Chapter 50


    Harper


    I can’t believe I have to go to school like this. My eyes are puffy from crying all night, my hair a tangled


    mess from tossing and turning. I don’t have the energy to do more than tie it up in a messy bun or


    attempt to even put makeup on.


    I just want this day to be over.


    And I don’t want to run into Easton.


    I don’t want to pass him in the hallway or see him at lunch or watch him get into his Jeep after school.


    I don’t want him to even exist.


    My heart aches even more than it didst night because the first thing I saw this morning while Ryan


    drove us to school was Aisha’s post.


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    As if her moaning wasn’t enough.


    Now, I have to see his clothes on her bed. The same outfit he was wearing when he was on my bed,


    between my legs, his lips on that spot that was making me moan.


    My stomach feels like it’s been punched. My chest so tight, a chainsaw couldn’t even break it.


    And, to make me feel even worse, Ryan knows that Easton kissed me. ke told him and he also told


    him that he wants to date me. I heard Ryan yelling all that into the phonest night, long after he kicked


    the guys out. He probably thought I was asleep, but I was far from it, and I tried figuring out who he was


    talking to and couldn’t. He ended the conversation with something I would do anything to unhear.


    Apparently, Easton told him he was just trying tofort me because I was sad about the spray paint,


    that our kiss was nothing.


    A charity case, that’s what I am to Easton.


    A sad, pathetic girl, who can’t stop obsessing over being called a slut.


    I hate him.


    And I hate this school.


    I wish this locker would just swallow me as I stand in front of it, staring at my books, unable to even


    think of which ones I need.


    “I was hoping you were going toe in today,” Sadie says as she leans into the locker beside mine,


    making me jump, I’m so deep in my thoughts. “You didn’t return my text this morning, so I figured you


    had your mom call you in sick.”


    I didn’t return Easton’s either when he sent est night.


    He’s a lunatic for thinking I would even consider texting him back.


    “I asked her to, but she wouldn’t,” I say.


    I even told her I was feeling like death, and she told me to suck it up or she woulde home early


    from their trip and take me to the doctor. I didn’t want her to do that.


    “I’m d you came. I can’t do school without you.” She puts her arm around my shoulders, waiting for


    me to close my locker, and walks me down the hallway. “Easton is an asshole, we know this, and now


    we’re going to find you Prince Charming.”


    I nce at her. “Please. I need no such thing.”


    She nods toward ke as he rounds the corner, heading right for us. “Maybe that’s him right there.”


    Iugh, even though it hurts my heart. “We both know he’s no prince.”


    “But there’s something so hot about his long, thick, silky hair, and how he twists it on top of his head,”


    “Stop,” I say, looking at my best friend. “This is the horny side of you talking.”


    “I’m not going to deny being horny, but,”


    “No buts,” I tell her as ke approaches.


    “Harper,” he says, standing in front of us. “I came to your roomst night before your brother kicked us


    out. I wanted to talk to you, but you must have been sleeping and didn’t hear my knock


    I was smart enough to lock my door.


    And smart enough not to answer it.


    Thest thing I wanted was a conversation and questions and I was sure ke wanted both.


    “I was so tired,” I lie. “And that question you asked me when I was in the doorway of my room “I take a


    breath, remembering the moment. “I didn’t like it.”


    And he wouldn’t have liked my answer. Easton would always be a better kisser than him.


    “I’m sorry.” He tucks a few stray hairs behind my ear. “That was wrong, and I shouldn’t have said it.”


    “Thank you,” I whisper.


    He silently stares at me, then says, “I’m going to find out who’s been doing the spray painting. I’m not


    going to stop looking for them until their ass is mine.”


    “Damn, that’s sexy,” Sadie replies.


    I want to roll my eyes at how horny she is, but I can’t, someone behind ke has caught my attention.


    The sight of him makes me want to cry again.


    First period hasn’t even started and I’m already running into him.


    Rage fills Easton’s expression as he realizes who I’m talking to.


    Wow, he has some nerve.


    I want to throw up.


    As though ke can sense Easton approaching, he turns toward him, muttering between his teeth,


    “Don’t even look at that fucking loser. He’s just jealous of us.” His arm possessively goes around my


    shoulders, putting me in a sandwich between Sadie and him.


    Easton eyes up ke and says, “Do you have something to say to me?”


    Easton’s close enough that I can smell him.


    His cologne.


    Shampoo.


    Even his body wash.


    My eyes close, my heart shattering as my lungs fill.


    “Yeah, motherfucker, I want you to keep walking and leave us the hell alone. I told you Harper is mine.”


    My eyes shoot open.


    I’m ke’s?


    Oh God.


    “Is that true?” Easton pauses, waiting for me to reply. “ke is who you want?”


    What I want is this floor to open and take me in like a sinkhole.


    keughs at Easton. “Have you gone to Ryan and admitted you have feelings for Harper? No, you


    haven’t.” ke holds me even tighter. “You just run back to Aisha every chance you get, like you did


    last night.” ke starts walking us in the opposite direction and says over his shoulder to Easton,


    “There’s nopetition here, asshole. I’ve already won her.”


    “That was intense,” Sadie says when we’re a few steps away.


    If my heart wasn’t so broken, maybe I would have chimed in. Maybe I would have told him how


    disgusting he was.


    But it even hurt to look at him.


    “Are you all right?” ke asks as we turn down the next hallway.


    “Mmm-hmm,” I reply, not trusting my voice.


    “You know …” He leans into my ear. “You’re even more beautiful when your eyes aren’t rimmed in


    makeup, when I can see how deep and perfect and brown they are.”


    I’m not even looking at him.


    And he knows their color.


    “I’ve got to leave you two here and head to ss,” Sadie says. “See you at lunch?”


    I nod, hating more than anything that we have to part.


    ke leads me toward the stairwell. “I’ll walk you to ss.”


    How does he know my first period is upstairs?


    Would Easton know that? Would he care?


    ke’s arm moves over my bra strap until it rests across my lower back. “He’ll never care about you


    like I do,” he whispers as my feet hit the first stair.


    I suck in a mouthful of air.


    And I wait for the tingles to hit.