You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 41

Harper

I rush into the bathroom and make sure that I don’t have black mascara running down my cheeks.

Aisha clearly has the worst timing.

And Easton clearly has no balls.

I mean, he does, duh, but I want to scream, why does everything have to be so complicated and dramatic.

Islam my hands onto the sink. A stall door opens. Sadie takes one look at my reflection in the mirror and the angry way I’m gripping the sink and rushes over. “What happened?”

“Easton,” I say his name like a swear word. “He’s just so hot and cold, and just SO…” | throw my hands up. “He’s warning me away from Blake now as if he has a right to. It’s so stupid!”

“Hold up.” Sadie washes her hands and grabs a paper towel. “The most popular boy in school who was just making out with you in the library warned you away from the other popular guy he’s always been competing against…did he say why?”

I frown. “Well, Blake talked to me this morning, and I did flirt, but it wasn’t anything that Easton’s never pulled with Aisha.” Maybe I was being defensive, but I hated how much Easton saw-like he’s fully aware of the power he holds over me and lives for my surrender, so yeah, if a hot guy’s gonna flirt with me like Blake, right in front of the guy I really like who’s driving me crazy, what do you think’s going to happen?

“Ah, double standards, gotta love em.” Sadie rolls her eyes. “Look, if Blake is giving you attention, it’s not a big deal. If Easton can’t handle that, then he can just grow a bigger dick and learn how to pursue a girl without snapping his fingers.”

“Yeah.” I sniffle. “I guess.”

Do. Not. Think. About. His. Dick.

“Don’t overthink it, plus we have a pep rally to go to, and you know I like it when the football team runs by in those tight pants.”

I laugh. “They aren’t even that tight.”

“Tell that to DJ’s dick. God, I love sports.”

I smile and then laugh. “You’re such a horny slut. Quick, what’s it called a touchdown or a goal?.”

hesitate. “When DJ’s running the

distracted and feeling just a bit better since

arms and walk out of the bathroom just in time for

grab a protein bar, plus I left all my stuff at the table.” I rush past Sadie and go into the cafeteria to grab my

dump my trash and grab a bar out

help but think he’s so good looking. I don’t know why I never focused on him before. Maybe because I knew he was always off-limits, and he’s never really flirted with me in a way that

to

the part where you tell me what asses guys are or where you confess it’s that time of the month, and I should approach you while holding chocolate out in front of me if

would I blind you?” I

up with. So what is it?” He’s so confident standing there watching me. He isn’t intense and he doesn’t hover too close. It’s almost like he waits for

react to him?

all asses.” I finally

out his hand for a high five. I hit it, grab my bag, and follow him out of

keep my bag on me when Blake stops in his tracks. “Shit, I think

nod then start looking around for Sadie or Ryan as I make my

stop at the water fountain to fill up my leopard Swell bottle. By the time I’m done, mostly everyone is

sound system.

I smile to myself.

Ah, high school.

just something about music, everyone screaming and wearing school colors that makes even the most negative emo kid wanna do a

uniform out of the corner of my

my eye and then grabs at something or someone in the dark hallway leading to

recognize

toward the wall, then leans up on her tiptoes, pulling his neck down

I lose it.

completely and utterly lose

thing to

thing to have to watch

while knowing he was just with