Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?333Please respect copyright.PENANAzMvZjSNa2e
333Please respect copyright.PENANAclJcRaxOiX
“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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAFiGCWLB3bR
333Please respect copyright.PENANAFR9ELSGi7r
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAYUUl732JYS
333Please respect copyright.PENANA36x5hsZNtK
“What’s the dress like?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAXqk8zUEwM5
333Please respect copyright.PENANAl3DudwIvUH
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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANARIDFWS6O8U
333Please respect copyright.PENANAMEGgT491Vq
“That’s fair.”333Please respect copyright.PENANANOUEHgLuNz
333Please respect copyright.PENANABtVXRnpvdm
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.333Please respect copyright.PENANAEcRFFJ4Jsq
333Please respect copyright.PENANA28e0E4aDRe
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAV3J3nzMUi1
333Please respect copyright.PENANAHUPZvDMkUV
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAwxx35g7IQt
333Please respect copyright.PENANAWOtDEY8wJb
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 333Please respect copyright.PENANAo2zwwoI1sI
333Please respect copyright.PENANAiACnRdSZFK
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”333Please respect copyright.PENANA7aQOr15cfa
333Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6CT8OydHB
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAZDM5IEoiau
333Please respect copyright.PENANABlClMYU7fP
“Have you tried to remember?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAUOEuD71dnK
333Please respect copyright.PENANAMe3n9LyIwa
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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAcoiTF1TMsM
333Please respect copyright.PENANABs3VYnqSyv
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAsKm2HFL7ZQ
333Please respect copyright.PENANAtNUZigu8Tx
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.333Please respect copyright.PENANAcjxmATVL1Q
333Please respect copyright.PENANAR065pve70F
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANA8pc6qmcNlt
333Please respect copyright.PENANAib9Q8JmIPc
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."333Please respect copyright.PENANAncPncIV9RT
333Please respect copyright.PENANAWn11GcmgXI
"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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAgWYAhCsYF3
333Please respect copyright.PENANAV6UJ5YyATk
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAaszGnnpiPR
333Please respect copyright.PENANABYh3j9GLvw
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAJhqQ0Z46fv
333Please respect copyright.PENANA276VMoYfAn
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?333Please respect copyright.PENANAFlpKkWV9EV
333Please respect copyright.PENANAWSBwqMfsQK
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”333Please respect copyright.PENANAJKYJfB9d97
333Please respect copyright.PENANApyopY1qti1
“Fuck off.”333Please respect copyright.PENANA3TeVcFIGPu
333Please respect copyright.PENANAeWbkU9uquj
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.333Please respect copyright.PENANAEdSIzgOooT
333Please respect copyright.PENANAlWx80XBosR
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.333Please respect copyright.PENANAHRzWyOW5qt
333Please respect copyright.PENANA9FZvhslkPA
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.333Please respect copyright.PENANAbXu8ePZXen
333Please respect copyright.PENANAVQx2B48v34
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAyMs5bzjlGq
333Please respect copyright.PENANAzNNAFUlTfv
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.333Please respect copyright.PENANAimQDZByXDk
333Please respect copyright.PENANAhZqk05PiN6
“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?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAxA7WcEVwHH
333Please respect copyright.PENANAFokbAn8jed
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.333Please respect copyright.PENANAJvn9Uft9GA
333Please respect copyright.PENANAUt5nDXxee8
“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?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAVy2FDA2nBP
333Please respect copyright.PENANA2p11VChlMK
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAchabItWO34
333Please respect copyright.PENANArYf6KICo02
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.333Please respect copyright.PENANADwijNRftq5
333Please respect copyright.PENANAoKO5t9Bk8B
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAB0yhLfKCxP
333Please respect copyright.PENANAgNHoFQh1F8
“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?”333Please respect copyright.PENANA9K3LcnghVl
333Please respect copyright.PENANA90VZnjoShr
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.333Please respect copyright.PENANAfioQ6LnzW8
333Please respect copyright.PENANA0YMn4uxwaq
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAHSRWqzrUmx
333Please respect copyright.PENANAVhveYod8Xh
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. 333Please respect copyright.PENANAWCSJy04UCJ
333Please respect copyright.PENANAQV9XM6QY4A
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.333Please respect copyright.PENANAD4NJEe8cY9
333Please respect copyright.PENANAD1OHGStCKt
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”333Please respect copyright.PENANA03Ri8S4s4D
333Please respect copyright.PENANAoGn0IFGJY4
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAAggqmI3YG9
333Please respect copyright.PENANAYQQXemqpIq
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAhlDa0ayGZP
333Please respect copyright.PENANA9PSeWHca8d
“Xael-”333Please respect copyright.PENANAVNui6Ayfu6
333Please respect copyright.PENANAnYR78WOTUg
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.333Please respect copyright.PENANAqR3QurKZCu
333Please respect copyright.PENANA4qFc4KYYTa
“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?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAaWQST4a7V9
333Please respect copyright.PENANAR1k0liVXWI
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.333Please respect copyright.PENANAff0ueugnQu
333Please respect copyright.PENANAl7YB47Wv1k
“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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAMdBlawpZaX
333Please respect copyright.PENANA9rUJrxZKte
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.333Please respect copyright.PENANATrXjmsg9LI
333Please respect copyright.PENANAJeyfDt91uk
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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAlwTQ2dYnIw
333Please respect copyright.PENANAbZFxNGIbeD
“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?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAMlJY876Wyu
333Please respect copyright.PENANAuwWoApTkmD
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.333Please respect copyright.PENANAYQhXSUSmsg
333Please respect copyright.PENANAJBrvDt4ucL
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAhBL7dG1Vuj
333Please respect copyright.PENANAiHUfSqtmfK
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.333Please respect copyright.PENANAIIhLcNfV6K
333Please respect copyright.PENANAxCahPoW7DG
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9PwnrpaEO
333Please respect copyright.PENANAIS35QxIu0o
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.333Please respect copyright.PENANABHasIE5rsy
333Please respect copyright.PENANARcXPb65Y2x
“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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAQN3P6IyfNB
333Please respect copyright.PENANAOgSU1dQp4t
“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. 333Please respect copyright.PENANA1n6P3CbG8O
333Please respect copyright.PENANARTmCnNzw77
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAugklxvLk6w
333Please respect copyright.PENANA4IcaIXYqhH
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAFv3YLfkoQM
333Please respect copyright.PENANAAeZhKWv5nV
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.333Please respect copyright.PENANA9qMgf0aSe6
333Please respect copyright.PENANA8LgBn9agBn
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANA3pHXvxw3FA
333Please respect copyright.PENANA8URLGnm2Wr
“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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAWsroBo9K1P
333Please respect copyright.PENANADh4eJGMbk4
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAjjEP29x5ti
333Please respect copyright.PENANAY2uoRNHFfs
“You wouldn’t dare-”333Please respect copyright.PENANA68QRZPpOzL
333Please respect copyright.PENANAWXEH88WGLa
“Try me!”333Please respect copyright.PENANAJUCHnhnhP7
333Please respect copyright.PENANAuiCgekoVJU
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.333Please respect copyright.PENANA6jMtnLYJoV
333Please respect copyright.PENANAsPh288Ud9k
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.333Please respect copyright.PENANACjj4aggfFJ
333Please respect copyright.PENANA1b7juQKWCD
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”333Please respect copyright.PENANAfREXPBn8id
333Please respect copyright.PENANAowVogBMcvj
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAW7pnxSXidq
333Please respect copyright.PENANAk29TmzgJhm
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.333Please respect copyright.PENANASRZCN2fzsj
333Please respect copyright.PENANA90DqzZwLYt
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 333Please respect copyright.PENANAM3Pxz6Q00Z
333Please respect copyright.PENANA4RiFl2395I
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.333Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7MMzCTLCp
333Please respect copyright.PENANAuEPnFREHDA
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAaRUJZXbqxi
333Please respect copyright.PENANAt4Fl7ErI8E
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAUDBGfvc15Z
333Please respect copyright.PENANAOuSu7zitVb
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAm5fAQRnkGz
333Please respect copyright.PENANAzYVGl2VeTY
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAoD96H5ggRb
333Please respect copyright.PENANAC6J4ZiDDnZ
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.333Please respect copyright.PENANAV2P4HoLyg8
333Please respect copyright.PENANAqQwI1h4ApJ
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAl0FlWZCn0i
333Please respect copyright.PENANA7lk68vZnbp
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAmwMkFCFL04
333Please respect copyright.PENANASjZ2cMhsRM
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAg1NpSqhty4
333Please respect copyright.PENANAQZzPuuDfl8
“I don’t like you.”333Please respect copyright.PENANA9CtjT7qVom
333Please respect copyright.PENANA3N0Ze78Ice
“People usually don’t.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAEmJdAH2KAm
333Please respect copyright.PENANAh6DCRBBGSp
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAQnlkYLPEuW
333Please respect copyright.PENANAQN5uKNXpFf
“Thank you for the compliment!”333Please respect copyright.PENANAlt58KTV8V2
333Please respect copyright.PENANAH42UJDlrmG
“Wasn’t a compliment.”333Please respect copyright.PENANABMNMozm0cp
333Please respect copyright.PENANAZALnLWuFkF
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAqEaWucGDAo
333Please respect copyright.PENANAMTHmKwTyzT
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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAbBM6G6W1YJ
333Please respect copyright.PENANAAyEpiVyMaC
Maybe I am funny after all.333Please respect copyright.PENANAcj4uWlRSMs
333Please respect copyright.PENANAp1vuDXCpnS
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.333Please respect copyright.PENANAiAEG9gcUt7
333Please respect copyright.PENANA9eyDYybLC3
“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. 333Please respect copyright.PENANAufWOYSNAzU
333Please respect copyright.PENANAPOIWNIEXY1
“Draw?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAuRz5ksJSTZ
333Please respect copyright.PENANARg1yMSxrkS
“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-”333Please respect copyright.PENANAcjbadk7O4Q
333Please respect copyright.PENANAAPFgw96PeV
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANADQZYPm4aK7
333Please respect copyright.PENANASSoHjW3qJW
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 333Please respect copyright.PENANAl1kGOUcL6J
333Please respect copyright.PENANAzJx6rZX8zX
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.333Please respect copyright.PENANAyfjY4jEo5N
333Please respect copyright.PENANABG6MCLGStD
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.333Please respect copyright.PENANARfzfnwKvk8
333Please respect copyright.PENANAI7qq8soxRa
“Are you sure?”333Please respect copyright.PENANA2bSNkAiJ5v
333Please respect copyright.PENANAHuC1WEdejy
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.333Please respect copyright.PENANAKSPfGfglAG
333Please respect copyright.PENANAY5dmj1uggc
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”333Please respect copyright.PENANACC2u8baEc5
333Please respect copyright.PENANAHPBIIvIBDV
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAQekndINKhQ
333Please respect copyright.PENANA4VbKAiyMu4
“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.333Please respect copyright.PENANADnQ9ZdlhB7
333Please respect copyright.PENANABaXadxUI6c
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAPY3ATC4s4O
333Please respect copyright.PENANA1xm6HP1zLO
“I think she has a system?”333Please respect copyright.PENANA8MxCqPrWs4
333Please respect copyright.PENANAyNb8VQc4g8
“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!”333Please respect copyright.PENANArnYV0NYLzi
333Please respect copyright.PENANAgRddoFi8Bl
“Xael.” Jason puts a hand on my shoulder, and I sigh. “Chill. It isn’t nearly as bad as it seems.”333Please respect copyright.PENANANaMDz7kd0g
333Please respect copyright.PENANAOhtvf9ELrl
“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!”333Please respect copyright.PENANAow2vyncuAl
333Please respect copyright.PENANA2FE9AB9poF
“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.333Please respect copyright.PENANAcSiwqQU94h
333Please respect copyright.PENANAXtNbFEg1up
“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-”333Please respect copyright.PENANAyFQWm0oB8W
333Please respect copyright.PENANAhjAw9yeBMX
“Steri-strips?”333Please respect copyright.PENANA2pZvdD71ew
333Please respect copyright.PENANAs4xCPmrSTs
“Yeah them.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAAGCYpJkVw0
333Please respect copyright.PENANAIowEHknzrf
“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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAFzj5jOqlTM
333Please respect copyright.PENANA6cPOq5Q1O2
Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 333Please respect copyright.PENANA0zQ6ozrJZs
333Please respect copyright.PENANAec01AWjMmR
“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 333Please respect copyright.PENANACECbXLo9tD
333Please respect copyright.PENANAuhKiXzL5Dt
“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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAp95eMRSl9u
333Please respect copyright.PENANA7o2ie0B235
“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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAQB4uSnz67P
333Please respect copyright.PENANAbKWYJs1Umc
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANA3qo4Fgp3NQ
333Please respect copyright.PENANAUTCjqB2wvy
“What story has a scene with self-harm wounds?” Jason helps me with the Steri-strips. “I’ve read all of your works.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAJsOqUmg81t
333Please respect copyright.PENANAgclvpSxToC
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAw0hplYnDIh
333Please respect copyright.PENANA8IkZlW7pG5
“You’re good,” Jason assures me. I stick the last Steri-strip onto his shoulder, then roll his sleeve back down. “Organizing time?”333Please respect copyright.PENANATkErbXRsEj
333Please respect copyright.PENANAPMYCt9Ynke
“Absolutely yes please.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAVwptLa1oSP
333Please respect copyright.PENANAS9NmfVO14m
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.333Please respect copyright.PENANA785HRBZNZv
333Please respect copyright.PENANAhhnPW9VzX2
“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.333Please respect copyright.PENANAlZMoZO62Ij
333Please respect copyright.PENANABWCRpij3Rt
“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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAAjRxQiaSwg
333Please respect copyright.PENANA1HHtH3yeMb
Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.333Please respect copyright.PENANAx4RYnZZnbS
333Please respect copyright.PENANANd1huxJH9f
“What goes where-”333Please respect copyright.PENANAECCP9ycXxx
333Please respect copyright.PENANA6vo4E70UOB
“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAR04jbHYBgt
333Please respect copyright.PENANA9muHE9vFNJ
“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”333Please respect copyright.PENANASWMSCTl0qp
333Please respect copyright.PENANAXuIHodhmnR
“Yes.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAroJDJThySP
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 333Please respect copyright.PENANAZUas9YLWRS
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 333Please respect copyright.PENANAV9Ah8Sdztw
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“No you aren’t!”333Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5a2Z0CMfI
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“I’m not you’re right.”333Please respect copyright.PENANARYkWcNGmx0
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”333Please respect copyright.PENANAKdnzJMaZVw
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“Please don’t?”333Please respect copyright.PENANA2oQJBarC7x
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.333Please respect copyright.PENANA7SysbtRjzr
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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. 333Please respect copyright.PENANAUwEMffDHye
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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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAp0tcHLBY8l
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”333Please respect copyright.PENANA7aMPAjoUMP
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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.333Please respect copyright.PENANARmWflXzEFN
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.333Please respect copyright.PENANArMRqmqx3fu
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”333Please respect copyright.PENANAlYMeECp3Mf
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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.333Please respect copyright.PENANAnnqcLUrq9o
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.333Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZURIt8eWq
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“Did my breath smell?”333Please respect copyright.PENANASmCBF35PXv
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.333Please respect copyright.PENANAUFrIv6oTCQ
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAjPxWjawABl
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Jason nods in understandable.333Please respect copyright.PENANAvpbRl3xWsB
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAXCa8ClCFda
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.333Please respect copyright.PENANArkqZcVDW7N
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”333Please respect copyright.PENANACMOVzNL1Iw
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“How do you know what those are and why?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAB4NETgr9vO
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 333Please respect copyright.PENANAXXv6hdiVPr
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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.”333Please respect copyright.PENANATjJZfxtSjC
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”333Please respect copyright.PENANAwybwz49koe
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.333Please respect copyright.PENANACBruHuuKTf
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”333Please respect copyright.PENANAaRz2DH9MXN
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 333Please respect copyright.PENANAGizEHIJv4S
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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?