Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih7k7ovX1Y
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpbvjC9N6e
“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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbPCW2OLc5
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDTFwik6ud
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiix1t0tQq
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrsCJM114W
“What’s the dress like?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjaI0kgx7h
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2Xudk7MgE
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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC3AuBDUnU
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhRdPYFkDF
“That’s fair.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsn2xXre50
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1zJDguxc0
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflgOiGzt67
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOsPZFAFB0
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vODQAmG32
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAyGpiuQPX
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiepXdcIm9F
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ377gHDnLrq
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa6GE0vslw
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIHLDtptTP
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBCHmsqFp1
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4EdgcQlkl
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WMJMR5512
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pCvqNlQMM
“Have you tried to remember?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXM6WvbEWFd
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXoONHSw9t
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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwUrDWceaf
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVH1OObhYS5
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwqEaJLahu
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCnrGvSAwM
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohTannEaRC
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu67yx8KHYL
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXj68PBBLi
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJc3ghxn6e
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI50MRPjD97
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIT0xXBpZk
"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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB571STNqaq
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIX9HMxFXi
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqzuLTtK1C
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mlqdq0lV9
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx5bda0wXi
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ0OtPDsak
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCTezKHONB
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzktMQ541FB
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNikY0pVd6j
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv2lcanrZs
“Fuck off.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZUuHG7NM6
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo361w09iY2
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KEjpWs10o
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYIWP9gSaA
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYDDbGddRu
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepy7QolRCO
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK3hyrNATN
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuTrjsQxMo
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FzKC0vDTE
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxcqNkyn1m
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrObjsbAUY
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyF5mVUMOq
“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?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCQzKsLgw4
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWtWl35DPY
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEuEhuAagV
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsMpm2C1WD
“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?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SlhSE7XfR
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zuE0Xav7P
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBB000ezMLY
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT58wSRC2f
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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1bp9YU7JW
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkC1C4EgSeG
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjcUliDkW6
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP7LJagX0l
“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?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNjotljP29
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxePWK7252
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkru31AOdsS
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO5WsiQazi
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ72vOODQEe
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8tWuWFGeW
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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBJfjBvUfa
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5xCR6uFzk
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJts7LpMt1q
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpmeOK1ODb
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8FMrosxch
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYflPhE1bzo
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvxlqWbnGG
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATsFFkXoHQ
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNXcsdZTlz
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSdfocTVsi
“Xael-”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVTdrDDLqT
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkO1FiIvIR
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn8MycPca8
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuAjn6Jux6
“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?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdi3CDNFp8
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpD5EvaynG
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr3968mAWC
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGumDiG0gg
“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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyRzThlRin
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhavnm54GgU
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jNuUXf4lg
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRTcwh2TMc
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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5b7MrLnWM4
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvPPUlcXv7
“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?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW36ZH4IRPR
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllGNrfcRA0
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQAvodjGyt
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYQ5BehUa3
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrthwtewhUq
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ynxVrM5GK
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFUWlg6dtT
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdPLNBlhE2
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcQRvqmF11
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UEFnVrFvT
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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQac4iLZbK
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NPpqgmGuz
“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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVxCphYTHT
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MJE5Tlp7G
“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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6J7vmTED12
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZizeNGjpvL
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkUojto8oa
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqNw3Ly6jM
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNWmkSHzch
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsOrUQ0e8i
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoveOA2VYbC
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5CNnuY0fY
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5Slarq1Sv
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwYy1PUsKQ
“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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzCqQCS0rs
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIvJh2CSNl
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDvX0Y24Gu
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhLW5x8VjJ
“You wouldn’t dare-”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9DREgDwea
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICowuLF6fe
“Try me!”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVff1VBl0G
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhmfVpUIgC
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1cqr4FrNc
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XNrAAVmrd
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ347Phyo7pi
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8stEXLWJpu
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuUlHDq5qa
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDSIsVzZXX
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmamPxpYQk
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SXSkqTzWI
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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdX0TxbrBS
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOnOUqmgoA
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLYAs0dNK7
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHZYYBG63N
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xuoIfq5VN
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDJTkHyowB
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0lpczKTEO
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQcw12jwpn
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI66F9azYm
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMCXAWfmxB
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl21ggfUxVw
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcO9YgEsXQ
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jAB9PFi5r
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5vlAT7pU4
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVprGcqLzAu
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTXX02EjMW
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9xxubyPnI
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6xnrmgTlg
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO258GTmdA3
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjwNEc3tvz
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzw8Pbx8EZN
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqAQuvgUqn
“I don’t like you.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7IKPJ4dav
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLQ0XjC5YZ
“People usually don’t.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMjAeKshW8
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXSfzvSegn
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE0MQhGtt6
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigDplIAxuI
“Thank you for the compliment!”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlI5pQ8APZ
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWifck2Ko2
“Wasn’t a compliment.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGl3t4hISo
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1LAY10CwO
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaGHFkpbES
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHxxndf0Gp
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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNv4UqmD0T
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68HkMlMeQI
Maybe I am funny after all.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3obVHsXNiT
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiK06pVxwx
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdtSQGwgoK
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXT7YLaVFV
“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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHBqggUF5V
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaYc6pqdbB
“Draw?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyDkIqAno4
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiF2DNUyKl1
“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-”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWSNuOphFP
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9ob90D2HC
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvDIGcD6Ti
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk51oGFXmo
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ4sLZ81Fg
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblg5HVKH2V
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf6jgPMkcH
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iee8Nf82O
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwwuUqG2oq
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoOq0vjrqh
“Are you sure?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPPBvAP27H
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDxmswRMpF
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmmGwwdPOL
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX3lAtPyI5
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyfiu6dBBA
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbM6H7DwCo
“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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGBNyy0ZbO
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlJohSge1H
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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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdm63Am0qPU
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“I think she has a system?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkmDeHVaxy
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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!”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvLpF8HR72
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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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaA28BlUuOk
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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!”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxVS5VdcbJ
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYzNjpsOa6
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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-”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg2gxKZmml
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“Steri-strips?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtsw7mnn2r
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“Yeah them.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgkC5OIhtM
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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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyMBjDBM28
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9txSu65jgZ
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SpSXtJ3WE
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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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiKUX3ACsf
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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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3hZJIGJhu
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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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy3GznNYxZ
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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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpH98OblE0
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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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3mTnCSEUW
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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?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53SVy7pCyY
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“Absolutely yes please.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjLUozcsAd
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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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveiSfCDdHe
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpMLpXkPqz
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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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9lIXApkqJ
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ILFh7KCaa
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“What goes where-”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35JWmyhomJ
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3dahWaI3v
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoknuGwbsH2
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“Yes.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaZjSOTb3U
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg1XZYav6r
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81bFXBi5Af
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“No you aren’t!”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjw0KUKTmv
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“I’m not you’re right.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCR2CkbUt5S
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnysuRjAScV
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“Please don’t?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5mcRGsRVo
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxEAVoNKpt
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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. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaeWB928aF
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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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemeZ7IwFkU
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8WKO945NN
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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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwCayWt1YA
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV32nZVSt9
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdIg7qRQcr
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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.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3ZLbTuTNl
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjWvVP14PJ
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“Did my breath smell?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJinFj3DaXB
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPByTOTTHh2
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aP4KTSBRS
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Jason nods in understandable.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZPxbP9tbv
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpypj9XMbHO
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHtHofzQ8e
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKAjomhxHl
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“How do you know what those are and why?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sB77WqOex
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWQTW0Fu4a
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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.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC1eMCle5G
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iY3JR9CBX
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgxtJMH8LS
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaicSyk1sZX
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsRGv0uW77
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKztBui8XD
“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?
