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 just

doing and what sort of entity has taken over my body and

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

grab my arm and

I shrug her off. “T‘ll be quick.”

on to the court in my boots and wait for them to notice me. Ryan does first, his expression unreadable,

myself, my heart pounding in

crystal blue eyes laying into me

for myself? To once and for all face him, despite making me want to

going to be gone in a poof of smoke

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

wait for

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

basketball at Easton‘s junk.

kidding, it‘s kind of refreshing that the quiet

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

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

hits him in the back of the

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

Sad twin? 

sad twin?

hurt him, but the bell rings, reminding us it‘s time to go back to class.

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

Me. Me. Me. 

face when he discovers that the one girl he can‘t

was brave.” Sadie struggles to

I want to scream, instead

her seat in front, and I grab my seat in

of the

who complains about everything, including the temperature in the classrooms. “Why? This has been my seat