You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 17 

Harper 

I don‘t know how long I stand outside after Ryan and Easton are gone. All I can do is breathe in and out, in and out, as I mentally replay 

HARTER 

“Don‘t waste your time, Ryan. A little costume doesn‘t hide the fact that it‘s Harper– it also can‘t hide the horrible personality either. Let‘s go shoot some hoops.” 

Maybe if we hadn‘t kissed twice or if he hadn‘t touched me and made me feel the things he did. But, the truth was, even with the costume, 

even with the darkness, that was all me, Harper, the same Harper that Easton just said couldn‘t hide. 

It‘s like he knew exactly what to say and how to say it to make me want to cry until all the tears made my heart feel better. 

“Hey.” The cafeteria doors slam behind Sadie. “What happened? Is Ryan super pissed? Do I need to go talk to him?” 

I remain quiet, not sure how to answer. 

“God, I‘m going to kill him! I refuse to crush on him anymore! You hear that, Ryan?” She starts yelling like he can actually hear her.  

“We‘re through, you little–” 

“Shhh.” I tug on her arm. “Can we just leave?” 

Her eyes widen in shock. “You want to cut class?” 

No, I want to cut Easton , then tell him how badly he‘s cut me, then kiss him and confess everything and wait for him to laugh until he cries. 

That sounds really fun. 

Why is high school the worst? 

I almost feel numb at this point as I shake my head. Somehow, my legs aren‘t taking me to my locker or to class – no, I‘m walking 

the gym where Ryan and Easton

what sort of entity has taken over my body and somehow

shove open the gym doors. The smell of equipment and cleaner fill the air as

behind me, quietly tries to grab my arm and pull me away

fine.” I shrug her off.

as much as | feel it when I walk on to the court in my boots and wait for them to notice me. Ryan does

before I can stop myself, my heart pounding

crosses his arms, his crystal blue eyes laying into me with

I don‘t have the right to have feelings? To stand up for myself? To once and for all face him, despite making me want to hurl when I realize I‘m currently sealing my own fate

gone in a poof

say?” His voice is low, his

me.” I wait

at the corner of his lips. “Hey, Ryan, did your sister suddenly find out she has balls instead of a pussy?”

chucks the basketball

was kidding, it‘s kind of refreshing

Ryan uses a tone that says he‘ll kick Easton‘s ass if he keeps talking about me in that kind of way.

could I possibly forget?” His eyes roam me up and down. “She‘s like you but with boobs and “– his eyes leer purposefully lower– “y ou know.”

him in the back of the head with his hand. “Really, bro?”

forward but he still has that stupid grin on his face. “Anything else you need to say,

Sad twin? 

sad

ready to blast him with an insult. Something that will hurt him, but the bell

And, maybe one day,

Me. Me. Me. 

discovers that the one girl he can‘t have has been

to

her. “That was necessary.” I want to scream, instead I pretend to be calm

in front, and I

Easton‘s in the classroom, stopping in front of the desk behind me, the

so typical of a guy who complains about everything, including the temperature in the