You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 50

Harper

I can’t believe I have to go to school like this. My eyes are puffy from crying all night, my hair a tangled mess from tossing and turning. I don’t have the energy to do more than tie it up in a messy bun or attempt to even put makeup on.

I just want this day to be over.

And I don’t want to run into Easton.

I don’t want to pass him in the hallway or see him at lunch or watch him get into his Jeep after school.

I don’t want him to even exist.

My heart aches even more than it did last night because the first thing I saw this morning while Ryan drove us to school was Aisha’s post.

As if her moaning wasn’t enough.

Now, I have to see his clothes on her bed. The same outfit he was wearing when he was on my bed, between my legs, his lips on that spot that was making me moan.

My stomach feels like it’s been punched. My chest so tight, a chainsaw couldn’t even break it.

And, to make me feel even worse, Ryan knows that Easton kissed me. Blake told him and he also told him that he wants to date me. I heard Ryan yelling all that into the phone last night, long after he kicked the guys out. He probably thought I was asleep, but I was far from it, and I tried figuring out who he was talking to and couldn’t. He ended the conversation with something I would do anything to unhear. Apparently, Easton told him he was just trying to comfort me because I was sad about the spray paint, that our kiss was nothing.

A charity case, that’s what I am to Easton.

A sad, pathetic girl, who can’t stop obsessing over being called a slut.

I hate him.

And I hate this school.

I wish this locker would just swallow me as I stand in front of it, staring at my books, unable to even think of which ones I need.

“I was hoping you were going to come in today,” Sadie says as she leans into the locker beside mine, making me jump, I’m so deep in my thoughts. “You didn’t return my text this morning, so I figured you had your mom call you in sick.”

I didn’t return Easton’s either when he sent one late last night.

He’s a lunatic for thinking I would even consider texting him back.

but she wouldn’t,” I

it up or she would come home early from their trip and take me to

for me to close my locker, and walks me down the

at her. “Please. I need no such

toward Blake as he rounds the corner, heading right for us.

hurts my heart.

long, thick, silky hair, and how he twists it on top of

say, looking at my best friend. “This is the horny

not going to

buts,” I tell her

kicked us out. I wanted to talk to you, but you must have been sleeping

was smart enough

not to

I wanted was a conversation and questions and I was sure Blake

was so tired,” I lie. “And that question you asked me when I was in the doorway of

answer. Easton would always be a better

my ear. “That was wrong, and I

“Thank you,” I whisper.

find out who’s been doing the spray painting. I’m not going to stop

sexy,”

is, but I can’t, someone behind Blake has caught my

of him makes me

hasn’t even started and I’m already running into

fills Easton’s expression as he realizes

he has some

want to throw

sense Easton approaching, he turns toward him, muttering between his teeth, “Don’t even look at that fucking loser. He’s just jealous

up Blake and says, “Do you

enough that

His cologne.

Shampoo.

Even his body wash.

eyes close, my heart shattering as

walking and leave us the hell alone.