You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 128

 

 

Chapter 128

Easton

I'm at my locker right before first period when I'm practically tackled not just by my girlfriend, but her best friend too. And they're both talking a mile a minute. "You're never going to believe—"

“Spray painted on the mirror—"

"Julia was in there and she said Aisha's gone—"

“We got rid of it. I couldn't look at it any longer."

That last statement is from Harper, and she says it in such a sad way, my heart literally breaks for her.

From what I can tell, something awful was spray painted about Harper—again —this time on the mirror in the girls' bathroom. Anger rises and I clench my jaw so tight I'm afraid I might break it.

Why do they keep coming for my girl?

And who is it that keeps doing this?

The drama never fucking stops and I'm sick of it. Sick. Of. It. I grab hold of Harper's shoulders and gently shake her, needing her to pay attention to me. “Tell me what happened,”

I demand. She explains everything, starting from the beginning.

How they walked into the bathroom, spotted the rude message written on the mirrors, and how Julia was in there.

They confronted her but she denied having anything to do with it.

Of course. I'd deny everything too if I were her.

"She mentioned something about how all the girls are jealous of Harper because she's with you, but I call bullshit,’ Sadie says as she grabs her phone and goes into her photos.

She pulls up an image and shows it to me, nearly thrusting her phone into my face. “Here's what it said.”

I take her phone, staring at the photo. Harper loves to suck big dick! Is it wrong that I'm vaguely flattered it says big dick?

Because hey...it's true.

And it's also true that Harper enjoys sucking it. At least, I think she does— Sadie thwacks me on the arm.

So hard, I take a step away from her with a muttered, "Ow."

"What do you think is going on?"

Sadie asks, her voice rising. “Who the hell is doing this?”

“Aisha of course, I say without hesitation as I hand Sadie back her phone, then pull Harper in for a long hug.

She clings to me and I bury my face in her hair, breathing deep her unique scent.

She's over this, I can just feel it. I'm over it, too. I feel fucking awful that we can't shake this shit.

I wish I could protect her everywhere she goes, but I cant. I hate feeling helpless.

It's the fucking worst. The warning bell rings and Sadie dashes off in search of Ryan before they go to class.

I pull away slightly from Harper, reaching out to smooth the worry lines from her forehead. ‘I'll take care of this."

Harper doesn't look reassured by my promise. More than anything, she seems worried. Tired. So damn tired of it all. “How are we even going to figure out who did it?

Aisha isn't here, according to Julia. Julia denied she did it—"

"I would too,"

I say, interrupting her. "Maybe Aisha put her up to it and she wasn't expecting you to walk into the bathroom like you did.”

“She didn't seem bothered by us walking into the bathroom at all. When she came out of the stall, she was weirdly calm,’ Harper explains.

I grin, trying to make light of it. Trying to cheer up my girl. "Maybe she was feeling good after taking a solid morning dump."

Harper makes a disgusted face and shoves at my shoulder, a laugh escaping her. "Ew. You're so gross.”

“At least I made you laugh,"

I point out. Her laughter fades and her expression turns pensive. “You're right. You did."

She throws herself at me before I can slam my locker shut, squeezing me tight. ") don't know who to trust anymore.”

"You can count on me,’ I tell her, rubbing her back. "I've got you.”

“L know,"

she murmurs. “You and Sadie and Ryan. That's it. You're the only people I can trust. Everyone else feels like a threat.”

I'm glad she didn't include Blake in her list.

That guy is up to shady shit, I just know it. I can't prove it but damn, I can feel it. We finally separate and head to class.

I'm in Spanish and we already turned in our final project, so it's a class I don't have to stress over.

Thank God. Finals week has put Harper under enormous pressure, and I can't lie—it's been stressful for me too.

Now with Leigh not around to change my grades, I have to actually study and maintain solid scores. I'm not an idiot, but this shit is hard.

And I want to get into a good school. Harper and I discussed college a few weeks ago, right before we turned in our applications, and we applied to a few of the same schools.

That's some serious shit, us wanting to go to the same college. We haven't said it outright to each other, but we're both thinking it.

We're in this for the long haul. And not gonna lie, that's kind of scary.

Ryan cruises into my class at one point, sitting in one of the chairs in the back and I go to him.

"You hear about the spray paint message in the bathroom?"

I ask as I settle into the empty desk next to his. He nods, his lips tight. "Sadie told me. Who the fuck do you think it is now?"

“Aisha, via Julia. I don't care if she denied that she did it. I think she did."

I glance around the room, wishing she was in this class so I could stare at her. Intimidate the shit out of her. She'd deserve it for fucking with my girlfriend. "She might've."

Ryan hesitates for only a moment. "Could've been Blake."

“Could've been,’ I agree. “Could’ve been any of these motherfuckers in this room, really.”

"True."

I watch everyone, fighting the unease that wanted to take over me. Every time I think I've got it all figured out... Something—or someone—comes along and trips me up.