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.

the middle

I smile.

girl curses

and say that the smile was for my girl, the one

We stop in

gives me and Ryan a funny look then

go see if

"Okay."

He frowns but follows.

The air is tense.

"You okay, Harper?"

asks, totally stealing my line

eyes dart from

night, was kind of worried about grades

dropped off Honor

He shakes his head.

see you

he didn't just set

Harper's eyes go wide.

"Easton..."

believe

posted them online

I pull out my phone and quickly log

visibly shaking next

she's making

password when it starts to happen all around

typical, "I

are

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

It's all around us.

kid go to the window and just start banging his head

down some of the kids who are volunteering like us who look ready to burst into

shaking as I finally login and

My grades are posted.

straight A's except for

though,

"Posted,"

I whisper.

“H—how'd you do?"

asks in a terror

"Passed,"

all I say, logging out and handing

to just rip the bandaid right

I

she grumbles.

bleeding,” I offer, bracing