Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

he’s been busy,” I stammered.
    “Oh,” Dad said, suddenly absorbed at something in the news.
    Luke looked back with apologetic eyes. I held my breath, hoping the subject would pass. I didn’t have a good excuse prepared, and the chances of getting caught in a lie were greater since we just hung out the night before.
    “Anyone need anything else?” I asked, as I planned my escape and stood to clear my plate.
    “Hmmm?” Dad said while perusing the stock page. “You can clear my plate.”
    Luke handed me Dad’s plate along with his own and gave me a wink.
    Normally, I would have told my brother to do his own dishes, but said nothing and moved to the sink, unsure of what he was going to do. To my delight, I heard him ask Dad about the status of some of his favorite stocks. When I turned, I caught his eye and mouthed a thank you. He smiled.
    When I took out the trash, I looked around suddenly feeling conspicuous.
    What if he’s watching me right now?
    I tried to see if I could sense his presence, realizing I never felt watched in the past, but the surroundings were void of feeling, so I didn’t know. But to think he might be made me a little uncertain. I wondered if I should feel more violated. Was he spying, or just easing his conscience?
    This must be how people with bodyguards feel.
    I decided I wasn’t going to worry about it, or I’d make myself crazy. We’d have to work out all the gritty details later because one thing was for certain; I wasn’t going to have some invisible guardian in the shadows my whole life—especially one whom I wanted to spend more time with.
    I went back inside and immediately got busy. My insurmountable to-do list consisted of house cleaning, laundry and homework. I’d gotten buried in dust bunnies and dirty clothes since my accident and I had to get most of it done before going to Sam’s house tonight.
    I didn’t have to work, like I’d originally told everyone. My boss had to make cuts in everyone’s hours due to declining business. But after Nicholas’ and Phil’s mysterious disappearances, none of my friends brought up finding me another date. I think they all started to suspect I was cursed.
    It was just as well anyway. I only wanted to go with Nicholas, whom I’m sure would have been my date, if his situation wasn’t so complicated.
    Sam and Todd were doubling with Dena and Morgan, as I’d hoped. Katie was going with Erik, her new boyfriend and lineman on the football team, separately from the group. Cameron was more than happy to skip the dance to play a Magic tournament with the chess club.
    “I wish you were coming,” Sam said with a sigh while I worked on her hair. “I have an extra dress you could borrow.”
    Her beautiful brown locks, elegantly piled up on top of her head in a French twist and dangling ringlets, were under assault as I sprayed every last strand with glitter-filled hairspray.
    “You’ll have a good time with Todd.” I tried my best not to sound jealous, because now I wanted to go. “Plus, I’m grounded.”
    “Oh, I forgot,” she said as she wrinkled up her nose. “But you’re here . . .?”
    “He fudged since he knew you’d kill him if I didn’t do your hair and ruined your dance.”
    “Smart thinking,” she said with a wink, while she turned in front of the mirror.
    I slumped down on her bed and thumbed through a magazine.
    “I wasn’t going to say anything, but you seem . . . different . . . happy even. You finally doing better?” she asked, looking at me through the reflection.
    I tried to hide my smile. I wanted to tell her I felt a hundred times better now that I knew the truth, but couldn’t.
    “I am,” I said quickly, so I wouldn’t say anything more.
    Overnight, everything changed and every time I almost said something, I had to bite my tongue. The problem was, I didn’t know where to begin. Nicholas’ situation forced him to tell the truth after I witnessed his heroic acts, and he was right—you couldn’t just blurt it out. I contemplated making up a story, but didn’t want to lie to my best friend. I had no choice but to keep it to myself for now.
    I checked the time again. The limo was scheduled to pick Sam up last so her mother and I could see everyone and take pictures.
    Sam’s dress was a lilac strapless, A-line, knee-length number with a sequined bodice and tulle skirt. She wore open-toed heels with sparkly, sequined straps. The whole ensemble with her ringlets trailing down the back of