You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 113

Harper

Easton: Good morning, beautiful. I smile as I read the text from my boyfriend, hating how sore my throat is. Swallowing hard, I close my eyes, my head spinning. Oh no. I think I might be sick. My phone buzzes again. Easton: Miss you. Easton: Can't wait to see you at school. Me: I don’t know if I'm coming. Easton: What do you mean? Me: I don't feel so good. My phone rings in my hand and I immediately answer it. “What's wrong? '

he asks, sounding concerned. “My throat. '

I swallow again, and it hurts so bad I never want to swallow again. “It’s killing me. I think I'm coming down with something. '

“Maybe you should stay home. '

“We missed school yesterday. I can’t stay home. '

“Listen Brainiac, you'll be fine if you miss another day. It’s not like you're going to fail all your classes. '

He’s teasing me and I know he’s probably right but... I hate missing school. And now I have an extra reason to worry about not being there. Aisha trailing after my boyfriend everywhere he goes. If she knows I’m not at school, she'll be all over him. “I'm going, '

I say firmly as I sit up in bed. Only to immediately lay back down, my head swimming. “Or maybe not, '

I say weakly. “What happened? '

“('m kind of dizzy. '

I close my eyes and exhale loudly. “My body aches. '

“You're sick. Stay home, baby. You need rest. '

His voice is soft and soothing and I know he’s right. There’s a knock on my door and then it opens, my mother peeking her head around it. “You should be up already, Harper. It’s late. '

“I need to go, '

“Talk to you

ya babe. Love you.

the call. Mom might flip out if she heard me say that. She doesn’t even know

my room, her hands going to her hips. “You think you're

the covers up under my chin. “My whole

and she approaches the bed, the back of her

have

running around with your friends, and you're never

“You probably shouldn't have gone to the lake with your brother and his

case. “It was fun.

enough rest and doing

fact, I'll make a doctor’s appointment for this

“Okay. '

how heavy my lids feel all of a sudden. “You're going to take it easy

“Fine. '

and close my eyes. “And you're staying home this weekend too. You need a

Mom continues. “Whatever, '

over on my side so my back is to her. I know she’s trying to watch out for me, but it’s also annoying how she’s trying to tell me what to do. Not that I want to go anywhere right now. I feel terrible. It’s like my throat is

still standing in my bedroom. “He seems fine. Didn’t complain about feeling

ask him to come see me?

“I want him

“Of course. '

your doctor's office and see

“Thanks Mom. '

almost drifting off to sleep when I hear my brother stomp into my room. You could never

my eyes to find him watching me, concern filling his

takes a couple of steps back. “Don’t