Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYruSyZi9q
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxJiSvV4W4
“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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgXSYv8Qri
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8qX61Cq8x
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtxEqnwiNj
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCLFaB7s85
“What’s the dress like?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSC2TXCFea
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHwWTUVb2L
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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKZCP7qPT7
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjJUK03K37
“That’s fair.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyAHrXjEQJ
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVG6oy55sg
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNsPBszPm8
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQawIgTq1H
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRF5LtmCkF
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnEv99a7CO
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHZpEZrsID
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUME2vfUVrG
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEMqIZCvkS
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeLxSkssAc
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6ufgAWxHF
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbXi120Nqp
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDemvK7Ju8
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTkAszOZna
“Have you tried to remember?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg6L59gcI4
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Yp4fWOsc
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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8Jn1qLvyI
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztHHPBnZUG
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEB4paEjzC
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXNvBRdd1c
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLDt24JMns
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoemx8NuHK
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimJUsv3rKY
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsGw7gw1aJ
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl3sdRJWFV
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLdNuQDlDE
"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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3SlRrancF
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncqxukH28R
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqoExfPI39
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz3KsefzpT
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡho6v2WZerk
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1PnoLQQ3g
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnCwTgIFJe
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6LY1XUBDo
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC7Kd88GOL
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDNv1PAHel
“Fuck off.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgswXwFlwG
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcdGcdgq4D
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4RNQbzZz0
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMiTVgodwF
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkJtD3qnx3
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbOaOcUxks
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZX5wWxwrj
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM76VlCsDeL
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDpf8vwYPC
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEKWOu190Z
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOoVIyXxMN
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB61eCJZnP
“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?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNeKAqpgBa
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYy0qo997S
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3tG9dt2ov
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjolIJDeqHU
“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?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtDHe5ek0V
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHDus7H3ex
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZxO0cyyuj
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1jQ9KSUtM
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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr4ZR8zC2k
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVkfwRQf8J
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfoJNDABhI
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOle7W9VUu
“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?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQbOBFunDY
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CKBVN5PqT
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VfxvOLzcp
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0l5M4BVVY
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf4T3akxOq
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb5w3PoCiT
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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3zF9Gnu1y
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLdU0Q2VfB
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JpqLCzzLc
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf7wsxEQtE
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkY43Qm6cO
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIHCmKwkZs
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxg6tAI4COT
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChPQFlXxVe
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVh1dKjCIC
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZORbOnLT7Z
“Xael-”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhzrOF0WfA
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE6IvsrbfG
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKehncLbn1
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmnCKf78L1
“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?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZHrFXhHV3
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vicdpVtuE
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrdFFDkzmW
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmAx2Oq24b
“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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48N8kyTSzT
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hj0OZBMFZ
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Yfaw1rhMS
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjxXrmIqs1
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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1EpbPucav
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfspCrvpRfQ
“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?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF7I8vb2Sg
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IuZZoKhGc
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYW1PED2KL
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YisuRhkJg
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a45AljO0o
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLuR2ppYTg
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsRxYDel6I
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArT9G3UfpO
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e3K5HxDbZ
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS9UzWUxBB
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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e1CRdZLka
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZE6ZLMnbc
“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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m7KTCZlFW
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFiDl7GVAz
“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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tEN8DRClt
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn63tw6ekyg
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSP4AFlJVtu
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgtO3XiMSa
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpJI4qdO3X
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG9yi3CPAy
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvM1DE8UIhB
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzEkhaqd2j
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbXYozXGwe
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98fCJIDfoa
“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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T00ifiZVr
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkebTBJqLm
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbI6tgnvHU
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcq4D4pLIv
“You wouldn’t dare-”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9Z7hGl1JV
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSDUilmfpg
“Try me!”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXYKOWgATb
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpQXl9WmQa
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQrF8kCfQc
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx7n8ottUV
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERBotoscN5
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3gubcqkz6
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQBXgzejJP
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoGTpa9twA
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PHs8HYDFM
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DcGAdY7Fy
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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p2MqzqJ8O
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XJ2nCoUtB
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UHcAo5c2Y
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oExBDqvv2
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNtBQcQk3h
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDy42nJCUY
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2tln0KaAE
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6PqbrdeX6
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6dcTGfaU9
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZGjeWAXLB
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWYvYhRVNJ
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LrxArtCnw
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcXcfyfQnS
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCRBnQqDsS
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVrWLBibsr
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqMHWGsxQK
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQrEaW4ZA1
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVsYQUzsLw
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiRuE845o4
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwxJndWLTG
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r6JbBBPtv
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTiDyTO6nM
“I don’t like you.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhdaUzFsxp
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“People usually don’t.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiTVf84Tfa
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPXKgKHGtD
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopHtoUyPyl
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsEAsM6Es1
“Thank you for the compliment!”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2k590rCJa
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS7GYL4Ygb
“Wasn’t a compliment.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ07NlJUQk7
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx7JGHdv7X
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3n6mk1PEZ
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHAGLQ1uAb
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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIJc4GMoul
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Maybe I am funny after all.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajt9lQE2pv
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQv08cQTYBV
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfcaDhJsua
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWoFKwmefU
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwWxFbMyZZ
“Draw?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQdE4WJHb5
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor7YYtAEqM
“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-”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrpf1fKeBF
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OlOpMmDm0
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS7a1IT6WE
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6X5icUdZ6E
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TtfIlqRhk
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglXz6Y4Xuc
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F5ZXFHPNC
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllxM2A6JTC
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUa7YCdonk
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hz8AH83kW
“Are you sure?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyPEcrtmx9
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqLvdH0s6N
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzhBQHwStt
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKILFT0T4hQ
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6X8ehQT7mH
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6SznYXds3
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMIIe0cxej
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumdFxOLc5L
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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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgePKG7wroR
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“I think she has a system?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsF08vdMKP
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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!”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMQXMQ7uAF
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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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡac66psaEIT
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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!”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaKlA6xwnC
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5iYWTx9tk
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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-”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznwQzjMOJ9
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“Steri-strips?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnngknsNoYy
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“Yeah them.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdO2B4nDgW
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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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EEEVBJJWK
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnYtmjXBV4
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHLEDUyPwk
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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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCk3IQmX8r
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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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZygNRflI65
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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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s756dKQ1K
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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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYgstXx501
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf7UlZTcKB
“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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZzZx8SC8Q
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23NBr2e3vF
“You’re good,” Jason assures me. I stick the last Steri-strip onto his shoulder, then roll his sleeve back down. “Organizing time?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3uFVqGbg8
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“Absolutely yes please.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8RmEwPr3j
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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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBqaQGKXqi
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoadzFhqqwj
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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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa31FOOaNcX
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOx8SBW9c6t
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“What goes where-”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWXnTfFpvp
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBPAiv6YZ9
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jFNkAiJHI
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“Yes.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDab3QvutU
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDm3XMogKB
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGed8aPQokM
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“No you aren’t!”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQkAxWmK75
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“I’m not you’re right.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wjicRHGIJ
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFow1xvPsK
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“Please don’t?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gZNQvZri0
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqn9bu5GiP
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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. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWcVIfAhX8
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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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2K9zuBKEb
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxewUGsAeLH
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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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsCKF1E1uJ
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuuF9HdwtA
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEyBbjeIzu
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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.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKxMGaHSUJ
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZCnC8gXzX
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“Did my breath smell?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxRwHEgGDW
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbrJb2bRwF
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmsfjtC3kd
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Jason nods in understandable.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1bLoQVO29
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrDIqZFw19
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkcjYxoIPs
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoxo0HwXnz
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“How do you know what those are and why?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxx8CZ3r4Q
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx9y0EliKu
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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.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Dx7QeLtI0
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1vAgnxW68
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5JM1tYzYC
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkaVPHVIwv
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKS6lHDjBg
539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs3H5drkvK
“His love language is words of affirmation. He likes being told when people love him or appreciate him.”
___________________________________________________________________539Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNbu5zEldb
Question of the chapter: what's Xael's love language? Why is Conner's language words of affirmation?
