“It looked a little bit more than that. It looked like he bought your lunch.”
“A… loan. I’m paying him back,” I stammered.
I finally understood why Sam kept her feelings for Todd a secret. Nothing got past Katie, like a shark she smelled blood and was in for all the gory details.
“Hmm… I wonder if Phil’s got a date to homecoming,” she said and glanced in his direction.
Two senior cheerleaders hovered over him flirting and it surprised me that I felt jealous.
“You have a date, why do you care?” I snapped, feeling stupid I even took the time to talk to him.
“Not for me, for you. I figured since you stopped talking about Nicholas, things didn’t work out. But it looks like you’ve got some competition now.”
I stopped staring at Phil and looked down at my pizza, which was cold. Somewhere, my appetite changed and my free lunch mocked me.
“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,” h
e 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.
Police.
Someone yelled “cops” and the rivals scattered. Two officers came down the hillside to the beach and I watched Phil walk over to meet them.
Sam ran over to me, grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the group. I had a hard time remaining calm with overwhelming sea of testosterone filled anger washing over me. I overheard someone say they called 911 to report the potential fight and that the cops happened to be patrolling in the area.
“That was lucky,” Sam said, relieved.
“Yeah,” I forced out, feeling suffocated by the hysteria.
I spotted Katie and she ran over to greet us.
“Hey,” Katie said out of breath, completely elated. “Fun night, huh?”
I shook my head. Only Katie would find danger exciting.
“Time for everyone to go home. There’s a curfew in effect.” A masculine voice boomed out of a loudspeaker from the top of the cliff followed by a large spotlight that flashed right into the crowd
of kids. I squinted and held my hand up to block the glare.
“Curfew?” I asked. “Since when?”
“Since the serial murders’,” Todd said in a condescending tone. “Where have you been?”
My cheeks flushed and I looked away. I must have been too absorbed in my own world to notice. What was happening to our safe town?
I scanned the disbursing crowd to see where Phil went, hoping he’d come back and join me, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“I came back and looked for you earlier. Where did you go?” Sam asked, drawing me back into the conversation.
“I was watching the waves,” I said, pointing to the surf’s edge, hoping to see Phil’s sandy blond head.
“Alone? I didn’t see you.”
“No, Phil was with me. Have you seen him by chance?”
Sam’s eyes grew big and I knew she suspected something more than what really happened, but now wasn’t the time to go into details. I hadn’t been able to shake the foreboding feeling that set in earlier and I just wanted all my friends to go home where it was safe, especially Phil. Where did he go? I couldn’t believe he’d leave without saying goodbye. I thought our talk meant more than that.
“I didn’t even know he was here,” Sam said with a sing-song in her voice.
The cops started combing the beach and forced people to leave. I didn’t want them to come over and hassle us, but then I didn’t want to walk back alone either.
“Can you guys walk me to my car?” I asked Sam and Todd, frustrated Phil disappeared on me.
I gathered my things and we drudged up the hill to my car. I weakly smiled to the officer directing the kids off the beach. He didn’t seem amused, so I kept my head down and we silently paraded past until we reached my car, which was parked further down the road, close to a small thicket by the lagoon.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I said as I gave Sam a hug.
Behind her, Todd began to grow impatient.
“Yeah,” she said super softly. “Thanks for staying around.”
“No problem.”
I slid into the driver’s seat and watched them walk away holding hands and sighed, trying not to be jealous. Was it really too much to want an uncomplicated relationship with someone I could trust too? Why was that such an impossible thing? I turned the key in the ignition and my car roared to life. I was about to pull out onto the highway when I felt a sensation of pain coming from nearby.
Talisman 1 - The Emerald Talisman Page 10