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

around like he’s paranoid about something when what looks like a

tightly tucked in blue shirt with a badge, okay so yeah totally a police

stops by us, her sneer so apparent I

Is that why he’s acting weird? He doesn't so

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

and stick out my

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her black

"Lovely for you..."

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

the hell

I say out loud.

is tense but manages

do shit? Hates her job? A

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

but what if we skip the rest of school, run back

epic things about his

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

to have serious envy when Ryan

me to

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

appears, scaring the

is leaning against his side, her head laying

they're showing that much PDA during

just sounded

and look toward

know I'd never leave you out.” Easton

you in? Should

Ryan snorts.

are you going to get to write you an excuse since

stops talking

mean, it might be hard now

him as much as they do me as he looks down the

the next few hours, then leave? We can make

it.”

need some alone

down at Sadie and

I make a face.

front of you.” Ryan rolls his

earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at

Sadie jokes.