Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lhynffxLy
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nyzGLAgcK
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIkmn6mlUT
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“What’s the dress like?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq3N5MuQRM
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo9tKU9Mvq
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“That’s fair.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkWjLZ0AQD
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We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDnwQfCeYY
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“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaaNIAOuhr
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“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zUQTo2M6h
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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.” 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzddWZ8CshO
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“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZhYXGPyoo
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“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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEZ09XTHKG
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“Have you tried to remember?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTj66QIJd8
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUOLI4Jp0w
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“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYFVg6J2Xc
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Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnDAGMb5LJ
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“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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlr0ZzUGKI
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZEdZeFFNR
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDNjiAIyjh
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"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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXZVPQexPk
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM91pKUKj85
“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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJtp9Gxnde
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO7prADx57
“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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVvT8SVMpG
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What’s with the sudden attitude flip?514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmt9Zw9usU
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“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EqKdYK6PC
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“Fuck off.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFbBUiefje
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I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz0eYtWVLj
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwWkyXGPDb
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmyMuWPEKd
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This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaNcTHjcXx
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“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbl3y1Mu01y
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“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWjpAly3HV
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“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?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Mewtdv0Rq
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“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAWn89G9DV
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“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?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oamztQVaR
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“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg7MYEdvMA
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EMqtd4Li8
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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhutFNlDoU
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9x7sAAJyL
“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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJZ4cfgSMo
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkKvLOzMIN
“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?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPfKBCkgRy
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Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwWKpYrt4W
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HsXT5Tg8B
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCiDDB4tSM
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli0sfwSyyF
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. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLwZiUeQ2d
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“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuFl5oJ74e
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon1aUBpAmt
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkasNopjQw6
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“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OMISfnTSD
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV6YBj5oOh
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“Xael-”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHoxpwX1gY
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“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp91ef2U3p
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“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?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO0IO8b0V0
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I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG8N4ZyyuK
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbHxZ1JXT8
“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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BPLWWBDLw
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I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuOOKhCkbM
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKQxh3oODj
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“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?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZk4xgIr3z
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Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftwa7MaZ65
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“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4Ilqu8Ys9
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7lk1akYqz
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX6UilqmHN
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJZKJsUvAk
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjRZlRqCHv
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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Umw0EvV60
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PnM1ceJ1g
“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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqW69pHc3l
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“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. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSaI28hlmU
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TUKqGUEaP
“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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8lzwAS9OH
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxk69lhqTnb
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcOsX8DR9G
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I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4POS3iA1h
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSceAYYQQZ
“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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcpoIFKd6F
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“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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEYMtah2fy
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“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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡan4wsjEdyv
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxqr8pebbr
“You wouldn’t dare-”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HTM1rLUUx
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiLaB1cGw7
“Try me!”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyukhexslt2
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAyYUjcdzY
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrj4O0P96x
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“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGIJEXalC6
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“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6DmqxhU1C
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“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CzFIZFCGu
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARibxCIfbn
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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQiqbOC23h
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“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCKy0i5lz5
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“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxG8n76vPMC
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“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCzLHvTWeJ
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“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHtuIpxtpi
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“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE42F4umemj
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“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ64nj6gzIi
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I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X8n4XRSiB
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“So there are cuts on your stomach.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P93TA5nfB
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Bgn79gAtn
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqkLXCgTAY
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLtURK6QPS
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLAAXjMdl9
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrAZfMBFMW
“I don’t like you.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCIy4MAxEe
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“People usually don’t.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSdHxuJ6zd
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“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5SGTxsLgi
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“Thank you for the compliment!”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyddMGbAFV
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“Wasn’t a compliment.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN9EMfBI54
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“And I still took it as one so suck it.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG1Tq64UMv
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVkrcEGpT6
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Maybe I am funny after all.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHaij0wM7u
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“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ptlebyr8x
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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. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmSDhWIaAe
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“Draw?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRZGW3q7br
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“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-”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkGt9Scxaa
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“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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlCJnGfG0x
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“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1hLRuk4ki
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNICrtpE6a
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zK06tRiIv
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ekjQy7CrV
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUP4h1yujY
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUmANl65cf
“Are you sure?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGWU9Jf6bR
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6UxanViWj
514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6oCSGSF4j
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQusoWqNGwH
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw3eU8frj9
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dsBLptjKL
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYW1TQyjPK
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“I think she has a system?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhP63E4Odj
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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!”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOuar0pM8E
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstZLYb8BeH
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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!”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqRaEJo1VF
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeK0EW2nO5
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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-”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5mn0ahcHk
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“Steri-strips?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb09llXKcuO
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“Yeah them.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnZkq5W2sY
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PnHnjV6Kz
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbzhZmApoi
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5DSwJs595
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDccfwx2XCI
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgs0skrPq0
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQcocsypHG
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXTGZGmrvd
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8VJblEvTU
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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?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCu6Y26zgQm
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“Absolutely yes please.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer1hbTGBFz
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YfWFP7BZ4
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86JsKecp5n
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZlLScaBdU
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMl7QITnFU0
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“What goes where-”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SxD2NrPXQ
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qErsyhpPG
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNeZYIJJaT
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“Yes.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLWkVPHESH
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoKgywF6HG
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9oH8V1grm
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“No you aren’t!”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCyHkXl4ZL
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“I’m not you’re right.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAbWzO4jTF
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCF6ctY1Q3
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“Please don’t?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPizkgF75K
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakFf0d2vsS
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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. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yAXNMzxcn
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM95gjUvnoG
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGvfnqal6X
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcThdJLlWzY
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkG0BPrFAa
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDorR9g9P1
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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.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs02RyphSLC
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ5oMitSZT
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“Did my breath smell?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKFn9ucshh
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLY0wSBU1n
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X4PWS4HKP
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Jason nods in understandable.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDv1ywDuIg
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZp2LldZ44
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqefo2RVfiM
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2ubXEBLBV
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“How do you know what those are and why?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59QyTZqZTE
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxiMMYvMES
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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.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlwH3SAAGX
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37O5bn9Zfi
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFoE6Jw5qb
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusKuStPxGM
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 514Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5v5pKpNDA
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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?
