Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFuzyXPUjw
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCxxjZYpQR
“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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMyWPJ412F
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52wdk5NNbu
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiiwu5Nw28
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ210im2Xoqo
“What’s the dress like?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD9DUDglbI
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy5xfNjpg9
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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQsG3IqA2H
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“That’s fair.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ1mQrCWto
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oF6YRdAqs
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDPnnKHtW3
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“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAghkTypSwO
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“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2NmEoXn0l
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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.” 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zO7Sh1GaE
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVCVbpKJ2R
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4twqufSqrT
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVu0UpB5mz
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIjagIEaPR
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“Have you tried to remember?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YXRAuBCAH
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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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZSK6T2Nqb
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliPg29sbJN
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1AHa5RYiZ
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTW5EohOic
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD54l8Rnzw
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ7xrRQA1C
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvNWcwWS3b
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDJS8ylt4E
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ309tDnRpvm
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I7j1CpkJp
"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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDWb4atwYV
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt5YEfzC9P
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCyIFxJdUk
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HUpX9hKR7
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMjbGl9eiz
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGyoWE0Sdi
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp5myftvDz
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOvWckU3mW
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVSs1uPqBo
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrOK6vl3Th
“Fuck off.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzWLWaNRww
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjbRsI5KKC
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz0nfddgWq
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWQmAkHD5L
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4devhyuph
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTJSk2BBgF
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecQw1lkf7r
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnR10d4KwT
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BuerUNnz8
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5bOqMnfmQ
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQP0rKEv3X9
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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?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJdo61poxK
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3x67ZS2X3
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxz7UQXjMhV
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4AfYLYask
“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?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0au5KCDp58
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O0Vg3qEmx
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cFk6GDaMp
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJLjgPDIWp
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64yvRhTCSE
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTayPzgOfNk
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vG7puuuMu
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qapufRRYJ
“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?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfUOB9BiHo
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmTW6Hwntd
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTRYCyVRit
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFLNn5Bz2K
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKIPmhgZ3A
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTYRypx1Fl
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. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CjRjm3Wkh
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0MrXjt7uT
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrrM5p9fIe
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN9BLHDuF3
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyXCwdjaLx
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgfnd5F1wp
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2XfzKOfOr
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIPkWaqkJr
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2FVkhw0Xi
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSQ9AVmJFN
“Xael-”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm21iQym8Mz
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6IpCFjmIt
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQDbPBfpyT
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IkeIsmvWZ
“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?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MlS1ipci4
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOgVt6arY8
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbxgyYNEYx
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD0IOMaoX6
“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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPojNlGhE9p
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYYxUPuLbG
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJdB3sbw9S
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSCQSm3VV5
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT6VH0p06w
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbMqmnRwuP
“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?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMsWkJaCfF
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyF46jIakB
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGfvTmJKBO
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlSEEoEqyD
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBs4CWU8MLK
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSWWnldqdL
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1GVRI7yH7
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TzD7mWu3L
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYksk1JoxfK
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlmjluy6zG
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbukzrUJ78
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCO8xhHkJjq
“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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hvuDsNwqn
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIMQHnCoFw
“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. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuQthEfHEN
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JfAyL8j6Y
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUbAEiXfP9
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxIO9OhEcv
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAVgYjV6s9
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OdDgiOdsb
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ir27fMHi3
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmftuOq0b3
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwBwQ3NweY
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JODcXlAtD
“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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ7PFCiSm4
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzBVRNbjOC
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjNpA9rsEy
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgnArbxZvi
“You wouldn’t dare-”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocFYOlA0Fs
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQQ3KZSkE4
“Try me!”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTD3aLq4iT
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9CoNbRBrc
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk9neXnsdz
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarTHwWl2p8
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KU8XlMKRG
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9BOL7brcO
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTUwAlZ0ST
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2LDYfsDKF
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteWUXKTjNX
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpUaugpPIX
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBpxguj0W0
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“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaxhmKBjrx
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIERPFnkJD5
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfAm4EF0Jh
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLMZfKZBjS
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPYhdurEmo
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOd6S4euSz
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUGgNKlav5
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yTlZfJ5aC
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErO28SwpSt
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOSHmLF0It
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqvUP26lGs
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMAOMGk7vx
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYb2GzkrgaC
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiEfu5xVP1
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgEjj3ZyrL
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJdAyZhHlK
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFLNpYBCYH
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2aQ28veLq
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvpsaYTlgW
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ2GNOkW0M
“I don’t like you.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKRrhECWtn
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“People usually don’t.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScWqfM60o0
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsIQN6oKnq
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq5EeSolLv
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlwAP2b9Yu
“Thank you for the compliment!”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCveQuDOwlf
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6uWXF1yFE
“Wasn’t a compliment.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OTnFMuI9Z
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9SLQLlRTg
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrc8dxK5tG
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgN2pXPP0H
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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuky5M2dDTe
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Maybe I am funny after all.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCPdB1cIj6
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“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a6hVbH7Tt
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSiivxFNV5
“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. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeXROgcepz
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGtLgd5pEp
“Draw?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsr96YdVPd
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDj4zLrRm5
“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-”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EqIzSDojj
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNW3T6jNvdv
“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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6zM8okKLs
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGMeAABtyq
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67b3dYLFQj
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs64fR56kF
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHplrvIDeA
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JTsDe19KO
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCdVxGtQdY
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHEblgMyX5
“Are you sure?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvYQ0QwyNu
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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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAc2VN11gR
496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbTptz0GY8
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig9yFlaRkC
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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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQyQGvaXMd
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yJJLOlr7Z
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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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmTjhGu62f
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“I think she has a system?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtWhZvy68o
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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!”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wc5kIaaj7
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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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkQUrtLxmB
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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!”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9I5UI1XAbM
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudAy21xcr1
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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-”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJuYqX0iSA
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“Steri-strips?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2srf51nzFh
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“Yeah them.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEV3dLOCWM
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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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1nsae6b95
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9j4cAtzrJ
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32dnCcd1Ot
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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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArSgzXeHAg
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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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcPvVQMoJu
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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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkK0YbyLPU
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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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH5zraaY5L
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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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdwVHQWjjf
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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?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFDJrjPgom
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“Absolutely yes please.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcUvwt7D8c
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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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKV7vhdQSl
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ8Rx2Nfsg
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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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoCAofRnuo
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9FiIqopEz
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“What goes where-”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5opP04Gtg
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtIl2ODvzC
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnmXaqW7QV
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“Yes.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIEcUMESgr
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mnUFPJwTD
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTZVRylLBt
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“No you aren’t!”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvQhZYx8Pd
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“I’m not you’re right.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQv6ARvzYF
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo3TpB5cf7
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“Please don’t?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH099fTSsvU
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB95oKgSdU
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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. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKUA33mvVe
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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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EDEsj3eP8
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3XVDY6A51
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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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj76d8MFSxX
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagNdueG68o
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9ZDkw4T7f
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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.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzEwFLJyfC
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrui9lNOnx7
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“Did my breath smell?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iBkE5w8mz
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOv4OPQqWO
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYx2F4YrCR
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Jason nods in understandable.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WnbDeObKw
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm8qGb00Cm
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3VCzeu3e2
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2btGyCgGZs
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“How do you know what those are and why?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiv9IpB68uz
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQFbxKwIdF
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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.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKHtRLZGCi
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N5XtDJ97l
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae5oPffr4K
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qIHNictFk
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 496Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpG572nD1F
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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?
