Chapter One: Running on Ice

Where does the time go?
Spinning my wheels, standing still
It's like running on ice
I only gain a little distance when I fall…
-Vertical Horizon

The day Gwen first saw AJ, she was late for rowing practice.
This was a slight problem. Not only was it the first week of the season, but Gwen was rowing stroke today, which meant that the team absolutely needed her before they could begin. In other words, she was in big trouble.
She glanced at her watch. Four-thirty. She picked up her cell phone and dialed.
"Lara? Hey, it's Gwen. Yeah, I'm on my way. I'm stuck in a massive traffic jam. … No, Coach Tom doesn't know I'm gonna be late. I should be at the boathouse within ten minutes, though. … Could you? Thanks. I'll see you there."
She flipped her cell phone shut and threw it back onto the passenger seat next to her. Drumming her fingers on the steering wheel, she stared daggers at the taillights of the car stopped in front of her.
Damn it, I hate traffic. I hate being late to practice. I hate this sport. No, that's not true. I love rowing. I just hate being late to practice. That's it.
She absently pushed a damp strand of hair back from her forehead. The Florida heat, even in mid-September, was stifling, and the fact that the air conditioning in Gwen's old Jeep was non-functional didn't help much. She drove with the windows open, but the sweat trickled slowly down her back anyway, making her clothes stick uncomfortably to her body.
She wondered how in the world she'd gotten herself into this mess. Her coach was going to kill her, her teammates were going to kill her, and if she had to sit in traffic for another minute, she felt as if she would almost certainly kill herself.
So much stress, so much to worry about. That's my life, she thought to herself with a small smile. As if she didn't have enough schoolwork to do for college, she had friends that required her attention constantly and a family that didn't know how to leave her alone. And, of course, she had crew practice every afternoon.
Shit. When are these cars going to move? Shit, shit, shit. Coach Tom's gonna have my head on a stick if I'm late. He'll send the boats out without me. He can't do that! I'm rowing eight seat today!
Gwen sighed impatiently and leaned her head back against the headrest. So much stress. So much to worry about.

"AJ? Earth to AJ…come back to the planet, dude!" Nick reached a lean arm around Kevin's chair and smacked AJ rudely on the side of the head.
AJ blinked once, twice. Had he been staring into space? He hadn't meant to. "Sorry, Nicky. Whaddaya need?"
"I said, would you please pay attention so that we can finish recording this song and I can get home to my girlfriend?" Nick grinned, then threw in as an afterthought, drawing his face into mock seriousness: "And don't call me Nicky."
AJ sighed and shook his head, wishing he could shake every thought out as easily. So much on his mind. But he had to concentrate now.
Finish recording this song. Just get through it. Don't think about the empty house you're going home to. Don't zone out. Finish recording this song.
He spun around on his stool, leaning into the microphone. Closed his eyes. Tried to visualize someone he could sing to. Couldn't think of anyone.
"I look at you and see my life, I think of you and know it's right…A hundred times I've kissed your lips, but nothing could compare to this…" The five young men sang straight from the heart, or at least as much as they could pretend. Their voices echoed throughout the near-empty room. At last they'd done it perfectly.
"That's a wrap, guys," Kevin announced to the group. "Hit the road. Make sure you're on time tomorrow morning…yes, that means you, Brian."
Light laughter followed, but AJ didn't hear it. He was already out the door, his feet thudding on the pavement as he jogged to his car in an effort to escape the confines of the studio. He sat down in his shiny new Mercedes, the benefits of his hard work, and looked forward to going home to…
To what? Or better yet, to who? No one. God, I'm such a sorry bastard. I hate the thought of being alone, but I can't avoid it. I mean, let's be honest. I could have any girl I want. But the thing is…I just don't want to do that anymore. I can't put my finger on why, and it's killing me…
He started the car. Stared at his reflection in the rear view mirror.
No. I don't care anymore. I might as well just live it up, right? I'm a guy. I have needs. I'll go out tonight and find somebody to keep me company, if you know what I mean. I hate doing this, but I can't stop myself…
AJ drove slowly, his mind wandering. While stopped at a red light, he glanced toward the river that ran parallel to the street. Not really paying any attention, he watched a rowing team getting their boat ready for practice. They were just about to get it into the water when a yellow Jeep pulled up and a tan girl with long, curly brown hair jumped out. His eyes followed her until he realized that the light had turned green. He drove away.

Adrienne took a step back and, for a moment, simply observed the commotion going on around her.
The university boathouse was usually a hive of activity, but come on, this was ridiculous. There were people everywhere, carrying oars, cleaning boats. The spring season was just getting started, but already it was in full swing.
"Hey Adrienne!"
"Hey Lara!" she offered as a greeting as one of her good friends, and the coxswain for her boat, walked over.
"Have you seen Coach Tom? Gwen just called, and I'm supposed to tell him that she'll be here in about five minutes." Lara fidgeted as she talked, tapping her foot. The wrenches hanging from the rope around her neck knocked together, making a soft clanging noise.
Adrienne gave her a grin. "Yeah, he went that way. Somebody's cox box isn't working, so he's trying to fix it."
"Thanks."
Lara went off on her own way, and Adrienne joined a few other members of the team in carrying oars down to the boats already on the river. Her sneakers thudded on the dock as she tried to avoid knocking into someone with the ten-foot oar she was carrying.
It is hot as hell out here. Speaking of hot as hell, I almost forgot- I have a date with Chase tomorrow night! I need to tell as many people as possible. Especially Gwen. I bet that'll make her jealous. I can't even remember the last time she had a date.
"Hey, Adrienne, watch it with that thing!" another teammate yelled at her.
"Sorry," she yelled, placing the oar into the oarlock of five seat, the seat she always rowed. Everything was ready now - they were just waiting on Gwen.
Waiting on Gwen. How typical. But it's amazing that we've managed to get the boat ready and all, without her here. The entire team depends on her. Even more than on Lara, which is a little weird, because Lara's the coxswain and everything. Hmm.
Adrienne had a tendency to think too much. She also had a tendency to talk way too much, as anyone who knew her would agree. And she had guys on the brain…big time.
Lara called to the group waiting on the dock, "Okay guys, while we're waiting, let's get into the boat. Port side, oars out…one foot in and down. Starboard side, one foot in and down." The rowers followed her orders and got themselves oriented, checking to make sure that their seats were adjusted.
Suddenly, Gwen's Jeep pulled into the parking lot, kicking up a cloud of dust. She ran toward Adrienne and the other rowers, a pair of sunglasses resting on her head, her thick hair tied into a bun at the back of her head.
"I'm here, guys! Let's get going!" Gwen yelled. She slowed to a walk once she reached the dock and immediately got into the boat, as everyone was already waiting.
Lara, in the coxswain's seat, called the order to depart. "Get ready to shove…and shove! Okay guys, today's gonna be a hell of a practice. Stern four, set ready at your finish. Set ready to row, and row…"