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 went.

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

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

to grab my

shrug her off. “T‘ll be

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

can stop myself, my heart pounding in my chest like I‘ve just done a hundred pushups.

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

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

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

voice is low, his

I wait for more insults.

“Hey, Ryan, did your sister suddenly find out she has balls instead of a

basketball at Easton‘s

kidding, it‘s kind of refreshing that the quiet twin found

he‘ll kick Easton‘s

I possibly forget?” His eyes roam me up and down. “She‘s like you but with boobs

of the head with

on his

Sad twin? 

the sad twin?

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

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,

Me. Me. Me. 

to see his horrified face when he discovers that the one girl he can‘t have has

to keep up with my

want to scream, instead I pretend to be calm as |

grabs her seat in front, and I grab my seat in back.

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

is so typical of a guy who complains about everything, including the temperature in the classrooms. “Why? This has