Free Talisman by S.E. Akers Page A

Mike Riverside, if he wanted to be — but he wasn’t .  Ty had a compassionate side, too.  He volunteered with Helping Hands, a group that assisted the handicapped on the weekends.  I stood there in a slight daze, totally envying Kara Leighton while I stared at the handsome, quintessential boy-next-door.  They were clearly polar opposites.
    I just don’t freakin’ get it, I grumbled quietly.
    “I’m sure you did better than ‘pretty well’,” Ty vowed with a certain laugh.  “You probably destroyed the curve for everyone else.”
    “You won’t need to rely on a curve,” I countered.  As thrilling as it was to have Ty’s full attention, I found myself scanning the cafeteria, distracted by its nagging vibe.
    “Ty… is it me, or does it seem a little weird around here to you, too?” I asked.
    “You could say that.  Everyone’s gossiping about the mine, including the faculty.  Ms. Fitz got a makeover.  But my personal favorite, which I just heard a second ago, is that you are going to the Homecoming dance… with Mike .  I’d say our town is heading for a redneck apocalypse.”
    My eyes shot open.  There was a strange look dancing on Ty’s face — no doubt about it — but I couldn’t quite tell if it was disbelief or disgust .  Embarrassed, I chose to focus on his first observation.
    “Yeah, I guess no matter who you are in this town, the fate of the mine will be your own, in a sense.”  I scanned the hushed sea of gathered masses in the lunchroom.  I didn’t want to be reminded of this all day, so I rallied to continue the conversation.  “Personally, I like Ms. Fitz’s new look.  If an old friend of mine was in town, I suppose I would want to look a little nicer, too.”
    “You’re right,” Ty concurred, “about the mine…and Ms. Fitz.”  He stepped closer.  “But that doesn’t explain why YOU are going to the dance…with Mike .  What’s up with THAT? ”
    Clearly, Ty wasn’t letting this topic go.   Honestly, it was none of his business, but for some reason I felt the need to mount a defense.
    “I’m only doing it for Chloe .  His mother won’t hear of him going stag…and let’s just say, my little sister trusts her girlfriends about as far as she can throw them.”
    Ugh .  I felt icky enough about “the favor”.  I sure didn’t need the awkwardness of someone bringing it up to me purposely — especially Tyler “I’ve had a crush on him forever” Smith.  I happened to spot Katie by the vending machines and waved her over.
    “Hey, there’s Katie.  I was supposed to meet her here a few minutes ago,” I informed him, trying to dodge any further questions.  Why the heck should it matter to him anyway?
    Katie strutted over to us, grinning from ear to ear.  She tossed a Diet Coke my way, along with a discreet, sly grin.  “Hey, Ty…Are you joining us?   I saved a couple of seats over by the back windows,” Katie suggested and gave me a subtle nudge.
    “ Um… No ,” Ty insisted awkwardly.  “I’m heading for the fountain.”  During lunchtime (on any day of a fair-weathered week), all the senior football players as well as most of the cheerleaders could be found in the school’s courtyard hanging around “the fountain” — their sacred ground.
    Katie shrugged her shoulder s.  “Okay…Suit yourself.”
    “Yeah, Katie… um , bye, Shiloh,” Ty replied somewhat uncertainly.
    What happened next was nothing short of bizarre.  He had told us “bye”, but his body didn’t seem to be going anywhere.  I nodded back to him, leery about why he hadn’t moved.  Ty picked up on my confusion.  He started to walk off, but he stopped and then slowly turned back around.
    “I didn’t know you… liked dances ,” Ty announced and then blazed a trail through the cafeteria, headed for the exit.
    “What the heck was THAT? ” Katie inquired with a laugh-like gasp.
    I was stunned.  “I’m not exactly sure.”  After all, he was Kara’s