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

am I doing and what sort of entity has taken over my body and somehow convinced my

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

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

I shrug her

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

can stop myself, my heart pounding in my chest like I‘ve just done

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

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

may have had is going to be gone in a poof of smoke and even

just say?” His voice is

heard me.” I wait

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

the basketball at Easton‘s junk.

dodges it and starts to laugh. “I was kidding, it‘s kind

Easton‘s ass if he keeps talking about me

slap him and kiss him simultaneously. “How could I possibly forget?” His eyes roam me up and down. “She‘s like you but with boobs and

him in the back of the head with

but he still has that stupid grin on his

Sad twin? 

sad twin?

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

my peace, let him deal with his guilt and idiocy. And, maybe one

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

to keep up with

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

and I grab my seat in

minutes, Easton‘s in the classroom, stopping in front of the desk behind me, the last row. “Yo,

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