Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?346Please respect copyright.PENANAejk1YZAabT
346Please respect copyright.PENANAk4fjDvVvU0
“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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAQwxGh5bx8p
346Please respect copyright.PENANAAHcYlQAxiR
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAGs8DAVEdbF
346Please respect copyright.PENANAUVJEZHulix
“What’s the dress like?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAI7W9hyGQPd
346Please respect copyright.PENANAHJ4IhadZ1b
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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAW5vXNECDH0
346Please respect copyright.PENANAIWaa36YpHA
“That’s fair.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAKWCsdTjx8b
346Please respect copyright.PENANA7eBbEHPhsR
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.346Please respect copyright.PENANAnDBuoTwPT0
346Please respect copyright.PENANANmVzAm3ukf
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0tk0iws5O
346Please respect copyright.PENANApkJHR2brAy
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAcv6nuFckeX
346Please respect copyright.PENANACcUht0u92F
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 346Please respect copyright.PENANAs76OqLpLRw
346Please respect copyright.PENANAWH2G8yvJIP
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAmggumarbdK
346Please respect copyright.PENANAsaHfqZA46H
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANA4jdKSKHwIU
346Please respect copyright.PENANAK3PLEEmV4Z
“Have you tried to remember?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAOue4YNwq5K
346Please respect copyright.PENANAzklgMq1hhQ
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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAn6c7sCHsi7
346Please respect copyright.PENANA4XTbEUh3WC
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAjx0PI3Brxp
346Please respect copyright.PENANA94AJJq0z5E
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.346Please respect copyright.PENANAF8tzHMeI7B
346Please respect copyright.PENANAEAnlyZ4qbK
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAvaIoLw8l7Y
346Please respect copyright.PENANATH0THRNKxw
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."346Please respect copyright.PENANAnH3oM0AlCq
346Please respect copyright.PENANAmMDJlYRZqh
"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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAYWY3E5ZQ8t
346Please respect copyright.PENANA7euC05S0sO
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAnYdKamNLJC
346Please respect copyright.PENANAQVXCS6PF1R
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANA5cdgGTAxi2
346Please respect copyright.PENANAZSfPEJM1cr
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?346Please respect copyright.PENANAEaMzfRk304
346Please respect copyright.PENANAkPyalDS9Qr
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”346Please respect copyright.PENANAYJCdprLeb3
346Please respect copyright.PENANAAPn0Ddp7DD
“Fuck off.”346Please respect copyright.PENANA9kjkcJ8xRP
346Please respect copyright.PENANActJqZhMumr
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.346Please respect copyright.PENANAbpQzurfUFF
346Please respect copyright.PENANAAR4NXyqxM3
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.346Please respect copyright.PENANA21nNkT0IjD
346Please respect copyright.PENANAb2AmgAFsZZ
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.346Please respect copyright.PENANA1eZdIPewp8
346Please respect copyright.PENANATK2t2agjGM
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAXz7J5fkzhV
346Please respect copyright.PENANAgcTnv8EUG7
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.346Please respect copyright.PENANAtfaSS7CE0c
346Please respect copyright.PENANAaYjQ2ZMzbk
“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?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAVDv3WHmBF2
346Please respect copyright.PENANAdlBr7XVI5G
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.346Please respect copyright.PENANA8aBwCANYhb
346Please respect copyright.PENANA6jF838WZ6y
“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?”346Please respect copyright.PENANA8pZSml029a
346Please respect copyright.PENANARn0wPexV5N
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAgnnpsrMfo0
346Please respect copyright.PENANAZZUdmPPw3v
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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAyTWFRR2DcO
346Please respect copyright.PENANAeXEIc6OhEu
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANABP0RGFLNYx
346Please respect copyright.PENANAShkfGXeN8U
“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?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAH8kRGPZapb
346Please respect copyright.PENANAOAg5byyMqk
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.346Please respect copyright.PENANAU1doO41BFM
346Please respect copyright.PENANAz2SFSCbZzR
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAYYnFQrBiMq
346Please respect copyright.PENANArrpeziv5Dl
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. 346Please respect copyright.PENANAHcNKdvlc1N
346Please respect copyright.PENANATS8P9zeTh4
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.346Please respect copyright.PENANA3voKZrQM62
346Please respect copyright.PENANAxSpdkj3S7o
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”346Please respect copyright.PENANA91ZXd2UhBJ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAH9gbMhkG5Z
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”346Please respect copyright.PENANA8XgQY7igMG
346Please respect copyright.PENANA5gYI2DqRUW
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANALTMpWWXnlU
346Please respect copyright.PENANAxnJ903AFlP
“Xael-”346Please respect copyright.PENANAAWeYuVMKZt
346Please respect copyright.PENANA6WLnrDuWFr
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.346Please respect copyright.PENANADqHshlbOAZ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAugs0gT3fkn
“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?”346Please respect copyright.PENANA0VLId723gS
346Please respect copyright.PENANAj0sFXx0w0Q
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.346Please respect copyright.PENANAxJoh8bslZK
346Please respect copyright.PENANAkCS56q44a1
“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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAedE8SroBSD
346Please respect copyright.PENANAyZmRgXE3b1
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.346Please respect copyright.PENANAwdaqRYBdYb
346Please respect copyright.PENANAMB5xDSB3Br
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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAJgVvtsCJ3s
346Please respect copyright.PENANA0qRWf6YMmu
“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?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAk8AKtFG6ub
346Please respect copyright.PENANAqOfxqEnNwK
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.346Please respect copyright.PENANAzxNhsEjcRz
346Please respect copyright.PENANAeX6brHEtnh
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAuFIRsxlzwO
346Please respect copyright.PENANArJcEflYQ8F
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.346Please respect copyright.PENANAIGrzlhHNuP
346Please respect copyright.PENANA7pfwf4otgz
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAlUDvj9Ezcj
346Please respect copyright.PENANAsUonL02dLe
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.346Please respect copyright.PENANA2D2oTC4ZaW
346Please respect copyright.PENANAuu9bKVGd0x
“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.346Please respect copyright.PENANACfPDVryoHR
346Please respect copyright.PENANAEo0fctNPm5
“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. 346Please respect copyright.PENANAxofy25ECSj
346Please respect copyright.PENANArMTTy5V0Tn
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAIMyMk5WVPR
346Please respect copyright.PENANAEe1spRMmYn
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAkRKYAUA0Zx
346Please respect copyright.PENANAUUHv2JYKA7
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.346Please respect copyright.PENANA9QrJrogpKR
346Please respect copyright.PENANAiKGyRaX9dk
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAMRleTngbNa
346Please respect copyright.PENANAcBN3HDMVNi
“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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAim230g6SEq
346Please respect copyright.PENANAKCRrgxoiuo
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAWKWp3kmPXN
346Please respect copyright.PENANAXo1XOdwVTc
“You wouldn’t dare-”346Please respect copyright.PENANAzEC2nGQcol
346Please respect copyright.PENANALEFQCQIKUl
“Try me!”346Please respect copyright.PENANASxjcjt6kxZ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAogXc9zd4Cs
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.346Please respect copyright.PENANA5V3QDUj5ya
346Please respect copyright.PENANA0haJPqYUak
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.346Please respect copyright.PENANAgRKNj1sb3B
346Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ib03iIpTm
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”346Please respect copyright.PENANAncgRwH70Yt
346Please respect copyright.PENANALzTbaK4GZp
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAXTqhg4HS4D
346Please respect copyright.PENANAAI16Vn8law
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.346Please respect copyright.PENANA8zApoAVZzq
346Please respect copyright.PENANAvnmCspmfEK
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 346Please respect copyright.PENANAXbre3OxoqN
346Please respect copyright.PENANAb2j2d0SSCH
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.346Please respect copyright.PENANAZRTldyExfu
346Please respect copyright.PENANAh0SBxpwQOS
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAuuYs3AGtSS
346Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9DDr8gwo7
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAHBh1k0YDSZ
346Please respect copyright.PENANANdHrEhTjC9
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAs1FZAuDoey
346Please respect copyright.PENANALL17JtVg8N
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”346Please respect copyright.PENANASieMqXTBnQ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAYhUDdse9mn
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.346Please respect copyright.PENANAqXVeStYnUU
346Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZllbRNbE7
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”346Please respect copyright.PENANA74oS0BRh3i
346Please respect copyright.PENANAEGLA5DtNvy
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAGdHoDySio7
346Please respect copyright.PENANAcDT0AkpxT4
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”346Please respect copyright.PENANApqZUhkolP9
346Please respect copyright.PENANAO6cjRgODY8
“I don’t like you.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAAtjOYeZuso
346Please respect copyright.PENANA5MBC1ZE0Xd
“People usually don’t.”346Please respect copyright.PENANA8hwEra0mrt
346Please respect copyright.PENANAN3pKzD6vZR
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”346Please respect copyright.PENANA1RClyxl9gW
346Please respect copyright.PENANAutfjdJ0EWF
“Thank you for the compliment!”346Please respect copyright.PENANAwAyCpRHzfQ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAvcEQlMPhVc
“Wasn’t a compliment.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAl9B2B8271g
346Please respect copyright.PENANAuXfrT8c6zL
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”346Please respect copyright.PENANALeoFibW8IX
346Please respect copyright.PENANA9Fyt6brlYJ
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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAYlWR9B4b5b
346Please respect copyright.PENANApHNpKmR12Z
Maybe I am funny after all.346Please respect copyright.PENANAPGtreJwmZr
346Please respect copyright.PENANAgps7Vx3RVz
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.346Please respect copyright.PENANABGslMFPiO2
346Please respect copyright.PENANAbeaY1gPvOR
“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. 346Please respect copyright.PENANA46NqBiq2ft
346Please respect copyright.PENANA0Htgv0I47N
“Draw?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAO7wt0aiJCg
346Please respect copyright.PENANAOLseoLQmTa
“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-”346Please respect copyright.PENANAsce6Hf7j4F
346Please respect copyright.PENANAOzXwizQLv2
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAsU24FJh3rD
346Please respect copyright.PENANAlReElE5KYP
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 346Please respect copyright.PENANAeO7pTYgZHM
346Please respect copyright.PENANAotV0gmmVtm
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.346Please respect copyright.PENANAO7hUyh6G5Z
346Please respect copyright.PENANAVx6pqBszi4
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.346Please respect copyright.PENANAC6sN4KpbrY
346Please respect copyright.PENANA4RuLhza7Ik
“Are you sure?”346Please respect copyright.PENANA4K546ztxnZ
346Please respect copyright.PENANANjJSIzkTaC
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.346Please respect copyright.PENANA3s2gEIrjuf
346Please respect copyright.PENANAMDwibOSuDV
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAIQirG532Ph
346Please respect copyright.PENANAhKzNYWUQGZ
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAqOqJI1fzSr
346Please respect copyright.PENANAyz9FcUgNDx
“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.346Please respect copyright.PENANA5Bs3fu5Pm1
346Please respect copyright.PENANA5pUrEKhT7u
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZQv5zn7fr
346Please respect copyright.PENANAXg2Yt9imxX
“I think she has a system?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAphbsQqKJGV
346Please respect copyright.PENANADxBwH3pqvQ
“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!”346Please respect copyright.PENANA7HCGZoH1VZ
346Please respect copyright.PENANAZxENpqNc3d
“Xael.” Jason puts a hand on my shoulder, and I sigh. “Chill. It isn’t nearly as bad as it seems.”346Please respect copyright.PENANADCsGsXMVee
346Please respect copyright.PENANA5qf795FtAs
“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!”346Please respect copyright.PENANAA2Ak1ziZhN
346Please respect copyright.PENANABfsrK9mfjo
“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.346Please respect copyright.PENANAZKy5uKzAxc
346Please respect copyright.PENANAuvTp2h8Ef6
“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-”346Please respect copyright.PENANAVkevKiO7VV
346Please respect copyright.PENANAg752a3b8S8
“Steri-strips?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAF43V8AaQjC
346Please respect copyright.PENANA6ohPSY8Q80
“Yeah them.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAV1Xw53pKet
346Please respect copyright.PENANA2vEwZ7Clx4
“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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAkq34kCmhWZ
346Please respect copyright.PENANA9IAM3wWavc
Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 346Please respect copyright.PENANAI6tjHlK0In
346Please respect copyright.PENANA63qhwoUnmg
“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 346Please respect copyright.PENANAC98aBeKKkf
346Please respect copyright.PENANAmQF4fse8vv
“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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAGGzDiO25ly
346Please respect copyright.PENANAx4ZP75I5TG
“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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAMjDlqLP9NB
346Please respect copyright.PENANAn7pG7fFs8n
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANA7xAzg4GYzz
346Please respect copyright.PENANAHcgNOevmms
“What story has a scene with self-harm wounds?” Jason helps me with the Steri-strips. “I’ve read all of your works.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAWbpjMjkPxs
346Please respect copyright.PENANABlqvhlnVzH
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAuGvqMfLqTt
346Please respect copyright.PENANA1YS4qTBOQn
“You’re good,” Jason assures me. I stick the last Steri-strip onto his shoulder, then roll his sleeve back down. “Organizing time?”346Please respect copyright.PENANATIZz05NYHc
346Please respect copyright.PENANAuC4MSzrlyi
“Absolutely yes please.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAvCDUyIjJDl
346Please respect copyright.PENANA8fgahfaJ1T
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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAmx18iKXbHp
346Please respect copyright.PENANAFMMC5xJ2Fr
“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.346Please respect copyright.PENANAjg9PcG3xlT
346Please respect copyright.PENANAPvFKSYpY25
“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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAZgr87Uq8QF
346Please respect copyright.PENANAQwr6Afck8o
Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.346Please respect copyright.PENANAwvNQxu6YaH
346Please respect copyright.PENANAFfZMpBu0U7
“What goes where-”346Please respect copyright.PENANAVrjItcFIg4
346Please respect copyright.PENANAqaWRzIg1W9
“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAhHNy8FKcEN
346Please respect copyright.PENANAyVxvC8qSxP
“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”346Please respect copyright.PENANApLJyJLNdz9
346Please respect copyright.PENANABX6RZoRjm7
“Yes.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAajrdolOaUG
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 346Please respect copyright.PENANA4hafpKItYu
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 346Please respect copyright.PENANAT05RX76wIC
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“No you aren’t!”346Please respect copyright.PENANAL3py9hW3nT
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“I’m not you’re right.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAcMrH5WVz39
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”346Please respect copyright.PENANA7xad1jYqzm
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“Please don’t?”346Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ar86XLC1O
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.346Please respect copyright.PENANAXYWwBemmAU
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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. 346Please respect copyright.PENANAskXQmFLXX0
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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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAJCV6XKdwlE
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAfR0IRdb3Xo
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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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAD6dymmhGPe
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.346Please respect copyright.PENANA0L3kywheID
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”346Please respect copyright.PENANACotbswj2Lz
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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.346Please respect copyright.PENANAM1U74Ur6MX
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.346Please respect copyright.PENANAgXUpzuGpCH
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“Did my breath smell?”346Please respect copyright.PENANA25o4EyfvOf
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.346Please respect copyright.PENANAt5BTnOWqSV
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAApavsd08l0
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Jason nods in understandable.346Please respect copyright.PENANAComWd4YGfR
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAR9QvNALBsq
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.346Please respect copyright.PENANAKwIU2xhJwW
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAuV7Prl9rpS
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“How do you know what those are and why?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAvQEueQbhOv
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 346Please respect copyright.PENANAvGPgEU33Ju
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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.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAGriqCHH7QL
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”346Please respect copyright.PENANAH36vzAmE1L
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.346Please respect copyright.PENANA9vGTkeRpy5
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”346Please respect copyright.PENANAb75SBr7GBm
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 346Please respect copyright.PENANA2bN3OpiZQj
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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?