Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?344Please respect copyright.PENANAoPlVsGYtAG
344Please respect copyright.PENANA6dUCXfCpbc
“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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAltvqAzgU4p
344Please respect copyright.PENANAIUUD8twPGG
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA6UgkVTqi24
344Please respect copyright.PENANAL94qQcD2WX
“What’s the dress like?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAxi8c4x1x9M
344Please respect copyright.PENANAD2Ga0t8ioQ
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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA2sQgSoeYnV
344Please respect copyright.PENANAzkGUhvWIx7
“That’s fair.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAywEsLVhDHc
344Please respect copyright.PENANAIjHSvJtBnV
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.344Please respect copyright.PENANAcPSItILJat
344Please respect copyright.PENANAlxFgdAmkKY
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAeGUb45b0G9
344Please respect copyright.PENANAHMlAIqxfgK
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAjxfZnzJ0we
344Please respect copyright.PENANABk0wwsyt32
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 344Please respect copyright.PENANA3t3frpphnK
344Please respect copyright.PENANAtct0cPUKri
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAVgfsbKh0ht
344Please respect copyright.PENANAfFoffc6nmB
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAYkerIUe61T
344Please respect copyright.PENANA74YCuqjsGX
“Have you tried to remember?”344Please respect copyright.PENANATVerX7tzuf
344Please respect copyright.PENANAd5mvnv37Rj
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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAUQo26Ad7z3
344Please respect copyright.PENANAKQVYEUZbTs
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAv0ON8ZhQwf
344Please respect copyright.PENANABt8BpXOnNC
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.344Please respect copyright.PENANA0urzcmgbIi
344Please respect copyright.PENANAuuHvVCIDE8
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAS5GAcj0Jr6
344Please respect copyright.PENANANresC59yaQ
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."344Please respect copyright.PENANA6DVNj03W9G
344Please respect copyright.PENANAYg6nyn0GWD
"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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA7F4WYpN3RO
344Please respect copyright.PENANAMr1VdptkjU
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAlDXPDs8d1r
344Please respect copyright.PENANA6CrTXygCjD
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAAbyInHYb3x
344Please respect copyright.PENANAiI4q01uKJI
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?344Please respect copyright.PENANAD2LfB7Y5u5
344Please respect copyright.PENANAjCc5XJTgqR
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”344Please respect copyright.PENANAN934grmerx
344Please respect copyright.PENANAYtIv8q8PUN
“Fuck off.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAt0zwOx04mc
344Please respect copyright.PENANARfBh9Z3O7M
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.344Please respect copyright.PENANAe8Oy89cpcE
344Please respect copyright.PENANAco83xgbchA
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.344Please respect copyright.PENANAuPfXAmn6sd
344Please respect copyright.PENANATK8ymIJox2
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.344Please respect copyright.PENANAuqw5WzEaXL
344Please respect copyright.PENANAyZNfZ0X1Vd
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAOLRwWWR5qO
344Please respect copyright.PENANABcejmFLoFF
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.344Please respect copyright.PENANAvzYfw0wlae
344Please respect copyright.PENANAepvqDhG3iq
“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?”344Please respect copyright.PENANALDAC3z964c
344Please respect copyright.PENANAcX69qUsRl0
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.344Please respect copyright.PENANAm53UY3kVCV
344Please respect copyright.PENANAJTCKjKjEFr
“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?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAeQpPiGj4gY
344Please respect copyright.PENANAFCyH0zR4j9
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAUlQMuN8wlb
344Please respect copyright.PENANAph38Q2XgPL
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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAbyxnTPGg4Y
344Please respect copyright.PENANAtZ1WFdVQRg
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAg3WLeibpg3
344Please respect copyright.PENANApCmsZw29tt
“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?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAoMVD3fWKUR
344Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ra1062kmV
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.344Please respect copyright.PENANAbvMrZ8GbcV
344Please respect copyright.PENANASpdANztI5r
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAYzZT7eoKbx
344Please respect copyright.PENANA61t05Zrw1P
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. 344Please respect copyright.PENANAIx5bZHXVLL
344Please respect copyright.PENANAneJeTaQoKQ
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.344Please respect copyright.PENANAadloeOzCzB
344Please respect copyright.PENANAiNJIz5KQwe
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAxoxVEPjDvf
344Please respect copyright.PENANAS7dQoLtaDR
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAT5xTPcmw5l
344Please respect copyright.PENANAyS7icXqkEc
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA3r2itCDXIL
344Please respect copyright.PENANAETKD7J0kfl
“Xael-”344Please respect copyright.PENANAttSdX53a5p
344Please respect copyright.PENANAezNwB9wOjs
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.344Please respect copyright.PENANAaGzSjJr3Wd
344Please respect copyright.PENANAVHj91aw7E3
“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?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAypd4CCKeTt
344Please respect copyright.PENANAcdWhp6EZte
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.344Please respect copyright.PENANADLd45kWFWe
344Please respect copyright.PENANAFEkeXURs0O
“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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAutQsASa2m8
344Please respect copyright.PENANAdHql7QPIeP
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.344Please respect copyright.PENANAjWbMCKXxn9
344Please respect copyright.PENANArLx1mJai1g
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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAbqXKdNJcY3
344Please respect copyright.PENANAPkQJUOjZez
“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?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAzaiHh6iLc6
344Please respect copyright.PENANAV33M2vN4WX
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.344Please respect copyright.PENANAe8dboccwiU
344Please respect copyright.PENANArUKPol0jum
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAHbd8FFlBy7
344Please respect copyright.PENANAccJs2YZUVu
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.344Please respect copyright.PENANAAjdvtdQgbx
344Please respect copyright.PENANAB7qBW3itwa
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAJIzknt9kWQ
344Please respect copyright.PENANAP351YhXzNj
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.344Please respect copyright.PENANANBNCC26Cro
344Please respect copyright.PENANAkjd5WHNH8V
“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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAtR0SiXsdm5
344Please respect copyright.PENANAGzCu4NCSXC
“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. 344Please respect copyright.PENANA6lSrNsHe5w
344Please respect copyright.PENANAcbfDOgITLg
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAgfp9CG8hUW
344Please respect copyright.PENANAUZmBG6idOI
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA9MFrFxYzbj
344Please respect copyright.PENANA0UoSJ3VfI8
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.344Please respect copyright.PENANApSRSVWcunZ
344Please respect copyright.PENANA3okEIRKKGh
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAACWJy48EYA
344Please respect copyright.PENANAc69N3TsKPC
“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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAaKrrdyaCQd
344Please respect copyright.PENANAJpWI31gE1b
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAfKtgivoee4
344Please respect copyright.PENANAioCcjEhfAW
“You wouldn’t dare-”344Please respect copyright.PENANATUCosVy5s9
344Please respect copyright.PENANAsTSpZrLupf
“Try me!”344Please respect copyright.PENANAt6xDYgQDYF
344Please respect copyright.PENANAdH3XjV3I1k
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.344Please respect copyright.PENANAO2rqaXho2Y
344Please respect copyright.PENANAy4Eb6ECkBQ
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.344Please respect copyright.PENANA7bzReMQFvP
344Please respect copyright.PENANAHVAjoD2MoY
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”344Please respect copyright.PENANAkzrPeLQdf7
344Please respect copyright.PENANA9ggkIXdH3S
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAHiY2N5lJum
344Please respect copyright.PENANA2kYs4vDWeE
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.344Please respect copyright.PENANA85PQLXjm3o
344Please respect copyright.PENANA9BOId2egeW
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 344Please respect copyright.PENANAOAooJiV67r
344Please respect copyright.PENANAXXV8pIRgMM
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.344Please respect copyright.PENANAfSWjDTvEm4
344Please respect copyright.PENANAHdchndwpCG
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”344Please respect copyright.PENANA2nZ0EeXXhs
344Please respect copyright.PENANAOlvJPNArfd
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAqo3eb41lLz
344Please respect copyright.PENANAfvlSP8v9Ml
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAgvbeqm8kwc
344Please respect copyright.PENANAEvOwhHaYa1
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAWNGKd9MteV
344Please respect copyright.PENANAUm9kreFUQL
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.344Please respect copyright.PENANABqn22hYk72
344Please respect copyright.PENANAZSwbZEeWRc
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAiIHie5T06E
344Please respect copyright.PENANAx0kptDIl5I
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAa5rb4EHsHB
344Please respect copyright.PENANAnEYmh7bHQM
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA1jyovojQVT
344Please respect copyright.PENANAJPuu35iwLB
“I don’t like you.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAa6SIK0WWfH
344Please respect copyright.PENANAhp62izd1ME
“People usually don’t.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAyK72jojoPP
344Please respect copyright.PENANAJLm15Ggk7w
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAnaBMnpM0po
344Please respect copyright.PENANAOLWg5BJRFm
“Thank you for the compliment!”344Please respect copyright.PENANAAXmO98B7yS
344Please respect copyright.PENANAg6U9ByRjB0
“Wasn’t a compliment.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA2PORkYMrbJ
344Please respect copyright.PENANAAgUa8sJNmQ
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAoccEfcBrA6
344Please respect copyright.PENANAFaikfDog5U
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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAEbaDKMblCH
344Please respect copyright.PENANAX29CF64n98
Maybe I am funny after all.344Please respect copyright.PENANAA8CdPIWk8S
344Please respect copyright.PENANAG2JjWYjU9F
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.344Please respect copyright.PENANA8mmQMgfp9I
344Please respect copyright.PENANAiLOWef5YNz
“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. 344Please respect copyright.PENANAv2xdP3aj5w
344Please respect copyright.PENANAxxs1X0vl20
“Draw?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAJGLxzs32Hk
344Please respect copyright.PENANA45vzIpPjrL
“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-”344Please respect copyright.PENANAoE3ps6TI1z
344Please respect copyright.PENANAv5ElKCEPye
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAGNxjKz1G2G
344Please respect copyright.PENANAXrr1FUUw8B
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 344Please respect copyright.PENANA1PelvsPZ94
344Please respect copyright.PENANAkGcwnLDzyU
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.344Please respect copyright.PENANA4SkvUM7ViP
344Please respect copyright.PENANAwUV6u5SjDY
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.344Please respect copyright.PENANApysVxKFN7t
344Please respect copyright.PENANAWX8npXzgSQ
“Are you sure?”344Please respect copyright.PENANApCUWH1CYZN
344Please respect copyright.PENANArau1cJaiu1
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.344Please respect copyright.PENANAx0OmlgCyak
344Please respect copyright.PENANAfjselxoASF
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAzh3qImjZBB
344Please respect copyright.PENANAkpX84S6ojH
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAZfqZDdOMkN
344Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1NmEgvZCt
“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.344Please respect copyright.PENANA35SouK8q0X
344Please respect copyright.PENANA4vwrq2NShN
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA98t1as5YHc
344Please respect copyright.PENANAUoYrylU0SN
“I think she has a system?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAXTlL4A2BXa
344Please respect copyright.PENANADeyI7KOvlB
“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!”344Please respect copyright.PENANAMqZX16VJne
344Please respect copyright.PENANAWtqRr7h26r
“Xael.” Jason puts a hand on my shoulder, and I sigh. “Chill. It isn’t nearly as bad as it seems.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAeSaP8x6Kh1
344Please respect copyright.PENANAz7D9f7EQZL
“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!”344Please respect copyright.PENANADudFDoGNlA
344Please respect copyright.PENANA7UysvTnmpC
“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.344Please respect copyright.PENANAYDOr16VFG5
344Please respect copyright.PENANAisCspni4CP
“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-”344Please respect copyright.PENANAkIGmDJv9lZ
344Please respect copyright.PENANAOu6aP5X3WM
“Steri-strips?”344Please respect copyright.PENANA2MODfsqFWw
344Please respect copyright.PENANA5875N2sn9t
“Yeah them.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAiW5AfCKNpg
344Please respect copyright.PENANAbOQL6mrQF2
“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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAQHzd8lxxlK
344Please respect copyright.PENANAxDOisvjFD8
Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 344Please respect copyright.PENANAsHgZGJ1UGu
344Please respect copyright.PENANAF7vYLOjEss
“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 344Please respect copyright.PENANAWE0U9DG72A
344Please respect copyright.PENANA70khwBIPSb
“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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAO8PLPbnHcR
344Please respect copyright.PENANA0JQma5OVas
“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.344Please respect copyright.PENANA8YRzTlh4A9
344Please respect copyright.PENANAYN6335diy6
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAjxmAcdZakK
344Please respect copyright.PENANA3ITQnxb00Z
“What story has a scene with self-harm wounds?” Jason helps me with the Steri-strips. “I’ve read all of your works.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAVRuOt60a5l
344Please respect copyright.PENANAAF1FK75y9q
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAhECS89Xy46
344Please respect copyright.PENANAzVTwjqv0Xp
“You’re good,” Jason assures me. I stick the last Steri-strip onto his shoulder, then roll his sleeve back down. “Organizing time?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAjpOtT35JKj
344Please respect copyright.PENANAUPykpzxJV7
“Absolutely yes please.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAroAU7LFzG3
344Please respect copyright.PENANAYkiolFRdit
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.344Please respect copyright.PENANA2naveysnl0
344Please respect copyright.PENANA6r9unRWqhl
“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.344Please respect copyright.PENANA2sL8MvWOBl
344Please respect copyright.PENANAX8utOfg0MG
“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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAUfsExpmmXL
344Please respect copyright.PENANAkT8qMaI06D
Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.344Please respect copyright.PENANABTPInA5js9
344Please respect copyright.PENANA6gGX7CdYbA
“What goes where-”344Please respect copyright.PENANA5rB60x7PPd
344Please respect copyright.PENANAPb2KDLCs2D
“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAzP7kdjDhAP
344Please respect copyright.PENANAj5oiAEgsQN
“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”344Please respect copyright.PENANA7aQPSRfgHX
344Please respect copyright.PENANAGzoLqB3tWw
“Yes.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAHm8LIJw4xf
344Please respect copyright.PENANA3F4Rs0og0V
“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 344Please respect copyright.PENANAXPCBnhr7MV
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 344Please respect copyright.PENANAnreTA9Q7BA
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“No you aren’t!”344Please respect copyright.PENANA8FRNPtC87G
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“I’m not you’re right.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAJacBWVyWX2
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”344Please respect copyright.PENANAw2mPZiKZLV
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“Please don’t?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAU55EtFw9lY
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.344Please respect copyright.PENANAQio3ueMyBs
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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. 344Please respect copyright.PENANAyRmRKn2IS3
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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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAi037c55PPX
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAnTrx98CU4T
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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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAivDr47I3sa
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.344Please respect copyright.PENANAtTMLJmkCYb
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”344Please respect copyright.PENANApCFpTI8K4y
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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.344Please respect copyright.PENANAkDJT1152bl
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.344Please respect copyright.PENANAx1pdsAOfqg
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“Did my breath smell?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAmVh8othqUx
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.344Please respect copyright.PENANA2DRAJS5icr
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”344Please respect copyright.PENANArL4FR6CJgR
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Jason nods in understandable.344Please respect copyright.PENANArdTSORZKqj
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA8xgx0PYncP
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.344Please respect copyright.PENANAp6mCkE715k
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”344Please respect copyright.PENANAAgEYOdlEnP
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“How do you know what those are and why?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAID361vFRVw
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 344Please respect copyright.PENANAYQbo6p0OFS
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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.”344Please respect copyright.PENANATKASGJC80Z
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”344Please respect copyright.PENANAoTmjL6Pi7a
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.344Please respect copyright.PENANAE3QhJS91n3
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”344Please respect copyright.PENANA6h5wF6FO5S
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 344Please respect copyright.PENANA3CwgEIe5Nj
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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?