Chapter 197


    Chapter 197


    Harper


    I''m breathless, both dreading and needing to hear ke''s response to


    Easton''s question. What is he going to say? How is this asshole going to


    redeem himself?


    He cant. Not with me. And not with my boyfriend either.


    Or my best friend.


    Or my twin brother.


    ke is done.


    The tears still stream down my face and Sadie’s got her arm around my


    shoulders,forting me. The silence in the room is deafening and it''s


    just... can''t take it anymore.


    “Why?" | whisper, the sound ragged.


    ke remains quiet, the asshole. Trying to buy time? He visibly shakes as


    he runs his hands through his hair and his gaze finally meets mine, his


    eyes, his expression is just—nk.


    Like he doesn''t know what to say.


    “Tell me!" | scream.


    “Tell her, fuck face,” Easton demands, his voice low.


    Deadly.


    “| wanted..." ke''s gaze is pleading when it meets mine. “I wanted you.


    And | knew I couldn''t get you, especially once Easton finally noticed you.


    You''ve always had a thing for him, and just when | thought I might have a


    chance with you, he kept treating you like garbage, yet you still wanted


    him. It made no fucking sense. He doesn''t deserve you!"


    | flinch, hating how he makes me feel like I''m at fault for having a crush


    on Easton. How was | supposed to know ke was interested in me? He


    never gave me a single clue that he was. | was the quiet girl. The one no


    one noticed. The invisible twin.


    "It was stupid, my idea,” ke continues, shaking his head. "I felt


    desperate. And | thought that just maybe | could scare you a little and be


    the big hero running to rescue the girl.”


    "That''s the stupidest thing I''ve ever heard." Sadie''s voice is full of disgust.


    | briefly squeeze my eyes shut, like | can''t stand to look at ke—which |


    can''t. "Why not just try the normal way and ask me out?"


    "Him." That''s all ke says. "I knew before even he did, that he was


    obsessed with you. Even if Easton wouldn''t admit it to himself, | saw it.


    The way he looked at you, how he couldnt keep his eyes off you. There


    was something between the two of you and I couldnt stand it. So |


    panicked. Fuck, it’s our senior year and | wanted a chance. | just... don''t


    know."


    A sigh leaves me and | hang my head, frustrated.


    His exnation isn''t good enough. What he did to me is beyond cruel.


    It''s unforgiveable.


    And ke needs to realize that. I''m not the weak, quiet girl | was at the


    beginning of the school year. I''m stronger. More confident. I''m not going


    to let this guy break me.


    No way.


    Sadie removes her arm from my shoulders when | stand up straighter, and


    | re at ke before my gaze shifts to the box full of incriminating


    evidence.


    “Did it really have to go this far?”


    “No. | got in too deep, and | couldn''t stop.” ke visibly swallows. "And |


    swear it was never supposed to be like this. | thought—| could be your


    hero, you know? And then you''d finally see me.”


    “All | see...” | walk over to the box of spray paint and give it a fierce kick.


    “Is a weak ass bitch who never once exined his feelings to me, or even


    tried, before asking the wicked witch of the west to help you."


    And that''s the most unforgivable part of all.


    "She had uh...experience."


    Say what? That''s his excuse?


    Oh hell no.


    | lunge for ke and Easton grabs my arms, but | immediately jerk out of


    his hold. “Let me take care of this.”


    | love that my boyfriend wants to defend me, but | dont need him to run to


    my rescue every single time. Despite what he thinks, or ke, for that


    matter.


    | can handle things on my own.


    "So." | start to pace, going over everything that happened this year in my


    mind. "It was you and Aisha this entire time? Who started it? Or does it


    even fucking matter? You''re both guilty as hell, but it''s worse, knowing it


    was you. You betrayed me, ke. | was scared. You made me cry. You


    tried to ruin my senior year while pretending to be my friend. And |


    defended you! When Easton would say he thought you were being shady, |


    always said, ‘not ke. Never ke’. | feel like an idiot!”


    He closes his eyes like he can''t even look at me. "You''re right. It was both


    of us. | just thought—"


    "—Oh, you thought?” | make air quotes with my fingers, not bothering to


    hald back. "This is so cruel, so messed up, you have to see that, right?”


    “Yeah.” His voice is low. "| know that now. | mean, | knew that then, | just...


    maybe | wanted what I could never have.” ke turns his attention to my


    boyfriend. "In a way, it felt like you stole her from me."


    Easton takes a step toward ke, his expression murderous, his hands


    clenched into fists, but Ryan grabs his arm, stopping him.


    “He''s not worth it my brother murmurs and Easton nods once, his


    attention solely for ke.


    "The difference between you and me, is that | actually love Harper. | love


    her with my entire fucking soul. | would die for her—would you? | doubt it.


    And even if | mess things up—and | probably will—| hope to God I know


    how to repent on my fucking knees and tell her how amazing she is and


    beg for her forgiveness. | would never try to make her feel small in order


    to manipte her into being with me. Ever."


    ke''s eyes squeeze shut, his humiliation clear.


    All | can do is stare at Easton, my heart thumping so hard | swear


    everyone in the room can hear it. His gaze meets mine, all of that sincerity


    and his love for me swirling in the blue depths and without thought, | go to


    him, not caring that everyone—specifically ke—is watching us.


    He''s mine.


    And I''m his.


    Easton grips the back of my head, kissing me hard on the mouth and then


    my forehead and | lean into him, sighing against his shoulder.


    This is how it should be. Having each other''s backs, not trying to tear


    each other down. Why couldn''t ke realize this? Why did he have to take


    it so far?


    He ruined a friendship between all of us. It''s over.


    Finished. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Completely ignoring ke, the four of us send each other a look before


    we leave his house, Sadie and Ryan making sure they grab all the food.


    ke doesn''t try and even stop us. Doesnt say a damn word to any of us,


    and once we''re outside, it''s as if we''re all taking a deep, cleansing breath.


    The weight of the mystery ispletely gone, and while I''m disappointed


    in finding out it was ke of all people, I''m not surprised at all that Aisha


    was involved.


    Of course she was.


    "If | could, I''d go kick that skank''s ass right now,’ Sadie mutters.


    A giggle escapes me, even after everything we''ve just been through. “I


    wouldnt stop you.”


    “| would.” Ryan wraps Sadie up in a big hug, and while it seems like he''s


    being affectionate, | also wouldnt doubt he''s trying to restrain her from


    making good on her threat. "We need to forget about them. Forget all of


    this ever happened”


    "| agree,” Easton says as he pulls me into his arms.


    | cling to him, breathing in his familiar, delicious scent, absorbing all of


    his warmth and strength. This boy...| love him. So much. | trust him. He''s


    got my back, and I''ve got his.


    He''s promising me forever without using words just by holding me and |


    close my eyes, safe and secure in his arms. Even outside of ke''s


    house.


    It doesnt matter. | know, and Easton knows too.


    I''m his.


    And he''s mine.