"Did you get a cut?" Layla asked, reaching out to touch Megs’ curls poking out from under her knit hat.
“I did. Impressive that you can notice something like that when it’s covered up.”
Layla preened. “I’m extremely detail oriented.”
The group didn’t say much as Oscar greeted them and handed out their tickets. When the doors opened, they rushed aboard and found seats in the primary passenger car. The last time she’d been on this train was the year before playing the role of an elf in Santa’s workshop. She doubted she’d audition this year. What job would be willing to let her off work Thursday and Friday at three o’clock to get into costume?
The train lurched as it pulled away from the station, and its slow, rhythmic chug lulled Megs as she gazed out the window. After going to class last night and then waking up early this morning, it didn’t take much.
“Gorgeous,” Alli murmured from the bench across from her as they pulled into the gorge.
Megs snorted, then realized her pun wasn’t intentional. “That was a missed opportunity,” she muttered. She could’ve sworn she caught Gideon’s lip twitch across the aisle.
“They don’t have leaves like this in Burlington.” Oscar beamed at them from the front of the car.
The world outside the windows was awash with reds, oranges, and yellows, and nature's canvas only grew more vibrant as they ascended. This was the beauty of the Sugar Creek train. The Autumn Rambler, or whatever they changed it to each fall. The goal wasn’t the destination, so it never went so fast that you couldn’t soak in the views.
Sean started telling a story of some commercial he’d done in the Smoky Mountains, but Megs tuned him out. Today, she was glad she came. Not because she was trying to impress anyone. Not because she hopedGideon might still be interested in her, though of course she did, and not because she might win the competition and be able to save money.
For a year straight she’d been so worried about what she was going to do next or what she shouldn’t do next, or how she’d flubbed her opportunities, or how she wouldn’t get any more opportunities, Megs couldn’t think of a single day when she’d simply enjoyed herself. There had been moments here and there that pulled her out of her head, mostly involving Haley and karaoke, but never an entire day.
That was going to change now. Here she was leaf peeping on a historic train in the town where she grew up while standing at a personal crossroads. Tonight she would receive her certificate. Tomorrow she’d finish her last official shift at Green Mountain—even though she’d continue helping them out once a week, that didn’t really count. Monday she’d start her new job and less than two weeks after that, she’d be living in her loft.
Today, she would take in the colors, breathe in the mountain air, and enjoy being alive. Maybe she wouldn’t be able to live her dreams the way she’d hoped. Or maybe love wasn’t the only thing that required balance.
Once the Rambler reached the top of the loop and pulled up alongside the platform, their group disembarked. The sun was out, and the scenery was breathtaking with towering aspens fanning golden coins against the clear blue sky.
Oscar led the group to the trailhead. “Does anyone need to use the bathroom or apply sunscreen before we get going?”
Cassie and Layla both left the group and headed to the restrooms while Oscar’s crew took photos and video of the contestants. When the two of them returned, they started off.
Megs drew a deep breath, letting the morning air fill her lungs as her shoes crunched over fallen leaves. The group spread out like a string of beads on the trail.
"Finding any inspiration for your next audition?" Sean asked. His arm brushed hers as he stepped over a tree root.
Megs smiled politely. “I’ve been surprised, actually. These outings have improved my ability to get into character.” She wasn’t making that up. With so little romance in her life, whatever the definition, she needed all the inspiration she could get.
Sean snorted. “That’s funny.” Megs looked up the trail, not bothering to correct him. “How was your group coaching?”
“It was interesting, you?”
Sean shook his head. “Complete joke. I’m only here because I have to be. Calloway has to see the difference in quality between auditions. I mean, I have years of . . . ”
Sean droned on, but Megs caught voices behind her and tuned him out.
"You might surprise yourself," Gideon said. “Sometimes what we think we want isn’t what we need.”
“But sometimes it is. It’s too bad I can never tell the difference.” Alli laughed.
Megs’ stomach twisted.
“ . . . it’s not hard, you know?” Sean finished.
“Mmhmm.”
The trail wasn’t difficult, but Megs found herself wishing it were. With Gideon and Alli behind her and Sean continuing to ask and answer his own questions, she wished she could bolt up a hill, hike until she was breathless, and find some solitude.
After another fifteen minutes, they entered a clearing, and Megs seized her opportunity to move far away from Sean. She had no idea if this was the end of the hike or a mid way point, but either way, she wasn’t going to walk next to him another step.
