Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJh00HS8UP
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpOJmelQEU
“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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYE9qK9K2d
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3CPKioJ2T
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3oAzfwMeU
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKodKoMZG1W
“What’s the dress like?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuvglKlK3Z
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaWVVb9V7E
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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj1LzQbH5Q
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecdIdDdDPu
“That’s fair.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqiy35gIZy
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoQXBMVBXu
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXL1ZEiGZu
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71vAkkCr6n
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla2Sms5hXI
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ0Ts4jq6n
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbixBBIYNPZ
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabatL706ko
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ka4HI3mlP
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyfb1KPbEk
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ90qQkC67s
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyURmz0fP47
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IFRSO7JLy
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWobx4x7oCA
“Have you tried to remember?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbpigXoAAj
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnFK0mRwl6
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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l4neESo5a
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgrbn5tkSj
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhfqseSSqR
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBtNTbWa9y
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvSCLSN0cO
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmQ2MBi7el
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHsz9oEc0U
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrpvpc11Ow
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ2VL10msq
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmGtSRmemy
"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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9fl3EjlIZ
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9xp11sBrN
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIwJl0L090
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqLnp1PL9F
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45sOKl7nCb
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHFF11NQxF
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamCDeQV1GX
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqyl5csumO
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXGSxbEJxf
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJMO3wvNqC
“Fuck off.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFIJ0JKCTd
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYsZYEYrwV
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGapCXxke6
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCOQ2wG1Cr
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotjK15yUCw
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeZW7UCd36
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpQ6hcdNU5
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89sCMEyhRU
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGZa7GnZY7
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcZ3OGbL0d
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCOFe89xHj
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrj3wvMnWe
“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?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5hTOFi0se
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD1HeGRlpy
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYGg2F5E5W
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW6X7EigK1
“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?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoBnshSWVW
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAERDUL9Stq
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y6wxxYFzn
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRgH7g31p5
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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMSpvZkHyR
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuRqKuVEDz
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRhsoLfwrC
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gr47SoxZ8
“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?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrxzxohUSy
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnPKhaRsUu
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYeJH0TjtO
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzzjlwSHvr
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVwueWPbnW
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfQJfx2OOO
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. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqaVpbjBkN
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2LAsEhKdZ
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpStjx2vpl
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz9REaukSn
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MA2qfHl4Z
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ050FNnpTr5
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84ORj6Y0MC
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n9KpuLApi
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGXoiBLege
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN757puQkuw
“Xael-”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipp7LAiA8c
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jc79GAQOF
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGepMOy1tWY
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLcjA1Ffjt
“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?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmkjFf9QWt
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvacGouSonx
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrcIGH05J7
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ91E1LzqZ
“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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZltRQSJR2u
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33usxHKm6P
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2nAYJV9FC
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpArxYUqrR
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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6uTwoC5dR
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwHNdLncHI
“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?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR1PP8i4MN
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18UJX9jyDx
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XQT6RUzZU
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwy9PV0SJb
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u8DXZsbtX
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FQqR3xARe
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm53Ld863E
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhuMsa3YQM
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KrQPOCHbP
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nWOyaWPLN
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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvgsPAMxs0
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQINlMnK187
“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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUW90vDBDR
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhShXuItCgl
“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. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsBmY0LJmd
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzXsc78U3X
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLZrZFseSw
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdQdBquDGx
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA2dDQaEwr
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA3cyTx20I
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxigQvCD5c
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXjIAwwKh4
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONMmroPlQJ
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqUOCwAjVc
“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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmwvAlmyMp
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xOf2nPhnY
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhOW1oh8Hh
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIdrrqjIfg
“You wouldn’t dare-”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnLCjrvawg
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlwsIxkUhp
“Try me!”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfebyt4Gct
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Yndw8yXTw
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKTzVEIQyT
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLEgoH67a2
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5bFJEYQzU
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4Romuilyg
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEVQiIDzh8
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndwuvFjCew
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9BlccB6mT
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOAUYxNwsu
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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVujQuSyr2
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrtnND0qW1
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3G8hAfx66
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rM0ty5VbO
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0O8em3XcYz
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSOqyDQ1hC
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoABBPRagHj
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAdJjEodmT
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZZANPBtC4
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBwmppovh1
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZUUXtT7ow
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3GLNzo77Z
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKL68DFKLS
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjtdVcRkE2
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwWW2SfOHu
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXc34T7Xc7S
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxv19wMkFK
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZIRXUckD6
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8S7HKlp83
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16uJLcfCjk
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXAyCV49K0
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmbdwG9MZv
“I don’t like you.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf4L7X9W00
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFX1QQnUmF
“People usually don’t.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XrNJXw6qg
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGZWwi11ya
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1MNeXrz5q
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYzTB9ZfgN
“Thank you for the compliment!”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYg3uRjQBN
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSodPaxghr
“Wasn’t a compliment.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuJirtYw6n
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y1akkEgre
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZxtavpC4U
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nVx87dcBu
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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwxHl7TfY8
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX1pf5WPDq
Maybe I am funny after all.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNaXts8wPd
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskDwX8hpZE
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA6G5Ldbg0
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKX3lo7wXq
“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. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6ZBnuykqA
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOoUHd7mhG
“Draw?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWjas8ufzv
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRMbwUpkaA
“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-”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8mZ8ZjAvz
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3AYKzQwYa
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2u2740nHa
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm60aQ1c92O
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjuON6CkMI
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxBi7SlatF
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzF2HwZ8GO
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qT5FVxghA
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mD9ZGI5av
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYxk3edlbQ
“Are you sure?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmiFNZQYlV
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0IokPf7Sp
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcRFRNF4l8
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvwdviF2PD
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTry5oHWdI
534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0NFyMwH86
“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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYFpwpGSrF
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk94Ff5g30
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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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYDElkUZB3
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“I think she has a system?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWkg5ra8qK
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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!”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgQH9my0uh
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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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0hcfRcz7e
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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!”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb6IEBY5RL
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriNff2Ey0g
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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-”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVWW2g1wVr
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“Steri-strips?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9S9ouKMgE
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“Yeah them.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDiEGlvnrN
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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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VdSJplvPR
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9foXVkGfpp
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqXaQeCfhs
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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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8WaMV42EH
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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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlD0Fr35eyu
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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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtYp02Z4lo
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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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pLtB3D1CG
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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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpHoyxTTyC
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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?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvgyjVaCMj
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“Absolutely yes please.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQyRPpUlMl
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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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa49JAOHdv
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUac6T3KL7L
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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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GjFBOLbI5
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqNdvLe1GN
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“What goes where-”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeERxvdmIb8
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0icVXnW9k
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHryt0lD3E
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“Yes.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynYYoyI5FQ
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjFbd5pRRC
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo67BXaBNU
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“No you aren’t!”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6k6YHRe34
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“I’m not you’re right.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH7ytyvIcj
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVGIB2RQOy
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“Please don’t?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTmsHKORg3
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDpdv3GVoD
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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. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsqbX7et5v
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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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFXJS78fYR
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlx9uhH6pd
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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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNHDkRSxGu
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LfWiHxzHt
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPkvvpYdSH
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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.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCJslIgIX6
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6UZWpC07y
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“Did my breath smell?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB8inNqaYe
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9wnuNrCXv
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZB6X73FzS
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Jason nods in understandable.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ33ETVz7G2
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxZNdbZaUm
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2dX5BYKg5
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEFc4udtKI
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“How do you know what those are and why?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu7qqjeMsT
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAiONoV95n
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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.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtGZp4UtS0
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkcR5HUeSC
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeKRipva3l
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJRJUrlPtD
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE7UM4spdZ
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“His love language is words of affirmation. He likes being told when people love him or appreciate him.”
___________________________________________________________________534Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR3eSfcrbL
Question of the chapter: what's Xael's love language? Why is Conner's language words of affirmation?
