Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfb25adhJS
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“What do you think Alleata’s gonna ask me to wear?” I ask, desperate to change the subject. Jason shrugs, pulling his blanket off of his body.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JzN6SHghc
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“She just made a new dress,” Jason answers. “If I had to guess, she’ll probably ask you to wear that. She hasn’t seen anyone wear it yet besides a mannequin.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPybJHuGelz
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“What’s the dress like?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCFdGKrowA
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Jason shakes his head, quickly checking his phone. “She doesn’t like telling people what her clothes look like ahead of time. Other people would try to use that information and steal it.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfUBFm4uQy
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“That’s fair.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxv6wi1kDW
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We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4L7fCpeCKQ
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“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI9QaCpNz8
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“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cjbOAHDkA
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Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9MaHcfTv0
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“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcQrch6YcT
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iuINCpWDN
“I don’t remember anything, no,” Jason replies. “But I feel like I do. You know when there’s a word that you can’t remember, but it’s on the tip of your tongue? That’s how it is. It’s right there. I can feel it, but I can’t- I can’t see it. And it frustrates the hell out of me.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzxbhrJBtY
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46GwVUtiry
“Have you tried to remember?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlVjZUIGzL
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Jason lets out a bitter laugh. “Have I tried? Of fucking course I have. I just- I can’t remember. No one’s been able to help me remember. I had a therapist for a while, and then Dad decided that he didn’t need his son going to a crackpot and pulled me out of therapy.” Jason scoots back and leans against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. “The funny thing is, I was getting better. I could deal with thunderstorms for a longer duration without getting an attack. Now, it’s the first crack or first strike that gives me an attack. I got worse. It wasn’t this bad when I first got it.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9XdvuQmTD
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“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmmmqpHRC2
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Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfMALlvxje
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMLUJuK7Pl
“I could probably do that,” he murmurs. “Dad never pays attention to me anyways. He won’t notice if I’m missing once or twice a week.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOmOp7EeYF
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eyUfNjbgH
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAbOhUrZCH
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z7hBNpPqe
"It isn't, but there's nothing I can do about it. That's how our relationship has always been." Jason closes his eyes and a ghost of a smile appears on his face. "It won't change. It'll be like this until the day one of us dies.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8WY5QmMck
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIYMDodSlQ
“I know we just met today, but I think you should talk to your dad about this.” I lean forward and rest my arms on my legs, my fingers laced together. “Not your phobia, but your relationship.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIEUq7NIjZ
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbyh1XvAsS
“Who’re you to tell me what I should do?” Jason spits, leaning forward and glaring into my eyes. “Like you said, we just met today. We’re not friends.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcltGpOI1N
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What’s with the sudden attitude flip?520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIoEVnufK5
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“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcHgJUhVKr
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“Fuck off.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZCQJzHz6q
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNmsZKpaDL
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuTLxNBzlP
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzw1knYDt0
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiv2YfL78L
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4itUB9vzKs
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZUmqrM3pt
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTTFvy6zX9
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P3CvU7GTL
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJ9xS9WaNh
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALyg0eO1H0
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDapHCu7NL
“Weren’t you with Jason?” Jonny asks. I nod, and he pats my shoulders before letting go of me. “Sophie’s upstairs. Want to go hang out with her?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QjyT1mhEs
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“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc3krp8Nkx
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2x3pk3HxGK
“Lukas is still manning the gate.” Jonny tilts my head up, and I nearly start crying as we make eye contact. “Should I call him? Or should I call Sarah?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNvxsGH426
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“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVJRgakSiX
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczVwZ5W5YQ
Jonny takes a step back silently. I jog around him then up a set of stairs, biting my lower lip to try and keep myself from crying.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PteINvY1C
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jnrCjiTCL
“Lukas!” I call, stopping in front of a cherry wood door and knocking once. When he doesn’t answer right away, my mind reels and I think over what I’m doing. “Actually, I’m okay. Sorry to interrupt you at work.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb1f9dyug0
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkivHedVLqm
“Stop right there young lady!” Lukas’ booming voice makes me jump. I look up at Lukas and watch his grin fall away from his face as he steps rapidly towards me. “What happened?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1zJHfmPuO
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BbwkKvtWK
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkATdYCzJrE
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGaq63qaGb
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MLTslDqkp
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EB2pdGsTj
Lukas lets go of me and opens the door to where the gate control is, then presses a hand against the small of my back and ushers me inside. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbDgAHlDBB
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3eF5zBw9S
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnxJ8NXGH0
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0vEr6mpfM
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFncxrSU8qs
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“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwZf39ucBR
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“You’re at work right now,” I state, letting my stubbornness take over. “You should be doing your job, not cheering me up. I’ll be fine.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMMPHtGYfJ
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FebXpcerk
“Xael-”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejygxE3EZd
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“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iaRsxUg94
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KcuSobT4Q
“Sophie’s chilling in the staff break room.” Lukas sits down in his rolling chair and spins around slowly, staring up at the ceiling. “Why don’t you go talk with her?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ClQorl74a
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1d554R9Om
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GayB4sEFy
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPKAstOgPi
“I’ll see you at dinner,” I say, turning and walking out of the room. Once I hear the door close behind me I’m off like a bullet, up two flights off stairs while pulling a pen out of my pocket.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMsMLEdjSv
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I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr771rUAqxL
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfOcyx5pY2
I open the door to a random room and Jason whips his head up to look at me, a razor in between his fingers. Without thinking I’m across the room and the razor blade is on the floor in the opposite corner.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mLZr4zjSC
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC2rYEM2Ne
“This is why you made me leave,” I say, grabbing a random piece of cloth from the shelf behind Jason’s head and pressing it against his shoulder. Jason nods, looking towards the door. “Why do you do this to yourself?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDuShDdW1D
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Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F7z7aKNti
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“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkFmUmS9aJ
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyAYHzCOT4
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rVpzF6pp9
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“Where are your other razor blades?” I demand, looking directly at Jason. He looks at me and shrugs. “I don’t give a shit how untalkative you feel right now, you’re gonna tell me where they are.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuBf95NYqv
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyznPaHfpgs
Jason’s eyes dart from me to a space behind me, then back to me. I grin triumphantly before turning around and walking over to a shelf that contains some boxes and some pieces of rolled up cloth.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJmnCfG4Fp
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsKjBPQU9x
“Which shelf are they on?” I muse. He doesn’t want anyone to find them, so they aren’t on a shelf at eye level. That knocks out these three, which leaves the top one and the bottom one. People are more likely to put things they need to use often towards the bottom, which means that they’re somewhere up top.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvWObLDFkc
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BAC7IYNAc
“You’re not gonna find them.” Jason’s voice is hoarse. I look over at him only to see that the cloth is discarded on the ground, blood dripping down his arm. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX0vb6a8lu
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc3py6m0hO
“I will though.” I turn around and drag a wood box over to the shelf, stepping on it once it’s close enough. “They’re either in these two boxes or in this piece of cloth.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3HLHU0GR5
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5ULlF7Lie
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy3wkuXu4i
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxHGuD4JDK
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibuD3i1gZO
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CvpReI7xr
“Never gonna find them,” I mutter, wrapping the blades back up and tucking them into my pocket. “Simple psychology tricks. This is what you learn when you have no friends and no social life.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVRbKlxznP
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkJoJMNOKh
“Give them back.” My back is pressed against the wall and Jason’s body is dangerously close to mine. His eyes bore into mine and my breathing hitches.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZcKQxEs2n
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejyvvItqmn
“You don’t get them back!” I spit, putting a hand on his chest and pushing him away from me, silently catching my breath. “You don’t get them back, Jason. I either keep them, or you take them back and I’m telling Lukas, Cray, Jonny, and Sarah.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8epWoET7oJ
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLQU5DBPCW
“You wouldn’t dare-”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQJrzF3oS2
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeb36zxlayf
“Try me!”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZy68qi8TS
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgwmplMEfl
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4B1fuIayZ
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QUq9okxlY
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TztUDAueA
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFwAT8Ibwp
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobzlJmne91
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“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePHkwsWq4r
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP2tjyaiy4
Jason grumbles something that I don’t catch before rolling down his shirt sleeve and walking out of the room, his uninjured shoulder just barely clipping the edge of mine.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlZOCZxEzX
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“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D1ZhV8yNW
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“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7iHLnmKHM
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcopZKsu4c
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZrZ2aM5fw
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“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NziS2MABi
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXpalaVvEo
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuODNbDdoVD
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6yAGxKYBL
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk24GXqMYvM
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRknQ0IrvN
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNfzBnoePM
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“So there are cuts on your stomach.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9DZS3HDnp
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELyllM8Bey
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAwpHVQE9S
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhV9BBxwhc
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yKweRfkWe
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwgwzxNtiw
“I don’t like you.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovvVvhEu46
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“People usually don’t.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡems545pqDu
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“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1NHLS8FAo
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“Thank you for the compliment!”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhAK3yZWML
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“Wasn’t a compliment.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4N6eXuQxl
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“And I still took it as one so suck it.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyBoTxtbGR
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Jason looks away from me and I worry that I made him super angry, and then I see his shoulders shaking slightly. He’s laughing. Despite what just happened, I made him laugh.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOTzUttc3b
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Maybe I am funny after all.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgg5rxvgMU
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“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0OQl78VrN
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“I needed to step away for a moment so I could draw,” I admit. Jason looks at me, which seems dangerous as we’re currently going down stairs. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRhhJtFecs
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“Draw?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bF5bIXzKh
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6CUvoUGOD
“Instead of harming myself, I draw something on me,” I explain, pulling my pen out. “I’ll draw something that would be a cool tattoo, or I’ll write a quote and make it all pretty-like. The red pen makes it seem like-”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A5qVyrgZ4
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlpl6sIC1y
“You’ve cut yourself, but you don’t leave any permanent scars and you can wash it off if it’s in a less covered spot.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYKczcWZpY
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQF7Lu8LRq
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJXa6fPJYV
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZz49YA0ax5
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBWoHmzjd2
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVuCPdbdGB
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3vcOcZoQW
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA8jbVm9Gk
“Are you sure?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31PzJGPo7W
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I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxvKEPImLC
520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6GO8exbR9
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKrEiXWBg6
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“And we’re here!” I exclaim. I open the door to Sarah’s office, knowing that she’s currently chatting with Sophie because the two are basically best friends. “Take a seat in any chair, I’ll address your shoulder once I get all the stuff out.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx5JnyfT5l
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKMDW9x2Xa
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“How does this woman work like this?” I mumble, horrified by how unorganized Sarah is. Jason laughs, the melodic sound unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. “Once we’re finished with you I’m fixing this.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGF3YEZN1j
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“I think she has a system?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn1yFgV6s4
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“If her system is grab something out of somewhere and then put it back in a spot eight feet, then yes she has a system!”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZooVdAtDM
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“Xael.” Jason puts a hand on my shoulder, and I sigh. “Chill. It isn’t nearly as bad as it seems.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlU68e63N7
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“You’re right,” I agree. I open another cupboard, and then immediately understand that we were both wrong. “It’s worse. Why is it worse? How? Woman, how do you work in these conditions!”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQjQpKoA8s
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gvkqsFpny
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“If only her cabinets and drawers could look like this,” I grumble. “Anyways, I need sterile dressing, and some, uh, some sticky tape. What’s it called-”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuHk5gLmx4
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“Steri-strips?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOvHhnRfOh
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“Yeah them.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfRIlmaObR
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“They’re right up here.” Jason reaches over my head and grabs the box of steri-strips. I open a different cabinet and look for some sterile dressing, only to be disappointed by the fact that they aren’t in this cupboard.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz5PSL3fGm
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnzvZj4AWv
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF4mJWhHfm
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“Take a seat,” I instruct him, gesturing towards Sarah’s rolling chair. Jason sits down and spins himself around a couple of times before remembering why we’re in here.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNp6aro1zH
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“How do you know what to do?” Jason questions, watching me as I roll up his shirt sleeve and unroll the bandages, measuring out what size I need the bandage.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5ZppbHrWN
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“The internet,” I explain, grabbing a pair of scissors from the counter and cutting the bandage to size. “I needed to know for a chapter of a story. The information seems to have stuck with me.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBXb3BJx6q
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“What story has a scene with self-harm wounds?” Jason helps me with the Steri-strips. “I’ve read all of your works.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UrxEScEbe
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“It’s actually a story that’s still in the works.” Jason winces, and I immediately rub where my hand was. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to press as hard as I did.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVeNruOIns
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“You’re good,” Jason assures me. I stick the last Steri-strip onto his shoulder, then roll his sleeve back down. “Organizing time?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1EzAVGDSh
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“Absolutely yes please.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrHLHG4gMC
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Jason opens a random cupboard and pulls everything out, setting the items down on the counter. I copy his actions, picking a random cupboard and moving everything inside of it to the counter.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KrThKZhy4
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiUuNrOdI3
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“And this one is the exact opposite,” I state, catching the few boxes that fell out of the cabinet. “I mean, I knew it was bad but this is ridiculous.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcubqT4gkec
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iXN3FOLKy
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“What goes where-”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0NdPne8X3
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrOWJc8TNT
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1EXV2zvy8
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“Yes.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzf1le6ZZF
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsZNYlXJYI
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8ctmBiyCP
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“No you aren’t!”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWfc5L3Ovf
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“I’m not you’re right.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEOvp8b0c2
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2foAEVQ8Hk
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“Please don’t?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj5D2pi4UZ
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUSB94TCsa
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“Hey you can crack your elbows too!” I exclaim. Jason lowers his arms and nods, his eyes gaining a sparkle that wasn’t there during any of our talks. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3G7SWgs6d
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“I can also do this.” Jason thrusts his hand out and wiggles his thumb- no, he doesn’t wiggle his thumb. He moves it in and out of place.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3EpT13kU0
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2AwJJJWTu
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Once I’m sure his Hershey brown eyes are focused on mine I shake my eyes. My vision flickers rapidly, then stops on Jason’s smiling face.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJZzxKSdIT
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMMDHpaxis
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuNL20DmXm
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“I know right?” Jason and I laugh together, then catch our breath. I realize how close we are and take a subtle step backwards.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpQJOevU4l
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfguLVbLWlr
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“Did my breath smell?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUaSLap2In
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4pGK1oOpe
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZa13DXjaU
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Jason nods in understandable.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNdcH6w3Mq
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK51Tmzm1Qk
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNrGMmbBBa
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9JAUlHmRA
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“How do you know what those are and why?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLu0qH2aFi
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWho1VHOwF
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“I wanted to learn what Connor’s language was,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “I hoped that if I knew what it was, we would get along.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsTkgNLnVk
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJVfvYtAUX
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGImQtue8iX
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAjmPBweFv
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 520Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sVaA0qQMI
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“His love language is words of affirmation. He likes being told when people love him or appreciate him.”
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Question of the chapter: what's Xael's love language? Why is Conner's language words of affirmation?
