Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93PBnOU0x8
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjVGTny4je
“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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfxcOmPTRc
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC8kyomaBV
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwfFOxSU5r
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRne9l8pI18
“What’s the dress like?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9uCjoiGtR
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJvaLMl9B5
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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT52IIvDIB6
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS43cXB80E
“That’s fair.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoJecsLnnH
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d6CyHqHSJ
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkyzft3HXY
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPFfTVKkkD
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T1PKrofe1
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ce0WS3fVB
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNHynT9Phk
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRvLFVJGFe
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKiRwZd23r
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLPKQea6fM
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ1ZyFSYcE
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIblPC7JsK
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cjdtk3eqr
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9vJ6aDc0t
“Have you tried to remember?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGWwiehKxw
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uCZ88R3sG
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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRevD7ImzWu
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygfF6DoPVP
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApqXdIfjI4
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqiGp1tSlv
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUXPQEtWvf
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqHARrdmhj
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7FqEdeRCL
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9r0VI5Jl65
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiLlk0lqWs
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGkOf5MGXP
"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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWL7pyaS36V
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQCBgfb1i7
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNLE2vdkrR
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8imethT8b
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6d57cYaR0
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjAncMVYFH
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyzMHP8gdX
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpmn7caLFm
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctY9qF88k5
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH48ofx6Fj
“Fuck off.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRE0ecBPK1
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cC59zqXNK
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MSQOEzACr
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKqHimZqJD
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf5IyU1Pe6
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlO6aPQpsfQ
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpbDUJRLJt
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrAlXw3b5K
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF92ZpmF3A
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mi6lm7C8c
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEW5popmtl
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K6PRWDGwr
“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?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDsyylZYo9
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMxIaKFCoU
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadt5TO3VvX
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtLqibHywa
“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?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OoGyUsBFn
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxFhpAn9XO
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhomxbNUtip
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dduvrIVmR
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6EKkzwhZD
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2AFor0VWh
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WEfpeKb40
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW8Pv30T5w
“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?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXwUCKIV96
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZWoA0htcM
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA61s3v2fR
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2eeXf7488
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCO5d2JrL5
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadj6INixHq
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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rORPRyCv6
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNweHpPKRYz
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEkJKffOuI
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1gPQ0Q7nL
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oUZzHGOuS
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc7Ejcjdk2
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeUtgj1PNL
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkawJFSV3PQ
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGu0j7Uozs
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBPmWh9rSc
“Xael-”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrieCgghmrf
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ419u8UVvOZ
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIKpi7MuUI
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sffVa5voz
“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?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq6eS5EwES
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjxCf709FG
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMw2Lznocn
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdLjYMfiBi
“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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYO7i59gJp
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhV5juPkTJ
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl4435qk7m
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M0LZFiSiS
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicn0VWBYJ3
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQarChiimy
“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?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE59f41giOK
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAMLp1Ou8A
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM9bhEq3Sp
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBrSH0sFGf
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZO4WWJQDY
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRg5RJIsxW
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyb2Dcj1cXF
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPDoZOekb4
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSfrkXyPfW
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQGx5w9O0K
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq981bsIW6
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhEhzRy8i0
“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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnuv7jEuMr
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiN0vYI3a3
“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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAfHtfaZu1
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7m2HWloa5
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdriBQSOprw
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK2hDTBIjb
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3VuG6APQt
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP4ypBq964
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EBltjZLZo
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAPz8OF808
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6EG4yXVp0
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMlwM2YHJn
“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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSP5lpNq3w
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ504v7m8ytE
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlLfUKrHlF
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMiH8s5xx9
“You wouldn’t dare-”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNilbob8EDG
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C7HCgy4Nl
“Try me!”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmAS0yGYQ4
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1DC1mQHIG
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniV5ff2dK2
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeTHAt3ofy
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF8XM6mvwg
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQDIaearsR
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKbcbfdONC
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIxw2BmM3t
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruNQKgNUXA
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4DrKKYQcg
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVn5uFOt6D
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFk6AxjkPF
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJbP2KXAJE
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNin0JPCGf
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp06KRrXJv
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtbJupVMRz
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZR7HEE3gqi
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT9NLLVhhm
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa3qwGotI8
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx7Edp9hrk
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzvWISfvUL
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkibcTVBGNH
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWAe8f3z9i
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb5LQ09tSz
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDoxN676mf
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XrEjAAxKH
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Gv1DULyhN
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8iitan8Pt
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dB7jzQdGi
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtc9AwHDcT
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm15xwdUYh
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS7ZQxH6Xh
“I don’t like you.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkXEOXcVxj
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TTBV0iWDe
“People usually don’t.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9eeyyn5w0
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3mg8J37wj
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMU6HzMRdZ
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygkq02LezT
“Thank you for the compliment!”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iXhe36QQA
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKCEegGpJA
“Wasn’t a compliment.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL2d308U6N
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlfvlHRPH4
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS6dMSUdP5
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSimTR5vkV
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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8YtEnVeQ2
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXXzisirXc
Maybe I am funny after all.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4FiQg899q
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7JXQdDuA2
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03j0AgVjWX
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKMe38dIC7
“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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2mgVm6B9Q
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7BeXCoQCz
“Draw?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ukmCxzmO7
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o8DqdOiz4
“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-”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWYRIiBe13
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpad9EUbb4l
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4vw8tCbet
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GxXsfczzL
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaNT17feCB
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhI2zWOdeS
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrXxYrFCDa
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetJi9MZqv5
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGNobr0UeQ
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOxSi09Gzf
“Are you sure?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkSc3jJDBx
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8RHzzXXfo
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmm4p0T3rW
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFEaT7IBaN
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwYuppH7Sb
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQDFFZtfio
“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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2gjOH50ux
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47pxbWxGwE
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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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Mj6bMomwC
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“I think she has a system?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaeHUtQ7x3
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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!”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFhhAOFGEE
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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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VbTrNtJwS
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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!”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWdNwJbbIb
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOQGJrpJB9
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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-”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRumzQJgg1
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“Steri-strips?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziuJcKjDEI
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“Yeah them.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflkENczHtF
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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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixj3W9unBv
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoRCBkiIaL
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fb2kNDlfk
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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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3RPqOV8hW
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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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mJktQXQfF
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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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AseJLXIjS
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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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcwm1fMxPH
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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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCCMENKxBD
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7etUNgZGnb
“You’re good,” Jason assures me. I stick the last Steri-strip onto his shoulder, then roll his sleeve back down. “Organizing time?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMOsC5IUpW
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“Absolutely yes please.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWgLn1N5GT
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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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwJj187hiC
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26z28jzSrG
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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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hwL9hRYeM
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdQNQC9GQy
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“What goes where-”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1uN7Mxujn
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSO7kgGAR0
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a6RfVnD7n
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“Yes.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSBWVlnuOS
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MzQ18bcDO
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZcwpFYMa3
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“No you aren’t!”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf7MqUwFUD
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“I’m not you’re right.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzxazDSNEq
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZ2PJKePps
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“Please don’t?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPz8vDyud1
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSNNYl4Xk9
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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. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2KLtt3Njt
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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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uNn7U8aVy
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpxJtyybuY
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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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGl75Pg7lu
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0ZAB777wV
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5WWDpqa3P
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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.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUQbSlrRQd
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJYsFkU0xl
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“Did my breath smell?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xVKsOmYGT
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqVBuMGyoH
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d86nl6sVg
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Jason nods in understandable.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5yoViyshx
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx312YVesfB
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82aBZ4ZjR3
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF5oJEyMaf
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“How do you know what those are and why?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ6PZBY6gl
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTYvFFju24
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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.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo1VRs1Lh8
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA3FINWJXq
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1A6EZrm2JJ
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsDSeR2uLG
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV0XiUZgl5
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“His love language is words of affirmation. He likes being told when people love him or appreciate him.”
___________________________________________________________________576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GMX5IteDw
Question of the chapter: what's Xael's love language? Why is Conner's language words of affirmation?
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