Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

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