Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVB5d2ppGQ
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDiWPXhjsd
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZBAIRMZfq
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“What’s the dress like?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRPGaS5Cum
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZccKqLE7P
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“That’s fair.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG7BYyrXVX
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We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoybO86mRc7
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“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVrhMGaNow
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“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAmF1dcYDQ
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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.” 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5YbA9mY51
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“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61RcTbGlab
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYEnX2egGG
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“Have you tried to remember?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDycIPLaYKx
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhfJ6WDwxq
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“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPIansK3tQ
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Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWyjYVDIGR
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“I could probably do that,” he murmurs. “Dad never pays attention to me anyways. He won’t notice if I’m missing once or twice a week.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVUUIcLu2w
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“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGXecB33Pq
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"It isn't, but there's nothing I can do about it. That's how our relationship has always been." Jason closes his eyes and a ghost of a smile appears on his face. "It won't change. It'll be like this until the day one of us dies.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLEv9SUrFu
512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupwTLKg5Uf
“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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0XMOUFR60
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“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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGos2sJXdE
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What’s with the sudden attitude flip?512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoUtErL5lL
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“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDbDDLQNWl
512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClbzoyEZpn
“Fuck off.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinR4iLo0HG
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I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WP9VH8hdR
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“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJB8McqARdk
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This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08DHPzI5U1
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“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7qFSufLM3
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“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkwoJYAXwQ
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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?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv0J8jIqLz
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“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF41LmkDi6p
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“Lukas is still manning the gate.” Jonny tilts my head up, and I nearly start crying as we make eye contact. “Should I call him? Or should I call Sarah?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKbvBrhgsK
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“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qjhapOEOs
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfA7CNXUla
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“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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTZHsr6duf
512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXSBIHXcjT
“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?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo5JHk5h1e
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Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwjlhKsNSJ
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“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvurFlbC3F9
512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJVRli3QBo
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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxGb8xmu0z
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“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnBxlnZen7
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWNn7AUWiU
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“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4GMd1GJ2K
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“You’re at work right now,” I state, letting my stubbornness take over. “You should be doing your job, not cheering me up. I’ll be fine.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlDnemLaVo
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“Xael-”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h7QinPl5i
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“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCj8umqr52
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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?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RP3JaNZYf
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I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E2GFfgK3c
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhGH1g1uha
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I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiju5JTprHe
512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyIpPyaEXM
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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeqINMHxaK
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“This is why you made me leave,” I say, grabbing a random piece of cloth from the shelf behind Jason’s head and pressing it against his shoulder. Jason nods, looking towards the door. “Why do you do this to yourself?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXKZvBRzhw
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Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi8iUtrle6
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“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYKQHTQqZT
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Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0LAipQ2Of
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“Where are your other razor blades?” I demand, looking directly at Jason. He looks at me and shrugs. “I don’t give a shit how untalkative you feel right now, you’re gonna tell me where they are.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVKuy7Mfjs
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgCOR5fC78
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“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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtaZJ9Helf
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpOYSwCxqL
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“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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOkhtkittw
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“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRupnGtg8x4
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I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H7B92HyPs
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkmRza2f0Y
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdl4VwY5bp
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQkzY9mOQ9
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“You wouldn’t dare-”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyRRSZKcvQ
512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBtedSBqYR
“Try me!”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubYSbdjmlK
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We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEJYIJofvP
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“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwTqXKq1zt
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“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2cxuW0GYZ
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“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIVEjtNfHe
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WEctBzWjJ
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“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSRaeJF7T7
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“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10b3yd4Tpn
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“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteqExXuu4f
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“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGUzl5txGN
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“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4F7nxr2Lq
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“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiK4mLiqDF
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I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiU7dgFgJw
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“So there are cuts on your stomach.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJDxVsVFGQ
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“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9qUcmCAwN
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“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuxZw9FPXP
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“I don’t like you.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUIwXWTa8s
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“People usually don’t.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaD5d1UgVz
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“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKXqyH70hn
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“Thank you for the compliment!”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJJBw8gGwN
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“Wasn’t a compliment.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgkq3n4T0k
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“And I still took it as one so suck it.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kFdU5bhNG
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Jason looks away from me and I worry that I made him super angry, and then I see his shoulders shaking slightly. He’s laughing. Despite what just happened, I made him laugh.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4TAZAbIEo
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Maybe I am funny after all.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScaiRblwBG
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“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU3wRE22gR
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcNGOCP6Os
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“Draw?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIarn1s6yAf
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“Instead of harming myself, I draw something on me,” I explain, pulling my pen out. “I’ll draw something that would be a cool tattoo, or I’ll write a quote and make it all pretty-like. The red pen makes it seem like-”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8Fb40VOMR
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgic7mtxL9J
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“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplMihdKrhw
512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xuqu49egN
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUf1utBT8Q
512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmfIHIZikr
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGr4V6ezw25
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“Are you sure?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vBg4shoYf
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94X4qaOrw3
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“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCyychEmGi
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsuuvG2U5v
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp546zGdYR
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRG7PmaJWU
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“I think she has a system?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qHImtzvGv
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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!”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vTyMlIN2o
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxH3bk7oKU
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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!”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHkVHx2Ape
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxhziMFnTU
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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-”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiq6mKf1stK
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“Steri-strips?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMonNhtMzIX
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“Yeah them.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuePzYdmcxd
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskS5jL1m2P
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRlzXCObk5
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhycmeJl0jL
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2F7KbmdEY
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkLKY9S6gr
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3IxainbaT
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7BfvTkWRe
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXSscSrXZo
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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?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ptmWzllzv
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“Absolutely yes please.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgBUheODY5
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd20JqeWA3L
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0oyD4blSh
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ7580xzXE
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi2IIBTjiq
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“What goes where-”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oxC98NaZu
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyCcboiKhS
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAlnAUJsRM
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“Yes.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw4dLu9jcF
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjzi28ZsmQ
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6pcoVOQBU
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“No you aren’t!”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIdrmkf4Oh
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“I’m not you’re right.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqa9NIWlc3C
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVPbtSapPi
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“Please don’t?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCFuGOomYe
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd3Qbgnwdm
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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. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPcglZGKSn
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03C7rkqYtN
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2b9FJTZ8o
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8Lw5gZOF1
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdYQE7QkOw
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyypNIenxf
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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.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp776WXPeC
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShUyahBYfw
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“Did my breath smell?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDmOD27351
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNkDn0bC6C
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfr4ErmCp6
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Jason nods in understandable.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYn5dhSWvP
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG61A9u79A
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCaLQhtKs7
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZgIS1nxgl
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“How do you know what those are and why?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVEEylbdMt
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqThng7UbQr
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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.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZghm96KFK
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeZq3UiCOP
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNrM59M0Jn
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp7lfhRTGV
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 512Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVo3eLhQqM
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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?
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