Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Od9x3UIf
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLk6QuxJgU
“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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHQ3pIBbQc
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjYe869YHk
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sJ6eMpWrg
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM32wXlirD
“What’s the dress like?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln1QlL9hSD
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRaAXVDMb3
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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyAyvJAmef
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLGEjE9Ofz
“That’s fair.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NyrEcQOSJ
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkgXHYkOvW
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvF0XKsaJ6
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLpiGJYHcC
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEZ2WM9r7y
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRPDO92TXb
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAqAxOGG9t
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30Wq56V76u
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq8pZ2JyNK
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQnUYne3PO
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvf4VItB1W
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkcA3ciS5x
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2IKurrtIh
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPjN3RHUgm
“Have you tried to remember?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E0XTPz9BD
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqLAISBlxp
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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXUhz4gfQI
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPnGebALm5
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QlyuTo4mz
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUAmXVbNyq
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViHVdDwymJ
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTs1AszVXl
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L1nhkdsNL
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eIr9tjhZ1
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C50u1bpfC
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotXve16YrO
"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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREnmlQqa8k
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6jSQ3spl8
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1Q1SdhTlI
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcpTs8CRvp
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pWaBuYcMQ
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yV2gXaH2Y
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EuT1oj57f
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut9bwxghJA
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEOWzZTxIl
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cLjogKJlQ
“Fuck off.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFNHDCC34p
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKhdOD3JEd
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YllDbiMgK
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s2P5Z4eId
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB8fMH6CFx
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YIExxykOa
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2w2HVMrwY
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXHbj3YUR7
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWnOxBGKOQ
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JZZxPUQHZ
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVINKtV1kGV
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOxocSoGYq
“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?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ezn5IpsQJ
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9k1UmfmAg
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqsvsNqJxN
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLczkrQ8NU
“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?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsysVotOT2
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOpqsvpxFR
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzUb96ffjK
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DMyuRGRMp
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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT6jueOeaA
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo3RfkBy0N
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswl57go5qr
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbY62ALTWE
“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?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj3wrbG9uu
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03WpBCxeNL
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXi71Bm0nP
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UolvWm8AL
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8LGd1MaqK
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6phFDfyN61
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. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dJpev47ey
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVCNpdthKh
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uY1JjDnnY
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i7pq2jFoM
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdeZWM2R2U
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvbGRIYsfZ
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0GaGJPuze
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDatz5vLQO
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmltVGirSyf
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uZzfjFPuh
“Xael-”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtHIvkTXW1
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiCsR94wxl
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspIPThXMHA
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O1hhSF1gS
“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?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WXABkzbzO
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGag3G7W2N6
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kVNNJ6BlU
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XSqkmSqoU
“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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BQCHxyO6N
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5yTZ1D0XX
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJDi29RTwa
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfobsY6iKRX
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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkhsev6bwL
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gRtx4iiR6
“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?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS48GaDwEKm
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdeNjhjXzb
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnswrQ3Qopb
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAiXLG8xiy
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHKF3nBsSX
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzZ3Z2nBds
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RTp5P43UJ
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBhesB4Phg
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDsXfOOFoe
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTfnI9v53G
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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODgJaPDvmj
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkP2CPuAGE0
“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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFILFN4kyYo
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLvV5mWf5d
“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. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFs0AXEc8D
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4nDZGdsL5
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WWpG1wKsD
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2hiYHElfU
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC1EzAQXPW
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGngqHugFoa
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCcQlomdHj
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KzIx8gaba
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlBc4SI3N9
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC0Vq0yNiD
“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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfKWhO2P7B
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk8QH6HXcO
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnoQJHt5wS
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhc4bQaAa8
“You wouldn’t dare-”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6KUPXEXzB
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSPEaeGLl3
“Try me!”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDUSTE2U7N
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstpWqeLW3f
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2DmXTmJPr
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAUcepxZ3W
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnIUaXPTci
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKSlsQrUE3
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ODdimldkZ
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNYMfbtaMT
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbTV0G1Pya
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNxlVKcAPL
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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8QHVI5OhD
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXJugGtVaJ
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr2G123ILE
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfPF6TdP4h
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjqzvRLIOA
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ycntA1ZWM
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT9ZNWbWxj
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvAMuo85ww
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgRFkCeNu3
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjB50myF04
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0JSO6sGg1
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMxbl415F5
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcHJsed1yE
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zb4XgTaKm
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmbj1tcgkB
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN852KYSWY
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslZNS51UsB
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopHh6HDmf4
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGReSiuFWIa
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyR8VzCT23
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdolzzvHZHI
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRkbJtoduW
“I don’t like you.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8M5W0YhyfT
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImIFxWoUTR
“People usually don’t.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L4uyH1FUw
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF932x7eabX
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxQKSHtI2O
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEGdQCPPrB
“Thank you for the compliment!”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vIy91Nlvm
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vckF7AyO7
“Wasn’t a compliment.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI6e6t7Tdl
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrGxp7u6xz
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KToYgnW7q
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpeYfjEThO
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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnHbOR5Zgg
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9orh60JKW
Maybe I am funny after all.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShcw7GwkV3
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyuyWYCGR5
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqtpViOsFM
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt9j9pSfJA
“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. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozAXTWsAuk
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8EHATceA4
“Draw?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4dHAmGn0w
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlbhzuCgEY
“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-”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjswy2ZPGUs
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BvbN1nVxh
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1h3znDHxx
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeQcmySz4P
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuJxrNeBNp
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApCHEYWq9G
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCot4MOP0zu
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7en2tboPyA
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWtMGe5RBT
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCCDIYtC8h
“Are you sure?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdCIhoF7k5
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjFHm5g7I0
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEmuLeL3bd
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYJVJRidk8
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhF8fIECio
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5JF1OUmcJ
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQdYWGFoWr
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7t7XVLn4A0
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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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYIRrRiCQ1
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“I think she has a system?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGpPY9Npvx
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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!”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk4oykBWzm
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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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgepzO69tZk
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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!”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzha8kWRFDH
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEgKUNwrvr
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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-”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1QDk8vTt7
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“Steri-strips?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgh4o1nItK6
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“Yeah them.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkFd7RUQpl
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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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwpKiggvSc
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxCAO4OxLp
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyX4DNoxCm
“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkOPR3KUSO
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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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjXUZ8a1GX
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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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWDAFWBGlj
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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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlR1TLH0ds
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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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLjKQViymc
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1PWifMEUl
“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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDiQAUO3oa
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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?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe8TpSwr7h
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“Absolutely yes please.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwCMbTUNZe
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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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUo1NsFMQO
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DLgSzlaa6
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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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyATbPRzgYW
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqetnfw1Qr
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“What goes where-”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwpkIEIuti
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSFkRbnyWv
556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrcC9KHIFt
“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqwBdZCdNe
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“Yes.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcekUguAVnj
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnwIY4skFq
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzt8CHhcZ3
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“No you aren’t!”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju0691o09u
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“I’m not you’re right.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirguDtEsQi
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWH8UWULSW
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“Please don’t?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wD4J9shoM
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz6MoI0xFP
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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. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kwAhM7Bwm
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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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSZQlVREbI
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVh66UwbNHW
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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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiKDlUecZu
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm78lTPgHS9
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmELuoYnCiB
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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.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBDP6aTD0p
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTItEeuWoDy
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“Did my breath smell?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpRjo2VRkH
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MQ8I5g4jm
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiKmGtqzWb
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Jason nods in understandable.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnEmPMY2j6
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5PwNLLc61
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi3ivbZ8Wq
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaQ3QA1rsW
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“How do you know what those are and why?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P84HHB23s
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9S0CCIxIn
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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.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd7QaDEIjn
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu7TQmq7il
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvUZMPcAvA
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LRjyNrwv5
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 556Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqV8WVgNc2
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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?
