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

my body and somehow convinced my brain that

smell of equipment and cleaner fill the air as the echoing sound of the basketball fills the

my arm and

fine.” I shrug her off. “T‘ll

boots and wait for them to notice me. Ryan does first, his expression unreadable, and then there‘s

|| blurt before I can stop myself, my heart pounding in my chest like

crosses his arms, his crystal blue

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

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

voice is low, his posture rigid.

I wait for more

of his lips. “Hey, Ryan, did your sister suddenly find out

chucks the basketball at Easton‘s junk.

it and starts to laugh. “I was kidding, it‘s kind of refreshing that the quiet twin found her voice,

uses a tone that says he‘ll kick Easton‘s ass if he keeps talking about me in

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

the back of the

stupid grin on his face. “Anything else you need

Sad twin? 

sad twin?

him, but

idiocy. And, maybe one day, I‘ll just announce to the

Me. Me. Me. 

day it will be to see his horrified face when he discovers that the one girl

to keep

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

seat in front, and I grab my

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

of a guy who complains about everything, including the temperature in the classrooms. “Why?