I was scared that if I told him what I wanted to do, he would break up with me. "Would you ever date a girl if it was long distance?"

"Um. I don't know. Depends on how far away we are. But you and Harrington are going to be close. You can see each other on the weekends."

I looked down at my feet and mumbled, "What if we weren't close?"

He drew in a breath. "What are you saying, Keeley?"

"I have an opportunity."

"What kind of opportunity?"

"The kind that takes me half way around the world." Zach fell silent so I went on, "I applied for a gap year program. I'm not sure if I'm in yet. I'll know by the end of the month." More silence. "Zach?"

"Do Mom and Dad know?"

"No. I haven't told anyone. I didn't want to say anything till I knew

"Kind of a big bomb to drop, don't you think?"

"I know. It's just I need a little time away."

"Away from what? Me? Your friends? Your family?"

"No!" I knew he would take this personally. He always did. "I want to explore."

"You can do that in college. Study a year abroad," Zach suggested.

"But that's just it. I'm tired of studying. I want to live a little. Experience life outside of what I know."

"You do realize it means you'll graduate a year later."

"And I'm okay with that," I replied.

"I'm not."

I rolled my eyes. "It's not up to you, Zach."

"This is something you really want to do?"

The reluctant acceptance in his voice gave me hope. Maybe he wouldn't be difficult about this after all. "Yes. I've thought it and I think this is the right thing for me to do."

"It won't be easy convincing Mom and Dad," he warned.

"I know, but first I have to get accepted into the program."

"You'll get accepted."

His confidence made me smile. "You think so?"

"Of course. You're a Brewer. We excel at anything we put our minds to. And I'll help with the parentals. I make a killer power point presentation."

"How did you think Talon will react?"

"Honestly? I'm not sure. But ignoring him isn't going to solve your problem."

"I like to ignore. If I don't think about it I can pretend the problem doesn't exist."

"And that's when you run into trouble."

I knew he was right, but I didn't want to face it so I teased him instead. "Isn't that what I have you for? To bail me out?"

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled.

A voice came over the loudspeaker announcing the arrival of train six on platform twelve.