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 is getting really

briefly and looks around like he’s paranoid about something when what looks like a police officer makes

blue shirt with a badge,

her sneer so apparent

He doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps an arm around me

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on

"Lovely for you..."

it's the time of the month and the world ran out of Advil

hell was

I say out loud.

is tense but manages

don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman in a

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

life, but what if we skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to

so many epic things about

right on the lake and only

to have serious envy when Ryan would go because duh, best

wants me

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

the shit out of

side, her head laying on his

weirdly fast if they're showing that much PDA

I just sounded like my

and look toward

you out.” Easton bumps fists with my

in? Should we just take

Ryan snorts.

the hell are you going to get to write you

stops talking and looks

it might be hard now

but I know the words bother him as much

hours, then leave? We can

it.” Ryan

some

at Sadie

I make a face.

of you.”

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

Sadie jokes.