Joseph Read Online Free Page A

to talk with you, sweetheart? Those girls don’t know things like you city girls do. How about you teach us what you know?”
    A loaded lunch tray thudded on the table and a deep voice rumbled, “Get your hand off her arm, Kirby, or I’ll break it.”
    Em looked up at her savior. He was taller and broader than any of the boys at the table and appeared older.
    “Fuck off, King. This is none of your business. We were just introducing ourselves to the new girl.” The blond boy’s voice held bravado, but Ember could tell he was afraid of the young man at the head of the table. The three other boys slid down the bench moving away from the angry newcomer.
    “If I have to tell you again, you’ll be picking your teeth up off the floor.” As he growled out his response, four more young men walked up behind him, all with similar looks of short cut black hair and chiseled features. All were exceptionally tall, but none had the intensity of the boy standing over her.
    “Hey, we didn’t know she was your girl, King. We don’t want no trouble with you or your brothers.” One of the boys that backed away from the table spoke trying to calm the situation.
    “My brothers are the least of your concern, Caleb. Y’all get away from her and stay away. If I see you or anyone else near her again, I’ll beat the shit out of you for pure enjoyment.”
    The blond let go of her arm and the boys moved away from her table. Ember raised her eyes up to him and smiled nervously. “Thank you. I’m Ember Harris.”
    The young man sat down across from her and his brothers walked away following the offending boys as they retreated. He was wearing a letterman’s jacket and the letter was covered in pins from track, football, basketball and baseball.
    “I’m Joseph. Joseph King. I couldn’t help notice you had a little difficulty. Not a lot of friends around today to hang with?”
    Ember shook her head. “Ah…no. The girls here don’t like me because the boys do. If I don’t talk to the boys, they think I’m stuck up, but at least I don’t get harassed by the girls. The head cheerleader wanted to fight me because I talked to her boyfriend. Like I knew the guy was dating her? I asked him one question. I guess ‘where’s the office?’ is a come on. Anyway it’s not a good way make friends or to start at a new school.”
    He looked at her and sucked his teeth thoughtfully finally declaring. “No, I guess not.”
    Ember looked at him and drew a deep breath. She straightened her back in a show of bravado she really didn’t feel. “Would you please do me the favor of pointing out which girl is going to try pick a fight with me because you’re talking to me?”
    Joseph huffed out a sound almost resembling a laugh and shook his head. “None, I don’t have a girlfriend and the last time I checked half of the school was afraid of me. The other half is too stupid to be afraid of me.”
    Ember laughed at the absurdity of his statement. “Afraid of you? Why? I think you’re kinda nice.”
    His blue-green eyes seemed to search her face almost as if he was looking for a way to tell if she was lying. “You really aren’t afraid of me are you?”
    “Umm…no. Perhaps I’m one of the stupid ones?” She crossed her eyes at him pulling her lips in a pucker. He choked on the milk he was drinking. The liquid flew from his mouth and she shrieked with laughter. His laughter echoed on the ceramic tile walls of the lunch room, drawing the attention of just about everyone, especially his brothers who looked at each other and smiled.
    He wiped his mouth while still laughing, “No, Ember, I don’t think you’re one of the stupid ones. What’s your next class? I’ll walk you.”
    From that day, they’d been inseparable. Ember noticed the wide birth everyone gave him and because she was his friend, they left her alone, which suited her just fine. She eventually heard the rumors about him, how he left school, tracked down and killed the man who