Chapter 83

Harper

Easton and Mrs.

Scott? Last night? He ...

cheated on me? Every time I read the post from WHGOSSIP, I feel like I

get kicked in the heart again with the highest spiked heel.

This time, it's happening in the back of Ryan's car, the tears filling my

eyes for what feels like the hundredth time this morning.

If Sadie hadn't spent the night and been with me when I got the news, I

would have stayed home sick.

But she doesn't want me to hide and thinks that will only make me feel

worse.

I don't know how I could possibly feel worse than this.

And nothing is making me feel better, not Sadie trying to distract me

by singing in the front seat, not Ryan's insane driving as he speeds

down the streets, not scrolling through Instagram and seeing

everyone's comments on the post.

How could he do this to me? How could he hurt me this way? Every

unanswered question bites harder into my heart.

"Put your phone down,”

Sadie says, turning around to look at me from the passenger seat.

“Stick it in your bag and don't look at it again until school is over."

She nods toward my backpack.

"Reading all that stuff, it's only going to make you feel worse, babe.” "I

know,"

I whisper, but I can't help myself.

I have to see it all.

I have to read their opinions.

I have to know what they know.

And the one person who probably knows more than anyone is driving,

and he hasn't said a word to me all morning.

But I need to talk about it, I need more than just Sadie's opinion, I need

to hear fromm someone who has inside knowledge.

“Ryan,” I start and pause, trying to gather my thoughts.

"Do you think—"

"No."

I'm startled by the way he completely shuts me off.

“No, what?"

"I'm not talking about this with you.”

I look at Sadie, silently pleading for her help.

She has a way with Ryan, she's able to soften him a little, something I've

never been able to do.

"Ryan, please,” she begs.

"Your sister is freaking—the— fuck—out over this, tell her something,

that's the least you can do.”

He looks at Sadie.

"The least I can do? I'm going to kill the motherfucker the second I lay

my eyes on him—that's what I'm going to do."

Ryan is going to kill him.

Which means everything I fear must be true.

"He ...

admitted to having sex with her?” Sadie asks Ryan.

Ryan shakes his head.

"I haven't spoken to him, he won't return my messages.” Easton has

been texting and calling me, but he won't respond to Ryan? I don't

know how that makes me feel, I just know this hurts.

Way too much.

Since I still haven't put my phone away, I read the texts he's sent me

over the last hour.

Please call me.

We have to talk about this.

It's not what you think, Harper, I promise.

I need to talk to you.

Don't ignore me, please, baby.

I didn't do it, I swear to you, I didn't.

Call me before you get to school.

Sadie told me not to reply, not to answer his calls and I trusted she was

giving me the right advice.

I mean, fighting about this before school isn't going to help.

It's not going to change the way I feel.

I can see the proof for myself that he was at her house.

What can he possibly say that will make this better? I look at Ryan in

the rearview mirror and ask, "What about before we started dating?”

I pause again, the question proving to be harder than I thought.

"Do you know if they were sleeping together then?"

"How can you ask me that?"

He stops at a light, glaring at me from the mirror.

"I don't know the girls Easton fucks, my God.”

But he does, they're best friends.

The same way Sadie and I know everything about each other.

Silence fills the car the rest of the way to school, and I'm not surprised

to see Blake the moment I walk into the building

He's always there for me.

"Come here,” he says, pulling me into his arms, hugging me.

"Damn it, Harper, I hate that he did this to you.”

I don't pull away.

I need this—the sympathy, the protection, the comfort, especially when

today is going to be so hard once the whispers and laughs and stares

set in.

"I don’t know if it helps to hear this, but Mrs.

Scott didn't show up to school, so I don't think you'll have to see her

today.”

Knowing that I won't have to pass her in the hallway should give me

some relief, but it doesn't.

Everything hurts.

And it stings even more when I hear, "Mrs.

Scott must have a better pussy than Harper,”

from some asshole walking by us.

"I think I'm going to be sick.” I try to wiggle out of his arms

"Leave me alone, Blake.”

His grip tightens

"You need someone to be by your side today, you can't do this alone,

I'm going to help you through this, Harper.”

I barely feel my feet when he starts walking me down the hallway,

stopping at my locker.

I hold the padlock, trying to remember the code to unlock it, my brain

so jumbled.

"You know, I really didn't think Easton was fucking her anymore.

I thought he stopped once you two got together.” I freeze.

"He was with her?"

I try to breathe.

“In the past?” "He bragged to all of us about it.

How do you think he made honor roll?"

He rubs my shoulder, going as low as my elbow.

“I guess fucking the school administrator earns you straight A's.” He

then moves higher to my neck.

"There's someone out there who's much better for you, Harper.” I'm so

nauseous, if a trashcan suddenly appeared, I'd throw up in it.

I can't believe Sadie convinced me to come in today and that I listened

to her.

"You have to find it interesting that after he punched me in the face, he

didn't get suspended.” I finally see the bandage across his nose, the

bruising under his eyes—things I missed earlier because I'm too

mentally occupied.

I lean against my locker, trying to recap every time I saw Easton go into

the front office, something that seemed so innocent in the past, but

now seems to matter.

And that's when it hits me, how nasty he was to me when I stopped him

in the hallway, right outside the office door.

Had he kissed Mrs.

Scott only seconds before running into me? Was that the reason for his

attitude, that he was consumed with guilt? "I can't believe he would do

this to me,"

I whisper, unable to stop the tears.

Blake catches one before it drips down my cheek and pulls me in for

another hug.

Just as I'm wrapping my arms around him, I glance up and see Easton.

He's rounding the corner, hurrying down the hallway.

Heading straight for me.