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."

appears ready to chop his

I'm still on the verge

and already I feel guilty because I know she's taking sides and

I know all hell is about to break loose as Blake follows behind her and hands

A fucking scrunchie?

him say, “You dropped this after

thanks for handing

me and smiles. "Maybe winning

nostrils flare. Ryan grabs me before I can run

quickly. "Look, maybe we should just head out and talk

You could use it"

Harper. The minute my eyes search for her again, she's already hopping into Sadie's car and putting

out. She hesitates

and clicks herself in while Sadie gives me the finger and burns out of the parking lot, like she's getting chased by the

until Ryan again informs me that people are watching, then I blindly crawl into my Jeep and follow him to the pizza place by his house. I

everything, like you're a girl on a super dramatic reality show. Then, tell me why you look so equally

at my

thing called

like that better

"Yes,"

God,

his hands in surrender. "Fine by me, again,

shrug. “I'm sure your mom feels

embarrassment

nightmares of

sip of my Coke and lean back in

as I explain how much it hurt that Harper didn't tell their parents she had a fucking boyfriend who also happens to be her

his credit, Ryan sits there and listens, though

each of the Cokes had rum in

me a damn bottle at this point.

to sit down and talk. I know why you kept it and I still support it, the picture that is, but she's so stressed out, man. Mom and Dad were not easy on her

He clears his throat.

you right now and seeing that on your screen couldn't have been easy after

like they do when one has to pee and seventeen of

going to be