Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxuikGrtOX
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2za6R6Ani
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSseAHLjs8
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“What’s the dress like?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MDYFgmgaj
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nBPpnWaRs
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“That’s fair.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd9H71exQR
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We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG1opTPoLk
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“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDZLZvYhzf
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“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZRoW88a5U
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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.” 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5q4VVdHS6
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqesPG2OjH
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrOxDpW6P3
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3wxNibpMR
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“Have you tried to remember?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveTf01deeQ
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJc6UIGCc0
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“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeP3rEkkEC
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Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5LM5K5WKB
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKaf5znAAo
“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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZZKa1Sjwl
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUeGeQKrNv
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwieukmyga
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf5PTdbcA2
"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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiFIDnf1Ju
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxSFmQiih2
“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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdqJeFZBRZ
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIbvEVp6MI
“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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBzDR4x6WQ
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rF3R2pYWA
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEeb2a4AKJ
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“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4UaxOlRgU
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXTasCT7PS
“Fuck off.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe40gD8QoGz
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8HSMlH98Z
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbx7RPMbLD
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSrzNEfrEJ
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWoV4LRn0J
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This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWAou1tuXi
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“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4pdMYr5pk
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqJ0ooFoDu
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKXhNialoz
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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?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydM2aEnR3z
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljzFuJ6HG2
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2oQLpsMaU
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mEfq6RDcT
“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?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLUdFhFObl
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kwT9PsupF
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWwQJ2tAKw
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpDT2MHXDM
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgbEKHFPDd
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalObfOX2Di
“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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6R3ShJKysk
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmN6cDMzf0
“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?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjo3jxCl9U
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Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvWTUEdHcj
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELL3GEF5aH
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wMQdDj5zS
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNN8TOZFHN
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. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwBXvUQpyZ
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa48b1n2eZ
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrEpVIDFr0
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“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYKd6prEDb
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“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLhsiJdzCQ
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7Gh5WRsWk
“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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx18x5y4yJ
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“Xael-”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTI2WQdySA
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“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTyB2Kga3U
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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?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ2YUR7xS2
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I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYcJegI4kw
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“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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8Tk7pUsZs
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I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcMIHp01lX
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj6Ng57rdX
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9LSQkIg82
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KRlRZnZ7q
“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?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiSpj1majO
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Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDoVRv5FAG
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“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygPMxh8Luj
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid6YDnTx5W
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi86SPX3Jgd
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71dgqAtEow
“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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPEu2pO4U0
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZHTyCT4zq
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4tCLddtcZ
“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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xk7btvgZq
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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. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveiV5Z4PvJ
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXTVEWxy73
“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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BUEiHQAmU
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjoUJpyLMn
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DeGQArVbK
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I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmTTInZ8Di
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“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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ojNH3PVom
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2Wufgnnki
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RepL1uXn6
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQbxTluSuL
“You wouldn’t dare-”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzSQzB6DC6
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyMyDP24dW
“Try me!”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OJfcPRLz6
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFAzGGF9ZV
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBJNMPXhZV
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“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekqLwsRFa2
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“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkJDh7vkWo
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“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZ8puH5PI4
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsFeCu0vuW
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFKphhnH7d
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“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YMupDzWCb
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“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoopQqJGNeh
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“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdlVeeYzvd
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“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajjKlrfTmz
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1FNwgU7Zv
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Nh7iNh6Qh
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf27Ngk7ei7
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrwB62keTs
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I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKTKjOudoU
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“So there are cuts on your stomach.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡongLYliy2m
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“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyJsoN7D8Z
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT1eHN8C9I
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY8Z4pCYk3
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqCRV9aCBb
“I don’t like you.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVHhZoqgkb
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“People usually don’t.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnTlgPeQ9F
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“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWBIzIIEmY
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“Thank you for the compliment!”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfhEZo1h5T
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cfzIHxGQV
“Wasn’t a compliment.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnjwiPGB1J
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“And I still took it as one so suck it.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aB2765grB
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi1XswmQsF
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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdt2uVAPs3
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Maybe I am funny after all.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0z8Ds7ays
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“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyUEHl9jAN
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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. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAkjOS7O6m
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“Draw?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCsXeLrxv3
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7lSis01oQ
“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-”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRRWc1Gc5R
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH1BxI6fe0
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“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjsAWAesZq
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuYFv7SXvL
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrn6etlMsg
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE9VGOtCi0
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0La0SnR2S
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHqFcKDTeD
“Are you sure?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfOm9LY3Dx
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1RPDAGwk1
521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK3kEz3a09
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLLzvvaCpG
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRY4D2GKtZZ
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZXDZ441Rw
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlsJVKVDl5
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“I think she has a system?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3xiM2IKie
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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!”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNq1Ir4qmh
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv35W7dOab
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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!”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYuA7XN5mj
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDfGTd7eN2
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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-”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nKOsryMqs
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“Steri-strips?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMN5YDWMAc
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“Yeah them.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ifUOl0hgq
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXD5PllKsz
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfjDjFeoWk
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJUA5xCFkK
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJiDVeAe9O
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSZBt53FkI
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1b7clPFBu
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dBzakqIuh
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl70Xia3U2X
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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?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIQj0gHmTk
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“Absolutely yes please.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gptYyDMld
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN28DLF5LS
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFcHPRklDT
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJKp1j8Ees
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFy4Rjyvqs
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“What goes where-”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN36IirdnyN
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7uToKXHgA
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVwPx56ppc
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“Yes.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWOBkiooBb
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwQTfCTsFP
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4nXoRYT6a
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“No you aren’t!”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFTaWEXgeL
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“I’m not you’re right.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhak7EU0Swo
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q6nC7upRs
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“Please don’t?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOx3FT4Jui
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VNoOBI5D8
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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. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X2IxuBVFW
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl3Ia4nxuD
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxByVgmkKQN
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQcEVhwWTo
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6uOvT5TLY
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XVjHCQbby
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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.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPrqNPQva1
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXraio04KfL
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“Did my breath smell?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVx6mMFH3b
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbwcapVndh
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wOLMOgLKp
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Jason nods in understandable.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M8uptgCP3
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0jnBrjleT
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YW4c1S4ZY
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCoIDGXpxA
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“How do you know what those are and why?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozPhwHaqR0
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R8HTK49Om
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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.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrIeJ59V6T
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPgNGFMMO4
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4fffmLrZp
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlqOnIYuhr
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmINa3OJ8W
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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?
and then Add to home screen.