Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWYWNmftet
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm9dPm4J61
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n2fvThm9e
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“What’s the dress like?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6tbjxBTDr
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQVTgBdq4w
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“That’s fair.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0mKaRChy2
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We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGqKyn3tMr
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“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZGvTnVxRp
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“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMp5R6VzLj
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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.” 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6b3rhHBI7
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“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbc9ccfK6j
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQl8IXlf1w
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAAAp9SjyS
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKWO57Gx76
“Have you tried to remember?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmxuckXbHl
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa0zq3Oj0e
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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12rNHMhl1p
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“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPe5X1ZmyDY
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqqMBUTbaJ
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQY4mqsvjW
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QaYZyuEHM
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPRrflAQty
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g4kRkTTAu
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvf4RO3CBR
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoxOQWPeHL
"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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk8rDzaVBM
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySgJif583B
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVWFuqNELg
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMm8GzMMzDb
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwhF8FaNYz
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeSQ4WxqFj
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe2qIP5OIT
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“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6yRDkVxtA
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoihSxpRNYV
“Fuck off.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XtGkY4G6Z
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe2eFhEDpz
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVO5vriIaQ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBd8CUuA3v
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjpAlcbgbR
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAuVWvdFB8
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi0lplKjRG
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx63PLL06a3
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wCKMMuV5Y
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgOvirWCtJ
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHLp9MiFQJ
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qXsFv1hk8
“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?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c2VROAHmq
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkDpwqrRVA
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnJEP22Qee
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkMtTkFngv
“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?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU7jjiiY9q
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B4pFqlnQE
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhYzIkfAGb
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH6Ki8M1vp
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUT7blM3Wq
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT9F33LyHq
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVmFct3M8V
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPD9kqfl6E
“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?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnjXk1jmdD
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1WfvBEPPp
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIVDdDQR39
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8BtCLwbSy
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKExLnKA3t
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVDrVyWs0F
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. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ICS0N54k3
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKyCPXuMf7
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj6ADD11Y4
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY3EKQHTpQ
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8LanUEVP8
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyOSjnIAqv
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFQLZjK3sR
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XgjgW73z0
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvU8OObGGQU
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MsMeRRFIN
“Xael-”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpYyTZbOqP
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“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBshykV3Hdf
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIQzTFZ2ub
“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?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p6gQSJ12S
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dBAf2TCjE
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAt5XhHx1a
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9cMxwdlX1
“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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2DSk29oFm
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtzV1vBfMm
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8Tz9YiNSu
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59I3AWUjZF
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCv2JLvszG
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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?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ04trYFAQf
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeRUsaGo5Z
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwwo2C9gu3
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“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsNYdSFFMc
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLSJJje9NA
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7BVruxb8Z
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DYPgv0P6Q
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGFooURl1g
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvv5Lsp1cI
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsCFMD1cI8
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX1f8dtuCC
“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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmziqLTLl6Y
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnXB3htreZ
“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. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrkOfHC1Ml
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TCCCffzxq
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSah2jvK8J
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJGJLZJSVr
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqeuosFoyI
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpvkTFB8dv
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfeb2UHrDd
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIYZioWsCM
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENyBvBNXbV
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYgc5GoNm5
“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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ716TnZc8Po
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIuRH47CBP
“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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVyfKywVx8
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCAUVg1B5D
“You wouldn’t dare-”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZrkdlZRS3
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz6C7yoOEl
“Try me!”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjT6xbnRGT
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZDW1yj4Wq
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV8m04LHAR
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhZZwzkjnw
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIt1pACLv4
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LE7hAi3M8
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK5NMXw3nO
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRpj9qeU2O
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6mUKGQyAG
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ2xDJFYkI
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluuaqUFGod
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdLZOTD8pO
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7UmfmbztA
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAjqjbdUf1
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ779dahioYg
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJLUjUDFSN
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFrIRaGOZ0
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“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRLSccDoR9
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz9f5kF7S9
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcZfcHxy94
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzImNaVN2Nw
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LnOn9FtKO
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCkmTY3dwF
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWu4bH00EP
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgncYcnLi7P
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RH9jQFW2a
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dhn3q1nUb
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtH1OjHsnZH
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLNQe8xvQ4
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP3Ocxjha3
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXHf2FCyJy
“I don’t like you.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWdf6EHk6F
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hDOhpICpV
“People usually don’t.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9mUkQzdna
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXpGywiuUz
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDofzjstnN
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ004AI1y8ht
“Thank you for the compliment!”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwt90q1wFW
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbzgzGYjK1
“Wasn’t a compliment.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJ786AchHs
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“And I still took it as one so suck it.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM0KZJNnB1
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVdZsUtJTv
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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z6PUrqnXm
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Maybe I am funny after all.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3b2ESVYe6
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“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOwz6ZXhCK
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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. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFcSl6oSeU
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“Draw?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4Y3tgQzCM
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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-”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pmdGS9id1
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHGmHVrdON
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig9gFc6rry
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPzhYdoB0v
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQQNH2xMok
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhY7nbzm3f
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNb6DaGGDh
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGopeAsZ40
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgbrYjHRVq
“Are you sure?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaTB0piaK9
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkbhVv9OB9
491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9M5ikOQMC
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVolTg8JBT
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFpPhysaFS
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64I7Ax7Wwq
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpf9F1TQRi
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“I think she has a system?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pyU5yYWo3
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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!”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrDtP6Fqsc
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5KurD2I1Q
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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!”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD9GPVFSwA
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVTy1l59Rm
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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-”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxvRPyGXLm
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“Steri-strips?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TcAxijRTS
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“Yeah them.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6eTQOzKNt
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgI0N7NShG
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rwiHlbAgp
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaLOh1xlp7
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2N14AyaO4
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy8mO6xl6d
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZq3I5L6Rf
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaiDK3aMUT
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncAlFz8jqO
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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?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe04YafhTpO
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“Absolutely yes please.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzMOzMSAZ2
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKoL1nZSWn
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuuag3oo1Q
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0IIFf9dZQ
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7NbDxG0vX
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“What goes where-”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2keIPJsIr7
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF0sa1oOb3
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yTOw3ez7P
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“Yes.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiZBVyYWE7
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTJ3v7Nvsq
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0yL5qRGCL
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“No you aren’t!”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS5LRiSZJW
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“I’m not you’re right.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuT6Xfi1AlZ
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn75KXB5nV5
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“Please don’t?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DRd7wHNII
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOFzc8rhbb
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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. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyS1hiLN7v
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN33M2584wk
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZFVfBhLwm
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzaiQ0nzSZ
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyTRdkIS2I
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOH6zj5Op1
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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.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOwAi5tELC
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrcaNALjSO
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“Did my breath smell?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo80CUgqqi
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84nHicdyof
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kmfUoidKY
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Jason nods in understandable.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgBYhlXMFv
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs7gjdhCQE
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiC7SmvLXg
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjx5BQELCD
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“How do you know what those are and why?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3o9V9MylK
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaGeffdUMZ
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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.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PmpbP4UZd
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqhcKQPn1O
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaQJSnwnFh
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0JfArW3rr
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 491Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bCEQI80qV
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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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