The Emerald Talisman (13 page)

“Whatever. I just met him,” I said, wanting
to be anywhere but there listening to the laughter coming from the
other end of the room.

“So who’s going to the bonfire?” Katie asked
the group.

“Me,” said Sam with a gleam in her eye.

“Really?” Katie said, somewhat surprised.
“That’s cool, with Todd?”

“Yep.”

“How about you, Cam?”

“That’s funny, Katie. I wasn’t invited by the
‘in’ crowd,” he said while using his fingers to make quotation
marks in the air. “I’m not a jock, remember?”

“Don’t be silly, Cam. You don’t have to be a
football player to go,” she said.

“It helps,” he muttered under his breath.

“You know what, Sam? I really can’t go
either,” I said quickly, hoping Katie could be my substitute so I
didn’t have to endure anymore awkward moments.

“What?” Sam said hurt. “Why not?”

“I have so much homework to do. You’ll be
there with Todd and Katie.”

“No, Julia, you have to come. It’ll be fun.
It’s not just the popular people going,” she said, begging.
“Please?”

I wanted to believe her, but I knew better. I
felt the return of her fear. This would be big step to be there
alone with Todd, almost like a date.

“Okay… I’ll go,” I finally said.

She had no idea her feelings had twisted my
arm. I could endure a little bit of humiliation so she could spend
some time with Todd. If love was being gracious to her, I couldn’t
be cruel—even if it happened to be tormenting me.

“Cool,” she said, sitting back with a
relieved smile.

I smiled back and over her shoulder I caught
Phil looking in my direction. He flashed his pearly whites back and
winked. I instantly looked away, hoping Katie didn’t catch the
exchange, my heart quivering in my chest.

. . .

9
– CHANGES

I arrived at the beach right at dusk and
instantly regretted my decision to come. There was a huge bonfire
as promised, along with an overly amorous group of popular kids
from my school – which I totally expected. My first instinct was to
leave, but my obligation to Sam kept my feet firmly planted in the
sand. Where was she anyway?

I ducked to avoid a flying football and wove
my way around couples making out on scattered blankets towards a
vacant log close to the fire. I sat down, thankful not to be
noticed, but still feeling awkwardly alone. The heat from the blaze
felt good and helped me warm up from the wind’s chill. I kept my
gaze glued to the flames and blocked out the lovey-dovey feelings
around me. Sam had only a few minutes more to show up before I
high-tailed it home.

“Julia, you made it,” Sam said out of breath,
dragging Todd by the hand behind her.

“Hey.”

“Great bonfire, huh?” she said.

I took a deep breath and faked a smile.
“Yeah… Just great.”

She sat down next to me. Todd stood, until
she pulled his hand to have him sit too. She tried to make small
talk that included all of us, but their invisible longing and
anxiousness made me feel like a third wheel. Maybe it would work to
my advantage. After a few minutes I couldn’t handle it anymore and
insisted they take a walk on the beach so I could take off. Sam
tried to hold back, but with Todd’s encouragement she caved.

“Please don’t leave,” Sam whispered in my
ear.

“Okay,” I said and kept a smile until Sam
turned.

Darn it!

Alone again, I needed a new game plan. I
couldn’t take the romantic atmosphere any longer. Distancing myself
from the crowd was the only way I would find solace. With my
blanket in hand, I walked along the beach until I found a spot far
enough away from the crowd to provide relief, but still within view
in case Sam needed me.

The wind had died down leaving the surf
glassy and quiet except for when the waves would break, crashing
perfectly from right to left. I sat at the surf’s edge as it eroded
the sand into a miniature cliff with each pass, making a protective
barrier, keeping me dry.

The full moon shone down onto the waves
illuminating the white crests of foam as the water peaked and then
splashed over. Something peculiar was happening though. After each
wave, the water radiated a strange pale green color as it washed up
and lapped the beach. I’d heard of a red tide before, but not one
that turned the water green. The waves entranced me and I watched
intently, hoping to figure it out.

“Pretty cool, huh?” a familiar voice
said.

I looked up.

“Phil?” My stomach flip-flopped for the
second time that day.

“This seat taken?” he asked, pointing at the
spot next to me.

“No, please… sit down,” I scooted over and
gave him a corner to sit on. “I didn’t know you were coming
tonight.”

“Well, I thought it might be a way to get to
know some people, but everyone is here with their girlfriend. So…”
I felt his longing. “It’s really making me miss mine at home.”

“You have a girlfriend?” I tried to keep my
voice even.

The disappointment hit me a little harder
than expected.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “It’s okay though. I only
have to endure being apart for a few months. We’re going to the
same college next year so we’ll be together soon. It’s really been
lame having to change schools my senior year and come here. I had
to leave all my friends… my girlfriend… everything.”

“I didn’t know. Sorry.”

“No biggie. What about you? Where’s your
boyfriend?”

I almost busted out in laughter, but his
seriousness quickly sobered me up. His question was truly
genuine.

“I… don’t have one,” I finally said.

The admission was slightly embarrassing. His
laughter startled me.

“You don’t? Really?”

I laughed back nervously. Like I had any
control over the matter. How was he to know boys avoided me like
the plague at school? I dug my toes in the sand and wriggled them
around to help alleviate my anxiousness.

“I don’t know. I don’t think anyone likes
me,” I said quietly.

“Don’t be silly. I’d like you if I didn’t
have a girlfriend.”

His candor took me off guard and my cheeks
flushed in response. I instinctively reached up and tried to hide
them. From the corner of my eye, I could see him smiling at me.

“Honestly, I think I scare guys away,” I
said, surprised at my new found realization.

“What makes you think that?”

His tender concern enveloped me like a ray of
sunshine. Since the threat of trying to make a good impression
evaporated once I found out he had a girlfriend, I couldn’t stop
the words from falling out of my mouth.

“You’re going to think this is corny.”

“Try me.”

Before I knew it, I’d proceeded to tell him
the whole story about running out of gas, traipsing through the
forest without a flashlight and then tripping and falling off the
ledge catching a branch on my way down the cliff. I told him
everything, even about the mountain lion.

“That’s literally insane,” he said astounded.
“Did he actually kill it? That’s a felony offense I think.”

“Well, I’m not really sure. He said he was a
hunter.” I started to panic. I didn’t know Phil very well. What if
he told someone? “Please don’t say anything, okay? I don’t want him
to get in trouble. He did save my life.”

“Of course,” he said truthfully. “I mean, if
I was in the same situation, I’d probably do the same. What did he
kill it with?”

“Um…” I couldn’t believe I didn’t know this
or think this part through. I never asked Nicholas if he used a
weapon or not. “… I don’t know.”

Phil laughed. “I think he was showing off and
just scared it away.”

I remembered the hissing and snarling and the
endless waiting before Nicholas came to my aid. I knew for a fact
he fought something and very valiantly.

“Even still, he carried me the whole way home
because I hurt my ankle and then promised to come back and check up
on me. But he hasn’t. That was a week ago,” I said with a sigh.

“Maybe he’s in jail.”

I jabbed Phil in the ribs. “Very funny.”

He laughed. “He could be.”

“Well, I know he’s not,” I shook my head. “I
ran into him later and he didn’t want to talk to me.”

“The guy sounds bipolar.” Phil said
flippantly.

“He does, doesn’t he?” I forced a chuckle to
cover my hurt. My family had been more considerate of my feelings
when talking about Nicholas’ behavior, unlike Phil.

“Sorry Parker. Guys can be idiots.” Hearing
him call me by my last name was endearing but his apology for the
whole male species didn’t really help me feel better. “And if I
knew him, I’d tell him so. But don’t worry. I’ll find someone
worthy of you. I think I know your type.”

Again, I blushed. “Well, that’s really not
necessary.”

“What? You don’t have faith in me? I’ve
hooked up a couple of my buddies with great girls.”

I laughed nervously. This was starting to
scare the tar out of me, because plain and simple, I wasn’t normal
and being someone’s pet project made me feel more like a freak.

“For now, I think I’ll pass. Thanks.”

We sat in silence. Phil’s carefree spirit let
me know his feelings weren’t hurt after I declined his matchmaking
services. I marveled at how different he was from other boys and
yet so similar to Nicholas – both very self-assured and confident.
But why did Nicholas have to be such a jerk and Phil taken? Was I
doomed to forever meet incredible yet unavailable guys? Was my gift
really a curse when it came to love?

“You know why the waves glow like that?” Phil
said, breaking my spiraling thoughts. “It’s actually plankton. The
waves break their bodies apart and they glow because of it. I’ve
only seen it one other time before. It’s pretty rare.”

As we watched, I wondered if the plankton
died when they were broken. It seemed really sad they were
sacrificed to produce such a beautiful phenomenon.

“Thanks,” he said out of the blue.

“For?”

“For letting me hang with you. I was really
bummed a minute ago.”

He reached over and hugged my shoulder and
kept his arm around me. I melted into his side, leaned against his
body and allowed his concern for me heal my wounds. I ignored my
secret hope that something more than friendship could be blossoming
between us.

“I can’t wait to surf these waves. Look at
how they’re breaking. If they were a little bit bigger, I’d be out
there with my board and wetsuit right now.”

I chuckled. “I’d be scared to surf at
night.”

“Why?”

“Haven’t you seen
Jaws
?”

“You can’t think about that, only the thrill
of the ride. I’m willing to take my chances.”

I imagined a shark watching my legs dangle
under the deep dark water and shivered. Phil responded by pulling
me tighter to him. He made me feel safe and I found myself relaxing
and leaning into the comfortable curve of his shoulder. I could’ve
stayed that way all night, but reality intruded. The hair on my
arms prickled as a feeling of ravenous primal hunger overwhelmed
me. My stomach tightened and my heart began to pound. I had sensed
the same feelings before; first in the forest followed by the time
at the theater. Since then, they’ve consumed my nightmares.
Panicked, I raised my head from Phil’s shoulder just enough to peer
down the beach trying to determine the source of these horrifying
feelings.

Two groups of people were squaring off on the
beach – our football players against some guys with Soquel High
letterman jackets on. They’d probably walked up to talk smack about
the upcoming homecoming game. It appeared to only be harmless
antics full of testosterone driven angst, nothing more.

Until I spotted them.

On the fringe, three familiar faces watched
the interaction; the weird spooky group from the theater. The dark
hair boy shot a look at me that sent chills up my spine. I hid
behind Phil’s shadow to shield my face from his view.

“You know them?” he said, as he realized I
was using his body as a buffer.

“Not personally, but they aren’t people I
want to get to know.” After I said it, I realized Phil wouldn’t
understand who I was referring to, or why they petrified me, so I
changed the direction of my statement. “I think they are from
Soquel High.”

“Why do guys always have to mark their
territory?” he said shaking his head. “I mean really, it’s so
juvenile.”

Normally, I would have laughed, but I was
terribly frightened. Every impulse in my body called for me to run
and hide.

“I think we should go,” I whispered.

Phil ignored my pleas and stood up.

“I want to see what’s going on,” he said,
taking a step towards the feud.

“No,” I grabbed onto his pant leg.
“Don’t.”

“Why?”

“I’m not getting a good vibe. Trust me,” I
said. “Something very bad is going to happen.”

“Back off,” someone yelled.

I stood up behind Phil and held his arm
firmly. He tried to free himself from my grip but I held
tighter.

“Hey man, we don’t want any trouble here,”
said Jake Callahan, our star quarterback.

“Then get off our beach!” another yelled from
the opposite side.

“It’s a public beach. We have every right to
be here as you do!” Ali Johansson said.

A tall lanky boy in a dark colored hoody
called her a derogatory name and Ali’s boyfriend lunged at him. A
few guys held him back.

“That wasn’t cool man,” I heard Tyler Kennedy
say.

Phil looked at me, removed my hand and
whispered “It’s okay.” Before I could object, he walked away from
me confidently towards the crowd.

I stood and trembled in the distance.

“Hey, let’s not cause any trouble,” Phil said
in a commanding voice. “You guys can settle this on the field on
Friday.” I felt the calming magic of his tone temporarily soothed
the crowd a bit, until a red and blue flash came from the top of
the hill.