You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 124

Easton

I'm a fucking mess through last period and can't even fucking text Harper to apologize or discuss the whole thing with her mom.

The sick feeling I get in my chest when I think about her not claiming me and of course on top of that the picture.

Fuckkkk, the damn picture. I see Sadie the minute I get out of class and think, oh good, someone I can convince to be on my side, when she smacks me on the ass with her backpack.

"The hell, Sadie!”

“How could you hurt her like that! I thought you trusted her! She was bawling."

Her own eyes tear up. "Really, Easton?

I mean, fucking, really?"

"Keep your voice down."

I grab her by the elbow and bring her toward my locker when Ryan walks up. "Is there a reason you're hitting him?"

"Yes,"

she seethes and looks around us. "He has a picture of Leigh on his phone with her tits just dangling out there and Harper saw it and it was the same day...it was..."

She shakes her head. "That same fucking day you guys decided to get serious, you lied, Easton. AGAIN!”

"Keep your voice down!"

Ryan repeats and shares a look with me. "Sadie, you don't know the whole story.”

Her eyes widen. "You knew?"

"Shit."

Ryan lowers his head. "Look, can we do this in the parking lot at least?

People are starting to stare."

ready to chop

I'm still on the verge of tears as

out of his embrace and already I feel guilty because I know she's taking sides

heading toward Sadie's car, and I know all hell is about to break loose as Blake follows behind her and hands

A fucking scrunchie?

hear him say, “You dropped this

her hair and says, "Good game, thanks for handing

smiles. "Maybe winning first isn't

as my nostrils flare. Ryan grabs me before I can run after Blake or just hop into my car,

maybe we should just head out and

You could use it"

to Harper. The minute my eyes search for

She hesitates putting it

for her to get out. Instead, she looks away and clicks herself in while Sadie gives me the finger and burns out of

that people are watching, then I blindly crawl into my Jeep and follow him to the pizza

says, "Tell me everything, like you're a girl on a super dramatic reality show. Then, tell me

teeth and stare at my empty

whole tree thing

that

"Yes,"

him. "For the love of God, can we not talk

me, again, it's my sister. If I could bleach my brain

sure your

shudders. "I have constant second—hand embarrassment and horror, just so you

have nightmares of her face for

sip of my Coke and lean

much it hurt that Harper didn't tell their parents she had a fucking boyfriend who also happens to be her brother's

sits there and listens, though I can tell I'm stressing him

he wishes each of the Cokes had

bottle at

support it, the picture that is, but she's so stressed out, man. Mom and

He clears his throat.

that, she doesn't have her phone, she can't even communicate with you right

do when one has to pee and seventeen of

going to be