You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

 Easton 

"Oh look..."

I slam the door to my Jeep, freezing my nuts off as I look at the snow piled high around the parking lot and on the roof of our school.

“Hell.” "The snow or the school?"

Ryan pulls his jacket tighter around himself.

"Shit how cold is it?"

"You'd think that the snow closest to the school would be burned up by the flames, alas, that's not the case, Hell's hot but the snow here is colder."

"A true fight between good and evil.” Ryan nods solemnly before slapping me on the back with one of his gloves.

"At least it's our last semester, we're only here for the dumb Christmas spectacular concert that we've been forced to volunteer for and we aren't virgins wondering how to get laid at prom."

All good points.

I nod.

But, fuck it sucks that mid break we have to come back to this hellhole just because it gives all of us extra credit.

It's two hours out of my life where the middle school kids sing in their puberty filled voices and sell cookies for their class trip.

It's gonna be fine, it just sucks that it's taking up time with Harper.

Clearly, we must have the worst timing in the world as Blake moves into our line of sight.

He grabs the metal door and opens it wide for us.

Immediately, I'm hit with heat, the smell of cafeteria food, and sweaty nervous bodies all getting ready to perform Jingle Bells.

See? Hell.

Total hell.

Damn it, where are the girls? They volunteered to help too, actually most of the senior class did.

Ryan, fucking mind reader, says it out loud, "Where's the girls? I thought they said they were leaving early?"

"At the auditorium, waiting it looks like,"

Blake says falling into step with us as we walk down the hall and, alright, I'm not a total asshole, but if you've ever seen those cheesy teen movies where the popular guys walk down the middle of the hall and people stare, girls giggle, cameras are raised for whatever slow motion Tik—Toks students plan on doing.

What I'm saying is that's us.

Merry Fucking Christmas.

Even with us still semi—fighting and not knowing where Blake stands or where we should stand with him.

It's like a fucking teen movie.

I'm in the

I smile.

curses under her

smile was for my girl, the one currently watching me with her lips parted, cheeks

knows? We stop in front of

gives me and Ryan a funny

see if anyone

"Okay."

He frowns but follows.

The air is tense.

"You okay, Harper?"

asks, totally stealing my

eyes dart from

yeah, just didn't sleep well last night, was

who dropped off Honor Roll, bastard, who the hell does that during

He shakes his head.

you

walks off like he didn't just

Harper's eyes go wide.

"Easton..."

I won't believe

they posted

me to look, so I pull out my

visibly shaking

making

have to even put in my password when

"I

are gonna

for the day? Does this mean I fail? OH shit I failed PE how do

It's all around us.

just start banging his head against it in hopes it will break

starting to come down the hall to calm down some of the kids who are volunteering like us who

as I finally login

My grades are posted.

straight A's except for one

me, though,

"Posted,"

I whisper.

“H—how'd you do?"

asks in a

"Passed,"

logging out and handing

to just rip the bandaid right

if I

she grumbles.

stop the bleeding,” I offer, bracing