You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 17

Harper

I don't know how long I stand outside after Ryan and Easton are gone. All I can do is breathe in and out, in and out, as I mentally replay HARTER

“Don’t waste your time, Ryan. A little costume doesn't hide the fact that it's Harper— it also can't hide the horrible personality either. Let's go shoot some hoops.”

Maybe if we hadn't kissed twice or if he hadn't touched me and made me feel the things he did. But, the truth was, even with the costume, even with the darkness, that was all me, Harper, the same Harper that Easton just said couldn't hide.

It's like he knew exactly what to say and how to say it to make me want to cry until all the tears made my heart feel better.

“Hey.” The cafeteria doors slam behind Sadie. “What happened? Is Ryan super pissed? Do I need to go talk to him?”

I remain quiet, not sure how to answer.

“God, I'm going to kill him! I refuse to crush on him anymore! You hear that, Ryan?” She starts yelling like he can actually hear her.

“We're through, you little"

“Shhh.” I tug on her arm. “Can we just leave?”

Her eyes widen in shock. “You want to cut class?”

No, I want to cut Easton , then tell him how badly he’s cut me, then kiss him and confess everything and wait for him to laugh until he cries That sounds really fun.

Why is high school the worst?

I almost feel numb at this point as I shake my head. Somehow, my legs aren't taking me to my locker or to class — no, I'm walking

directly toward the gym where Ryan and Easton just went.

What am I doing and what sort of entity has taken over my body and somehow convinced my brain that this is a good idea?

Heart pounding, I shove open the gym doors. The smell of equipment and cleaner fill the air as the echoing sound of the basketball fills the empty space.

Ryan and Easton are laughing while Sadie, just behind me, quietly tries to grab my arm and pull me away like she knows something's about to go down

“It's fine.” I shrug her off. “T'll be quick”

I don't hear her groan as much as I feel it when I walk on to the court in my boots and wait for them to notice me. Ryan does first, his expression unreadable, and then there's Easton. Beautiful, gorgeous, godlike Easton, with his perfect hair, amazing kissing skills, strong jaw, and stupid lower lip!

"Why are you such an asshole?" II blurt before I can stop myself, my heart pounding in my chest like I've just done a hundred pushups. Easton drops the ball and crosses his arms, his crystal blue eyes laying into me with indignant fury.

What? I don't have the right to have feelings? To stand up for myself? To once and for all face him, despite making me want to hurl when I realize I'm currently sealing my own fate with him?

Whatever future we may have had is going to be gone in a poof of smoke and even though I don't want to care, I do.

“What did you just say?” His voice is low, his posture rigid.

“You heard me.” I wait for more insults.

Instead, a small smirk toys at the corner of his lips. “Hey, Ryan, did your sister suddenly find out she has balls instead of a pussy?”

Ryan chucks the basketball at Easton's junk.

Easton dodges it and starts to laugh. “I was kidding, it's kind of refreshing that the quiet twin found her voice, right?”

“Remember, that's my sister.” Ryan uses a tone that says he'll kick Easton's ass if he keeps talking about me in that kind of way.

Easton turns, his godlike profile making me want to both slap him and kiss him simultaneously. “How could I possibly forget?” His eyes roam me up and down. “She's like you but with boobs and “- his eyes leer purposefully lower- "y ou know."

Ryan hits him in the back of the head with his hand. “Really, bro?” Easton stumbles forward but he still has that stupid grin on his face. “Anything else you need to say, sad twin?"

Sad twin?

I'm the sad twin?

grind my teeth ready to blast him with an insult. Something that will hurt him, but the bell rings, reminding us it's time to go back to class

I quickly turn on my heel and grab Sadie’s arm, marching out of the gym. Whatever, I said my peace, let him deal with his guilt and idiocy. And, maybe one day, I'll just announce to the world that it was my tits he was obsessed with, my pussy, as he called it, that he wanted

Me. Me. Me.

And what a glorious day it will be to see his horrified face when he discovers that the one girl he can't have has been standing in front of him all this time.

“That was brave.” Sadie struggles to keep up with my strut.

“No,” I correct her. “That was necessary.” I want to scream, instead I pretend to be calm as I speed walk toward chemistry.

Sadie grabs her seat in front, and I grab my seat in back.

Within minutes, Easton's in the classroom, stopping in front of the desk behind me, the last row. “Yo, move.”

Brad's groan is so typical of a guy who complains about everything, including the temperature in the classrooms. “Why? This has been my seat all.”

“I'm not asking,” Easton says in a

calm, lethal tone.

Soon, I see Brad scurrying past my

desk and feel the heat of Easton sitting behind me. Things are calm, or as calm as they can be as class starts, and then I feel a pencil start to draw on my bare neck.

I close my eyes.

“Feel that?” Easton whispers. “Does it tickle? Make you think dirty things that guys do to dirty girls at parties?”

I gulp.

“You will never be that girl, Harper.”

My stomach clenches, like I'm

going to be sick.

“Want to know why?"

I say nothing.

He leans up until his lips are next to my neck, until I can feel them

RE

nobody wants you. Dress up all you want, impress your brothers’ friends as much as you can, but you'll always be you, and isn't that such...” His laugh is low, mocking. “Such a tragedy?”

If he only knew.

I stiffen.

“If you need a bathroom pass, can raise my hand, you probably have some tears lingering on your cheeks to clean up. And, don't worry, I'm sure you'll find a nice boy who will ask permission to kiss you, who will give you

missionary every time, and then say thank you afterward. Just know, that guy won't be me.”