Read Online Emerge by Tobie Easton - Free Book Online

teach you about. Then, you’ll draw connections between every generation of your family and something you’ve learned in class about the historical events of the time. To keep things interesting,” Mr. Reitzel continues, “you’ll be working in teams of two.”
    The room fills with subtle but discernible noise as everyone shifts toward their desired partners. Kelsey and I have already leaned close together over our assignment sheets, and Melusine has pushed her seat so close to Clay’s their thighs are touching.
    “Not so fast,” Mr. Reitzel says, holding up a hand. “Since the point of this project is to learn new things and make new connections, I’d like you all to get to know someone new.”
    Typical. Why do teachers wait until you’ve finally gotten accustomed to their routines before yanking the sea grass out from under you? As if I weren’t nervous enough about this assignment already. Kelsey and I exchange disappointed glances. Then again, maybe this is for the best. Maybe I’ll get a stupid partner who won’t get suspicious when I have to fabricate my entire half of the project.
    Mr. Reitzel starts reading off a list of pairs, and soon Kelsey is moving across the room to sit with Matt Greene. Matt’s nice and he gets good grades; the two of them will make a good team. Melusine looks none too pleased as Laurie Kennish sits down next to her. I smile. I wouldn’t want to have to put up with Laurie’s caffeine-fueled energy levels for an entire quarter.
    Then Mr. Reitzel says my name. “Lia Nautilus and … Clay Ericson.” Now I have a whole new reason to be nervous.
    Breathe , I tell myself as Clay’s eyes meet mine and he smiles at me. Time skips and he’s lowering himself into the seat Kelsey vacated. The seat next to mine.
    “So, I guess we’re partners,” I say. Way to state the obvious.
    “Yep. Got any family secrets I should know about now, Nautilus?” he jokes.
    “You’ll just have to wait and find out.” Except that can’t happen. “How about you? Anything poster board worthy?”
    “Oh yeah, tons.”
    “Like what?”
    He leans in close and whispers, “I’m a prince in disguise.”
    “Really?” I ask, making my skepticism evident. “I didn’t know princes liked to wear jeans with so many holes.”
    “I’m keeping a low profile.” He winks at me, and I hope I’m not blushing. What would he say if he knew I was the distant cousin of the ocean’s most infamous princess?
    We read through the requirements of the project together: a poster board, oral report, and fifteen-page research paper.
    “It’s going to be an awful lot of work,” I say. “We should probably get started sooner instead of later.”
    “For sure,” he agrees. “I can’t today. I’m gonna check out this cello rock band up in Santa Cruz, so I gotta cut out before bio, but why don’t you come over tomorrow after school?”
    “You’re,” I lower my voice, “ditching?”
    “I read ahead. No harm, no foul. So, tomorrow?”
    “Yeah, tomorrow.”
    I know this is just some random partnership for a school project. I know spending time with Clay can’t possibly help me get over the way I feel about him. But I can’t help looking forward to tomorrow.
     
     

     
     
    “Lia, get your butt downstairs. We’re going to be late again,” Lapis calls out before her platform shoes clack back down the stairs.
    This is the third outfit I’ve tried on. I’m usually not picky, but today I keep changing my mind. I want to look fashionable, but not too trend-obsessed. Pretty, but also sexy—but not like I’m trying to look sexy, you know? Above all, I have to look like I don’t care how I look. I don’t want Clay thinking I dressed up to go over to his house because that would be super lame.
    I settle on a pale blue, formfitting sweater and skinny jeans. I don’t normally wear jeans (it feels strange to have layers of denim separating my legs), but I figure it’s a good idea in case we sit on the floor