Crumbling Walls (Jack and Emily #1) Read Online Free Page A

nodded, “Yeah, I seem to be able to do a few things with a pencil.”
     
    Jack, during their conversation, felt the incredible need to pull Emily over beside him, laying some caveman-like claim to her, letting Tim know loud and clear to back the hell off.
     
    Tim caught his look and, taking an opportunity when Emily had to stop to re-tie her shoe, leaned into Jack, keeping his voice to a whisper, “Never fear, brother, she's all yours … unless, of course, you screw up royally, then who knows.” Seeing Jack's glare intensify, he grinned, “Dude, I'm kidding, all right? I promise.”
     
    Knowing that idiot grin of Tim's too well, he relaxed some, nodding, “Thanks.”
     
    Just as she stood and they headed towards the main steps of the school, Tim nodded towards a girl quietly standing on the steps, studying a piece of paper “Hey, Emily, do you know her?”
     
    "Yeah. Um, at least I know her name. Sarah Wheaton.”
     
    With a grin, “I think I’m gonna go play the lost new student routine.”
     
    Jack just shook his head in amusement, “Be nice.”
     
    “Always.” Before he walked away, he thumped his brother on the back, “Good luck.”
     
    “Thanks.”
     
    Knocking Emily's backpack lightly with his knuckle, “See you in class.”
     
    ▪▪▪
     
     
    Reams of kids streamed past and, without thinking, Emily took Jack’s hand and guided him towards his locker on the other side of the building. “You’re here and I think I’m,” turning around once before pointing across the hall, “right over there.” Jack nodded, his stomach jumping as it usually did the first day of school. Indicating her backpack, “I’m just gonna dump this off, then I’ll get you to your first class.” Staring for a second into his slightly pale face, “You okay?”
     
    He nodded again, “Just nervous. I’ll be fine once the day actually starts.”
     
    With a final squeeze to his hand, “Be back in a minute.”
     
    Jack turned to his locker and for the first time in his school career, got the lock open first try. Stashing his stuff and grabbing a pen, pencil and his notebook, he shut the locker again, only to be confronted by a tall boy with green spiked hair and a pierced eyebrow.
     
    He was also mumbling to himself as he wrestled with his own locker, “Two more years, two more years.” Jack guessed he stared a second too long because the boy suddenly looked over at him, “Problem?”
     
    “No. Just wasn’t sure if you were talking to me or not?”
     
    The boy finally yanked the door open and heaved a saxophone case into the locker, slamming it shut with a satisfying bang, “Nope. Just cursing the world.” As the door swung open of its own accord and the boy tried slamming it again, “And apparently the world wants some more.”
     
    At this point, Jack was pretty sure he should walk away, but Emily returned to his side quietly reaching out to shut the still stubborn locker door, “Dex, it’s not the locker’s fault.”
     
    “Girl, it’s always the locker’s fault.”
     
    “Boy went green.”
     
    “Girl like?”
     
    She nodded, “Girl like.” Turning to Jack, “I see you’ve found Dex.”
     
    “More like Dex found me.”
     
    Dex turned towards Emily, “I was bitching about my day and he got to listen in.”
     
    “How can you be complaining already? We’ve still got ten minutes until class starts.”
     
    “It’s easy to complain when you find out that the girl you’ve been lusting over for two years has moved to Georgia.”
     
    “You finally scared her away, huh?”
     
    “But I’ll get over it … eventually ... maybe ... with the help of a good six days of very loud and obnoxious music listening.” Pulling out his class schedule, he handed it to her, “So, what’s your take?”
     
    Jack interrupted, “Are you like the number one go-to about every teacher here?”
     
    Dex slapped him on the back, “This girl is the authority on everything you or I will ever