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 

gym where Ryan and Easton just went.

taken over my body and somehow convinced my brain that this is

fill the air

tries to grab my arm and pull me away like she knows something‘s about

I shrug her off. “T‘ll be quick.”

it when I walk on to the court in my boots and wait for them to notice me. Ryan does first, his expression unreadable, and then there‘s Easton. Beautiful, gorgeous, godlike Easton, with his perfect hair, amazing kissing skills, strong

you such an asshole?” || blurt before I can stop myself, my heart pounding in my chest

the ball and crosses his arms, his crystal blue eyes laying

for myself? To once and for all face him, despite making me want to hurl when I realize I‘m currently

going to be gone in a poof of smoke and even though I don‘t want to

did you just say?” His voice is low, his

I wait for more

toys at the corner of his lips. “Hey, Ryan, did your

basketball

kidding, it‘s kind

that says he‘ll kick Easton‘s ass if he keeps talking about me

both slap him and kiss him simultaneously. “How could I possibly forget?” His eyes roam me up and down.

the head with his hand. “Really, bro?”

has that stupid grin on his face. “Anything else you need to

Sad twin? 

the sad

with an insult. Something that will hurt him, but the bell rings, reminding us

my heel and grab Sadie‘s arm, marching out of the gym. Whatever, I said my peace, let him deal with his guilt and idiocy. And, maybe one day, I‘ll just announce to the world that it was my tits he was obsessed with, my pussy, as he called it,

Me. Me. Me. 

glorious day it will be to see his horrified face when he discovers that the one girl he can‘t have has been standing in front of him all this

struggles to

to scream, instead

seat in front, and I

the classroom, stopping in front of the desk behind me, the last row. “Yo,

guy who complains about everything, including the temperature in the classrooms.