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.

this shit

when what looks like a police officer makes her

shirt with a badge, okay so yeah

stops by us, her sneer

acting weird? He doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps an arm around me and

"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..."

hand as mid-life crisis stomps past us like it's the time of

the hell

I say out loud.

but manages

shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

not life, but what if we skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my

so many epic things

the lake and only the most popular kids had been invited over the last few

used to have serious envy when Ryan would

he wants me to go?

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

the shit

is leaning against his side, her head laying on his

weirdly fast if they're showing that much

sounded like

cringe and

know I'd never leave you out.” Easton bumps fists with

Should we just

Ryan snorts.

get to write

stops talking

mean, it might be hard

him as much as they do me as

maybe we suffer for the next few hours,

it.” Ryan

need some

at Sadie and

I make a face.

in front of

gave me earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at her

Sadie jokes.