Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

the beach,” she suggested.
    “How am I going to use crutches on the sand?” I said, completely annoyed my injury prevented me from enjoying everything.
    Her sudden embarrassment made me realize my harsh tone hurt her feelings.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound like that. I know you’re just trying to help.”
    “It was a stupid suggestion.”
    “No, you know I love the beach. I’m just . . .” I searched to pinpoint my actual problem. “ . . .being stupid.”
    Sam laughed.
    “No, you’re not. It’s Nicholas’ fault. He’s the one being stupid.”
    “You’re right. I’ll stop being so difficult,” I said with a smile.
    We joined Cameron, Dena and Morgan at our regular table.
    “Do you want anything?” Sam asked me as I sat down as lithely as I could.
    “Just a Luna bar, if they have one. Thanks.”
    “I’ll come with you,” Dena said as she got up and followed Sam to the cafeteria line.
    Prompted by Morgan’s longing, I decided to take advantage of my window of opportunity.
    “Hey, Morgan,” I said.
    His eyes flickered quickly to mine after realizing I’d caught him checking out Dena as she left the table. He looked away, his cheeks turning red.
    “Oh, hey, Julia,” he said while drinking his soda to hide his embarrassment.
    “I was wondering . . .Who are you taking to homecoming?” I asked with a smile.
    He took one short breath, appearing calm, his anxiety known only to me.
    “No one. Why?”
    His eyes darted back and forth between me and Cameron.
    “I think you should ask Dena to go with you,” I said softly.
    I watched as panic spread across his face.
    “Dena?” his voice cracked.
    “Yeah.”
    “I think she wants to go with someone else,” he said sheepishly, glancing over at her as she stood with Sam at the cash register.
    “I think she wants to go with you.”
    His eyes came back to mine. I sensed his disbelief.
    “Me?”
    “Yeah and you better ask her soon, before someone else does, and she has to say yes because she doesn’t want to go alone.”
    Cameron cleared his throat rather loudly. We looked up just in time to see Sam and Dena’s return to the table.
    “What are you guys talking about?” Dena asked.
    Morgan stiffened.
    “Just football stuff. Hey, where’s Katie?” I asked.
    Dena’s powder blue eyes studied my expression as I feigned innocence. She paused for a moment then glanced at the tables around us.
    “Off trying to get Tyler alone I think,” she finally said.
    “She’s persistent,” I muttered followed by a chuckle.
    “Yeah, it seems sorta hopeless,” Sam said.
    Hopeless .
    That’s what I was. Why was I torturing myself, hoping Nicholas would show up?
    The bell rang and I got a pit in my stomach; time to endure another torture session in Algebra. My only saving grace would be going out with Sam later. I almost hoped Nicholas would show up and find I wasn’t at home. I could imagine his face when he found out I was out having a glorious time without him.
    It would serve him right for standing me up. I do have a life after all.
    “Are you coming?” Sam asked.
    I snapped out of my fog and realized she was talking to me. As we headed over to our classroom, Cameron nudged me.
    “You’re pretty sly, you know that?” he said.
    “What?”
    He nodded his head and I looked over in the direction he motioned. Morgan was sheepishly talking to Dena. I smiled.
    At least someone was following their heart.

    During Algebra, I decided dinner and a movie would cater to my crippled condition the best. Sam thought so too. Actually, she didn’t seem to care what we did, as long as it cheered me up.
    “Can we go right after school?” I whispered in class.
    She nodded.
    That would be my solution for avoiding home completely. The sooner my distraction started the better. I sent Luke a text under my desk letting him know my plans. His confirmation reply came a second later. I suddenly felt excited.

6 - FOREWARNING
    W e took off down the freeway, the wind in our hair, tunes blaring, without a care in the world. I finally felt liberated, keeping thoughts about Nicholas in the far recesses of my mind. He would stay locked away so I could enjoy our fun-filled girls-only evening. I totally needed it.
    “Where do you want to go for dinner?” Sam asked while we waited at another long red light.
    “I was hoping you’d want pizza,” I said, even though we ate at Pleasure Pizza all the time.
    “Ooh, that sounds good.”
    They had the greatest pizza ever,