You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Harper

Easton is pale.

Normally his skin is a healthy tan, his good looks are so ridiculously hot that I want to strangle him then kiss him right afterward.

I'm next to my locker when he walks up, hands shoved into his jeans, posture stiff.

"Sup?"

I snort out a laugh.

"Did you just bro talk me?"

“Huh?"

He scratches his head, completely distracted.

I mimic his movements, then give him a slight shove.

"Yeah okay, bruh, what you wanna do later, dude, wanna hit the pavement, go for a smoke, shoot some hoops and—"

"-Are you high?"

He leans in, and the smell of his cologne has me dizzy with want.

"And why wouldn't you share?"

Flirtatious Easton is back.

The one I'm obsessed with.

The one I need more than anything, despite how frustrated I get with him on a daily basis.

He's mine.

All mine.

I just wish all this bullshit would go away so we could have more time to figure out what we are, how we work, and what this means before graduation.

Ugh.

"Not high."

I wrap my arms around his waist.

"You just seem distant..."

We have at least half the day left before we can go home-—before I can go home with him, even if that means I'm just going to be in the backseat of his super sexy Jeep.

"Yeah okay boomer,"

he jokes.

"I'm fine, I promise."

Our foreheads touch and I forget all about the worries I have as people whistle and pass us as they walk down the hallway.

"I just had a moment.

all this shit is

when what looks like a police officer

black pants, and a tightly tucked in blue shirt with a

us, her sneer so apparent I want

that why he’s acting weird? He doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps an

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and stick out

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her black

"Lovely for you..."

stomps past us like it's the time of the month

hell was

I say out loud.

tense but manages

her job? A

spins me toward

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

what if we skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my parents’ cabin for the

so many epic things about

gossip, his cabin was like this mansion right on the lake and only the most popular kids had been invited over the last

have serious envy when Ryan would go because duh, best

wants me to go? “Just

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

suddenly appears, scaring the shit out

is leaning against his side, her head

are moving weirdly fast if they're showing that much

sounded like

and

leave you out.” Easton bumps fists

in? Should we

Ryan snorts.

to get to write you an excuse

talking and looks

might be hard now

words bother him as much as they do me

maybe we suffer for the next few hours, then

do it.” Ryan

need some alone

down at Sadie and

I make a face.

I'm in front of you.”

earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at her and suddenly she's

Sadie jokes.