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.

I cant do that unless I have an idea of where I'm going to go and where he's going to go.

Knowing my best friend is waiting for a response, I say, "Honestly, Sadie, I'm not even hungry"

She gives me a look.

"Everything all right?" "Yep,' I lie.

"You're sure?" I even nod this time and say, "I'm positive"

"Well, if you change your mind, let me know.

I've got some extra cash on me to get whatever kind of slice you want"

She loops her arm through mine and when we arrive at the cafeteria, Easton and Ryan are already sitting at our table.

Sadie and I part, her going up to the lunch line, me tossing my lunch bag into the trash before I join the guys.

I see Ryan has also ditched the lunch Mom made and is eating chicken nuggets and tater tots instead, money he probably scored by selling weed.

Easton is devouring a slice of pepperoni and sipping on a soda.

I take a seat next to my boyfriend.

"Hey," I say softly.

He reaches forward to tuck some of my hair behind my ear.

"What took you guys so long to join us?" I shrug.

"Sadie and I were talking, that's all." I look at the empty spot in front of me where my lunch should be sitting, the weight of the day hitting me. "Has school been a snore fest today or is it just me?" "Isn't it always a snore fest?" Ryan asks.

"Agreed," Easton says.

"I guess you're right," I admit.

"It just seems extra slow and draggy today"

"That's because we're seconds away from graduating," Blake says.

I didn't realize he joined us, but he's standing behind Easton and me, Sadie now taking a seat next to Ryan.

"And guess where this genius got into college?" He's smiling so hard, I think his lips are going to crack.

"Come on, any guesses?" he asks around the table.

Easton shrugs.

"Harvard? Isn't that where your kind goes?" "Funny, asshole; Blake says.

"But, let's be honest, had I applied to Harvard, I would have gotten in." He holds up his phone to show us the acceptance letter on the screen.

"San Diego State, bitches." "Wow; I say, viewing the school's emblem at the top of the email, jealousy completely filling me even though I hadn't applied there.

It just must be an amazing feeling to have that approval in your hands.

"Congrats, Blake, that's amazing"

"What about you?" he asks me.

"Any good news yet?" I suck in a deep breath and shake my head.

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

"Your parents must have bought your way in somewhere, am I right? Since you don't have Leigh's pussy to get you a mailbox full of acceptance letters?" "Fuck you,' Easton snaps.

"If I'm wrong, then tell me the giant list of schools you've gotten into,' Blake goads.

Easton chuckles even though I know he doesn't find any of this funny.

"I certainly don't have to do that"

"That's right... Easton is too good for school. He's probably going to be working as a busboy next year." "Jesus,' Easton groans.

"You're fucking relentless"

"I just don't understand what you're hiding." Easton turns around to look at him.

"What makes you think I'm hiding anything?" Blake smiles.

"Prove me wrong.' I stare at Easton, trying to figure out if he's going to knock out Blake or start screaming at him or...

"Will it make you shut up?" Easton asks him.

"Because that's all I fucking want right now, for you to stop talking"

He reaches into his pocket and takes out his phone, tapping the screen several times before he shows it to us.

"Stanford"

I don't need to read the first few lines.

I already know what they say.

But I do anyway.

Accepted.

That's the school Easton's parents went to, the one they made him apply to.

The one they want him to go to for pre-law.

Blake grabs the phone out of Easton's hand and says, "Looks like you were accepted over a week ago." He smiles.

"Knew it." He hands back the phone.

"So, did Mommy and Daddy make a big contribution to the alumni? Or did Leigh send them a selfie of her tits?" Easton points toward the exit of the cafeteria. "Neither, now get the fuck out of here, Blake, before I kill you"

"Damn, Blake sings.

"It feels good to be right"

He winks at Easton.

"You guys have a good lunch"

Easton has known for over a week that he was accepted to Stanford.

And he didn't tell me.

My stomach immediately starts aching, my heart hurting.

I cross my arms over my chest.

"I didn't apply to Stanford," I whisper, knowing Easton can hear me.

I didn't because I couldn't afford it.

Seeing that Ryan and Sadie are deep in conversation, I look at Easton, the ache in my chest getting worse.

"I wish you would have told me." "I was going to"

And now I ache even more that I found out this way.

"When?" He takes a deep breath.

"Harper-" "Don't." I swallow.

"I don't want to talk about it"

Tears are moving into my eyes when I add, "Easton ... I can't."