You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 166

Harper

"Did you bring anything good for lunch?" Sadie asks as she meets me at my locker.

I shake my head.

"I watched Mom throw it together this morning before work"

I hold up the bag, so she can see it.

"Turkey sandwich.

Chips.

An orange.” I laugh.

"I know you're dying to get your hands on an orange.

Wanna trade?" “Um, hello, we know my mom is the worst cook ever, I've got nothing you'd want in my lunch bag.

It's going straight in the trash and I'm buying some pizza.

Want a slice?" "No.

I'm good"

The truth is, even if I had a good lunch, I wouldn't eat it.

My stomach is such a mess.

And it has been all week.

I've been waiting to hear back from the colleges I applied to and I haven't gotten a response.

It seems like the entire senior class has heard something—whether it's an approval or denial from at least one school.

Even Ryan and Sadie have.

But all I've heard is silence.

And it's terrifying.

I need to know, I need to plan.

I need to prepare for what's about to happen with my life.

But most of all, I need to prepare for what's going to happen between Easton and me.

idea of where I'm

is waiting for a response, I say, "Honestly, Sadie, I'm

me a

right?" "Yep,’ I

this

if you change your mind, let me

on me to get whatever kind

at

up to the lunch line, me tossing my lunch bag into the trash before

Mom made and is eating chicken nuggets and tater tots instead, money he

a slice of pepperoni and sipping on a

seat next to my

“Hey,” I say softly.

some of my

long to

that's all.” I look at the empty spot in front of me where my lunch should be sitting, the weight of the day

a snore fest today or is it just me?" "Isn't it

“Agreed,” Easton says.

you're

extra slow

seconds away from graduating,”

behind Easton and me, Sadie now taking a seat next

guess where this genius got into college?" He's smiling so hard, I think his lips

any guesses?" he

Easton shrugs.

Isn't that where your kind

I would have gotten in.” He holds

the school's emblem at the top

be an amazing feeling to have

“Congrats, Blake, that's amazing"

you?"

suck in a deep breath and shake

not a word.’ "What about you, Easton?" He crosses his arms across

have bought your way in somewhere, am I right? Since you don't have

the giant list of schools you've gotten into,’

I know he doesn't find any of

certainly don't have

school. He's probably going

"You're fucking relentless"

you're hiding.” Easton turns

I'm hiding anything?"

wrong.’ I stare at Easton, trying to figure out if he's going to knock out Blake or

it make you shut up?"

that's all I fucking want right now,