Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?331Please respect copyright.PENANAgqfk1jZDlH
331Please respect copyright.PENANAF3LeKSv2Yp
“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.331Please respect copyright.PENANAQLpMQDZ9Y4
331Please respect copyright.PENANA12U8UiXMZw
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAz0vptagJkC
331Please respect copyright.PENANAUsoXAtm1im
“What’s the dress like?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAwi5w9hDGVK
331Please respect copyright.PENANAfVdH1Qo9uf
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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAC4OkY8CMWJ
331Please respect copyright.PENANANIVwcHEH6F
“That’s fair.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAe0hZW00eoo
331Please respect copyright.PENANAVtc4KbvkHN
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.331Please respect copyright.PENANA79TCqXSrWH
331Please respect copyright.PENANAP8vKWy0LZ6
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAoqsZ7sbo1m
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmku2aQaPwb
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAoAaH7umTFL
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEGmgTcLBlp
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 331Please respect copyright.PENANAomMOQnDKxl
331Please respect copyright.PENANAMXAEUnzAqj
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAJd8Cw95H4Q
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlJg6IQC0I4
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAeX7Cw3ddUu
331Please respect copyright.PENANArMj8i9BTVI
“Have you tried to remember?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAmR3fTOI08S
331Please respect copyright.PENANAbneQXjyUNJ
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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA7As5lfczdX
331Please respect copyright.PENANA91xFA2Fpy2
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAOzDG8lsEi2
331Please respect copyright.PENANATdbY9RebSz
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.331Please respect copyright.PENANA4pyU3KZG74
331Please respect copyright.PENANA3bsrn5W82y
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAuglZlWqHHj
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlTV9tItt5N
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."331Please respect copyright.PENANA2gtzG4hwTT
331Please respect copyright.PENANA3EeSL4FTEO
"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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAGqmDh2i16z
331Please respect copyright.PENANALJm3DkHCPA
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA6L33Q6yexU
331Please respect copyright.PENANAd3Z0rAjV4a
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANANR1VN1yAp2
331Please respect copyright.PENANAR6VrU5mTpo
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?331Please respect copyright.PENANAu7nqfGBPjg
331Please respect copyright.PENANAobkdvOrn9R
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”331Please respect copyright.PENANA9vmoKG2SBd
331Please respect copyright.PENANAcbKbf6zLgh
“Fuck off.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA08ZMA3uGRl
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdkZsKEbUwp
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.331Please respect copyright.PENANALqaBY2g4pX
331Please respect copyright.PENANAQo6EdBn5xe
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.331Please respect copyright.PENANA5sRRgIqJO9
331Please respect copyright.PENANAUjYfKzqhoE
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.331Please respect copyright.PENANAcYjPXogJxG
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdNySultKfI
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAyxBgpdCWvK
331Please respect copyright.PENANA42fNklVzfd
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.331Please respect copyright.PENANAMtOlMG5VxL
331Please respect copyright.PENANAFEWGcDvOXa
“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?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAxumgFQf0Ve
331Please respect copyright.PENANAbhxZaAWHKm
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.331Please respect copyright.PENANAetyZZWwNDM
331Please respect copyright.PENANA51B8WKssoA
“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?”331Please respect copyright.PENANABmpakuPqVy
331Please respect copyright.PENANASh7nTdip1B
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA0yEZw0Qbpn
331Please respect copyright.PENANAVnZkA0Bkr7
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.331Please respect copyright.PENANAE1JnOD77aX
331Please respect copyright.PENANAu2qk5VF46d
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAHPMCp9MNZQ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAsHQxQHXYf1
“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?”331Please respect copyright.PENANANr3Jd4RSIT
331Please respect copyright.PENANAWk7PVyqxoc
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.331Please respect copyright.PENANA8zXDLYm4HW
331Please respect copyright.PENANAj82fqK8BmD
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA1VSYncbKMV
331Please respect copyright.PENANAGudnvxp3Jh
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. 331Please respect copyright.PENANAOCXYpbwCIV
331Please respect copyright.PENANAomnBqSOtMi
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.331Please respect copyright.PENANALs8uXHbadu
331Please respect copyright.PENANAiQ6Y83yuoW
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAVyqSosebx4
331Please respect copyright.PENANAQtY2jrkxpn
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAyhISkbUtHd
331Please respect copyright.PENANAe78nxLSeWN
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANABlgAf3OQfs
331Please respect copyright.PENANAjZKHy2MMf1
“Xael-”331Please respect copyright.PENANAJhacp41i15
331Please respect copyright.PENANARMKvc49UtX
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.331Please respect copyright.PENANAdj7208R60A
331Please respect copyright.PENANAzEFOmfvoFb
“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?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAamtvnzpnKd
331Please respect copyright.PENANA2gOmDVt0lJ
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.331Please respect copyright.PENANAA1rYqa6aay
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmcY564V2ub
“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.331Please respect copyright.PENANATYx2FdjwGr
331Please respect copyright.PENANArv3Z2NwU9c
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.331Please respect copyright.PENANAagJkg68UbK
331Please respect copyright.PENANAu5hRba9JHo
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.331Please respect copyright.PENANA5e1g3k6Bph
331Please respect copyright.PENANASvbWLXCewF
“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?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAfl8nGAIu1I
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEpX5j80p0s
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.331Please respect copyright.PENANA5auzEc9R2c
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmlLe9sYsFv
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA8Wznv0puBY
331Please respect copyright.PENANAfiaeFj6S7w
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.331Please respect copyright.PENANAuUnEraTKBb
331Please respect copyright.PENANA0k8EU77xIR
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANArzwLUYYLPy
331Please respect copyright.PENANAHg8SrX55R2
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.331Please respect copyright.PENANAITe6wWXkSz
331Please respect copyright.PENANAQdT3ECwK0V
“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.331Please respect copyright.PENANAkpDMb8RA8v
331Please respect copyright.PENANA1yOEv58omZ
“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. 331Please respect copyright.PENANAYdjYCg2U5i
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlFASu7UESj
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA1p6nB33uvp
331Please respect copyright.PENANAHHgCjyPYTO
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAjIvWDOrj0e
331Please respect copyright.PENANAwlmQgp0sqn
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.331Please respect copyright.PENANAA0MnAcKLzD
331Please respect copyright.PENANAgqlK3KGCRE
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAgC6QoEocd7
331Please respect copyright.PENANAUrqoAAryjo
“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.331Please respect copyright.PENANAXx10R2uSmX
331Please respect copyright.PENANA8IuyHqVqBN
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAohTZGPvD7c
331Please respect copyright.PENANAvE8agFdee4
“You wouldn’t dare-”331Please respect copyright.PENANARRcseiX65x
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlNunB8WTCN
“Try me!”331Please respect copyright.PENANAyRCPH8qlbS
331Please respect copyright.PENANAz2k7AHBvTq
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.331Please respect copyright.PENANA3CP3GZw4id
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEi55zVkvs8
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.331Please respect copyright.PENANA830m0cxdhn
331Please respect copyright.PENANAQOcaiQ9lm9
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”331Please respect copyright.PENANAhIWCHW9PET
331Please respect copyright.PENANAjsLu7O93lA
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAMU8ZbVEErF
331Please respect copyright.PENANAN8b0fxq969
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.331Please respect copyright.PENANAne1TIhq5wn
331Please respect copyright.PENANAl67TGWhFWQ
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 331Please respect copyright.PENANA9E0Y6lfQ4z
331Please respect copyright.PENANAUtngKJwH56
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.331Please respect copyright.PENANAMtZenc9L8A
331Please respect copyright.PENANA30LhKAaT7Q
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAzRv1XpaNbF
331Please respect copyright.PENANAbjqCUk1sKF
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAggh6JKPEyc
331Please respect copyright.PENANAsrTPobUQ6u
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAVYZ35YLQcu
331Please respect copyright.PENANAXrAKnG8X0k
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAfOk2U3MxRT
331Please respect copyright.PENANAsFWasnYB3L
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.331Please respect copyright.PENANA0ieERZ57Di
331Please respect copyright.PENANAFma0Okra9K
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAiV33dPAEdk
331Please respect copyright.PENANAA10Gr6UBfn
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAcOp5BD0kxu
331Please respect copyright.PENANAztjBddklVa
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAiPSRuQaWsM
331Please respect copyright.PENANAwZ7SbKevFM
“I don’t like you.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAZdC8Cy5nSo
331Please respect copyright.PENANAD8Q6lfAELW
“People usually don’t.”331Please respect copyright.PENANATg7iPvxg64
331Please respect copyright.PENANAz0jW3zvQNY
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAhRA5cpgRYC
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOOIluDMGxT
“Thank you for the compliment!”331Please respect copyright.PENANAMO7kcNgrfi
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEdUkHvkb08
“Wasn’t a compliment.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAPVlHzqT2Ft
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6uPTyCeV5O
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAtQYs4WjT3T
331Please respect copyright.PENANAiX4KSkwEs0
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.331Please respect copyright.PENANAvVMBKOWTeo
331Please respect copyright.PENANAxe8eoIQYlU
Maybe I am funny after all.331Please respect copyright.PENANANJupZ9R0V8
331Please respect copyright.PENANAOZnojCalja
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.331Please respect copyright.PENANAt1k9yAYoTx
331Please respect copyright.PENANAFgIstMTchA
“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. 331Please respect copyright.PENANAolFc63EkGY
331Please respect copyright.PENANAbVji1UjxxY
“Draw?”331Please respect copyright.PENANATRrVpNfQqC
331Please respect copyright.PENANA3xXIuPRKna
“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-”331Please respect copyright.PENANATx50Md8ZWc
331Please respect copyright.PENANAkYX8rPf7Jz
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAWBE14CMBHB
331Please respect copyright.PENANAksJhrOf9uG
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 331Please respect copyright.PENANAT86q9EmydL
331Please respect copyright.PENANA5TdFCxkQ1d
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.331Please respect copyright.PENANAqxhgwscX1B
331Please respect copyright.PENANAAMgkEB9Bny
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.331Please respect copyright.PENANAuhQ5QmUfhi
331Please respect copyright.PENANAfmcRcEIjJ9
“Are you sure?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAAlZqMCq7Q4
331Please respect copyright.PENANA3oLAf9240M
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.331Please respect copyright.PENANAIDQeVYehlo
331Please respect copyright.PENANA4XJP4FOZG7
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAk8n2QYlMDr
331Please respect copyright.PENANAVOZVrTJ3uX
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAdbDsPVq34a
331Please respect copyright.PENANANeM1yNSJeP
“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.331Please respect copyright.PENANATM7QSl72NQ
331Please respect copyright.PENANAWDMnXQlkjG
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAEaTjpZgtiT
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJMV3XM1bAl
“I think she has a system?”331Please respect copyright.PENANALwxc5ikkMN
331Please respect copyright.PENANA1hMxYelaV7
“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!”331Please respect copyright.PENANAcwQvAFzVkP
331Please respect copyright.PENANAkTN1IM0yJQ
“Xael.” Jason puts a hand on my shoulder, and I sigh. “Chill. It isn’t nearly as bad as it seems.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAR2dDZvGhYD
331Please respect copyright.PENANAl5vuDEO5Dx
“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!”331Please respect copyright.PENANAg8sSWmooru
331Please respect copyright.PENANALFhrqBsMKI
“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.331Please respect copyright.PENANAGfX9Ecevzg
331Please respect copyright.PENANAfZQ1Ty9y0v
“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-”331Please respect copyright.PENANAW5qNmWMAuL
331Please respect copyright.PENANALS6QXEEb5x
“Steri-strips?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAueK8m0w6dr
331Please respect copyright.PENANAQsYhyuW1xX
“Yeah them.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAMd8YhLwzEG
331Please respect copyright.PENANAkuS1GJp0bc
“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.331Please respect copyright.PENANAXKQFEw87rU
331Please respect copyright.PENANAKNaB8iFJPU
Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 331Please respect copyright.PENANAZeAoSr7cLd
331Please respect copyright.PENANAlO69XzbQ9u
“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 331Please respect copyright.PENANAVpt9neygHO
331Please respect copyright.PENANA4zatMJItBQ
“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.331Please respect copyright.PENANA3UF5KjkLOC
331Please respect copyright.PENANA8cOyteVBdd
“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.331Please respect copyright.PENANA8KrpLCuFSV
331Please respect copyright.PENANAXW5Gk8Yof8
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAM2LJvc3bXM
331Please respect copyright.PENANAgYN9y2kSFM
“What story has a scene with self-harm wounds?” Jason helps me with the Steri-strips. “I’ve read all of your works.”331Please respect copyright.PENANA7xmDVuk1uV
331Please respect copyright.PENANAfB2XWXj8cW
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAhb4wGK4xGe
331Please respect copyright.PENANAThBBYkCANo
“You’re good,” Jason assures me. I stick the last Steri-strip onto his shoulder, then roll his sleeve back down. “Organizing time?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAjLlx2GuV5J
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmqfEW0F9UJ
“Absolutely yes please.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAnftl89zFv3
331Please respect copyright.PENANAmmaiFq78Z7
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.331Please respect copyright.PENANAFe4WIp4GF6
331Please respect copyright.PENANA6qSFa7TS02
“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.331Please respect copyright.PENANAQQYZShjszS
331Please respect copyright.PENANAHa20QpF7dJ
“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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAU6kl6afJL0
331Please respect copyright.PENANAEdS1LR9q7z
Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.331Please respect copyright.PENANAqiAAF73f8C
331Please respect copyright.PENANAJEebeqOTWZ
“What goes where-”331Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6GcABQqQd
331Please respect copyright.PENANAgfVbg92tza
“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAFvg7AmD6Ag
331Please respect copyright.PENANAGIkswLEwsv
“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAwb3qDbNnZV
331Please respect copyright.PENANAfunOPJvKN6
“Yes.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAhTH7qSbxRx
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 331Please respect copyright.PENANAHfD7rpWN9l
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 331Please respect copyright.PENANA9nxhf6BvDT
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“No you aren’t!”331Please respect copyright.PENANAHbtX8at5hK
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“I’m not you’re right.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAKuRM08Ng7K
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”331Please respect copyright.PENANAaacisrIK4H
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“Please don’t?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAZSsmQ0iztb
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.331Please respect copyright.PENANAoydhx3lj4S
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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. 331Please respect copyright.PENANArkivclsy1U
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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.331Please respect copyright.PENANA2Nj4I5Fv5F
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAb4H8e4d5Gn
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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.331Please respect copyright.PENANA4xCxRhbZ3h
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.331Please respect copyright.PENANAfEnCDmbcRB
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”331Please respect copyright.PENANAjtZtCx5aMh
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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.331Please respect copyright.PENANA5ivrh3Qfuz
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.331Please respect copyright.PENANAFzGDc5Umz5
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“Did my breath smell?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAc7E7MOHLK7
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.331Please respect copyright.PENANAnUgn3IY7wh
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”331Please respect copyright.PENANALYHx5ZF7rJ
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Jason nods in understandable.331Please respect copyright.PENANArJVyPJVAGg
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAczoLKXvDZW
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.331Please respect copyright.PENANAub17Spv2Io
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”331Please respect copyright.PENANADRQlDs2jcv
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“How do you know what those are and why?”331Please respect copyright.PENANAtFWiw1pxQV
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 331Please respect copyright.PENANAKzvQT8A1yA
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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.”331Please respect copyright.PENANAl2H5adgDPk
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”331Please respect copyright.PENANArS7iRqwfvy
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.331Please respect copyright.PENANAUB1jtqC87q
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”331Please respect copyright.PENANASdqLOHfySj
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 331Please respect copyright.PENANAjFc58HNoky
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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?