Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

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 haired 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