You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 73

Harper

Easton is forgiven.

I know that apology wasn’t easy for him-he’s not the type to ever say I’m sorry-and neither was accepting the fact that he needs to communicate. But I’m pretty sure I got my point across and that was my hope.

My other hope is that he doesn’t kill Blake and I’m doing everything I can to make sure he doesn’t

Except the moment I come out of my fourth period class, I fail.

Blake is standing directly outside the door, waiting for me to join him. I can tell he wants to chat, that shouldn’t be that big of a deal. We are friends – aren’t we? Or we were before the chaos erupted. Maybe we can be friends again once things cool down and the

guys realize it wasn’t Blake who spray painted our garage.

But, at this very moment, Blake is fire.

And the best thing I can do is stay far, far away from him.

Except he’s making that impossible, moving beside me the moment I step into the hallway. I dart to the right, trying to avoid him, and he slides in the same direction. A simple shift to the left and it happens again.

“I’m a much better dancer when there’s music playing,” he jokes.

| smile, I can’t help it. He’s goofy, but sweet at the same time. “Hey, Blake.” I take a deep breath, thinking of what to say. “I have to run, I have to talk to my teacher about an assignment before class.”

“I’m headed in the same direction, I’ll walk you there.” He gently touches my shoulder, leaving his fingers there as we take our first steps. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about your house and the spray paint. That’s why I came over that morning the second I heard the news, I wanted to make sure you were okay, but Ryan said you were at Easton’s.”

I recount the moment he’s talking about, knowing very well I was home, and Easton was with me, and Ryan shooed Blake away so Easton didn’t kill him.

“There’s so many rumors going around school about it,” he continues. “I want you to know I’m sorry. I hate that this is happening to you, you don’t deserve it.”

There’s sincerity in his voice, his eyes so soft and sympathetic.

the guilty one. Because he had some silly, so called evidence in his trunk that could have

of Whore still stings as I reply. “It sucks, Blake. Someone is trying to hurt me, and I don’t

it.” He squeezes my shoulder, making me realize his hand is still there. “You’re stronger

in his direction after weaving around a

is Easton being a dick, and keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep?”

was worried we still did. I’m sure Aisha was somewhere in that crowd too. Wherever Easton is, she never seems

I

else. You’re better than all those other

Lied to?

thumps

know something I

I don’t know …” He glances down, like looking at me is almost too much. “I just see him

“All the time?”

“Is that something you’re okay with? I mean, I know if roles were reversed,

All day?

Blake is right, what if

toward the left. “There’s some for you

finger, my stare moving across the hallway until it meets Easton. He’s standing outside his locker, Aisha directly

my body starts hurting, tears threatening to rise into my

how she’s to blame

still

All day?

his damn locker,

you,” Blake says in my ear. “If you were my girl, I wouldn’t need to talk to anyone else. You would be more

and then my gaze returns to Easton. He shuts his locker and turns around, our stares

when he sees I’m

hands turn into

know what he’s thinking, what he wants to do, and it’s