Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJg2pMZJhz
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu8LyWfOAH
“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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c4ItqTmqK
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“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8IwagufEp
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu6s32v6rI
“What’s the dress like?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2mQ1JCiWn
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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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNEkLXzKxN
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“That’s fair.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIJhU3dOM9
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We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RFPHpkL3Q
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNUXQN1kF1
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9p1iflPyve
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“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AMCv0ylaU
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Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXnd9WCeXA
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“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp1lF4JgGG
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNYPqYvtUR
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdZG2RSmaV
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsCv9PUq1O
“Have you tried to remember?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LvwwAljyC
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcjTUKvMAD
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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRUxtFIJf7
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSzEbdI8JM
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi0jnge4nB
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaZ2LlfjWU
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU05fZLnEw5
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJr1etSmozX
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wTmwaRtoL
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4FJEZ4cBI
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8YWwXTD4g
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgOH326p25
"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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa6z6enAXb
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdy4ZBcI0u
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVsT1JJOcf
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1b77zRm3t
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmgzFApvuC
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BpiWAFiqF
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXGp8h4kZZ
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcstgSncXtu
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5RmHIkn53
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7OkYllRN1
“Fuck off.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeDoAqxZKN
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjEWHfhWjp
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymbTBFY6Ku
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EQqcxzP27
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAphoUToeJe
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This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRajLf8vNFD
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H4eADjpZn
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3YcQDLRqM
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywvDsOXxel
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BPEmoQgSM
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cK36dXiHF
“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?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sebDXh4oW
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFoRvCtaUP
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgisjxcG0H
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ276ZYDQkk1
“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?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmuGSsGImP
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“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc6PXfavWw
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQN2D8J3C0
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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtIA3ik4cK
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHtNmnfbmA
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd057I48FlC
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUWzVrjMjg
“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?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19BnoCdvC2
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDFJzKgl9D
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQDpeXUBgc
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN80RnhZBLv
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAq0kxRjxR
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayKcuhlwe7
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. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf30Qg6oQ4u
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“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRij0TJvmnN
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa6nIj3UIH
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxG8PVQvC6
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0RLR1hdZC
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu1u6Csk7i
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNuJOyoa7D
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqBUjQl07R
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BpiKZUSgL
“Xael-”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BRczlOnoJ
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPFAvHuLXX
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kH2Dy8FjM
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkxrV03Tfb
“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?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVltfvpWFE
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaupte0rQnh
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdLy1WDvER
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV636REtLET
“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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliZVQ0w7Wf
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I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPqdeJFG2V
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTnjrrQmL9
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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3jp78IE4F
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyR9tj2KnAo
“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?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5PPucqLbg
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI1EinLPN1
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pw85jCXaa
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3hmB8H9GC
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzIV5ajqKz
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvaRnTiJhq
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZawJuESFK7
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw2RvrwmpC
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1482gLhP3P
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3AapBTl8D
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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0TTUsMPis
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC9zo8n8dn
“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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUmIXdghuk
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCx97yIlIk
“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. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXSTfVG6g4
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“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QXnpNOs0M
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Bp4Pc8TmV
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqgWvdGZI7
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0019IYYHRo
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUa960v3Ju
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCgD806YeP
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3CaV1ctWC
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“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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeHpHGGcSS
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChXdu0L6U4
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeECVAsli9j
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3NpzNNqK5
“You wouldn’t dare-”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnttDv5oVyJ
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIHu1buiQr
“Try me!”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kUxXEsytd
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yZidxs2zi
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMxMZDhLkz
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qyEEg2BMQ
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kCkOq5L0Y
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WnOMknsAF
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5DdZDydPx
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“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCD7A1BwVH
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBNTcF4fy0
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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JBS3iYb0f
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“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr8pcPYSLC
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“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08DyMrIyJR
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“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m1BFEj5vp
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“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgaBmhsUkU
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J9zqVYx9Y
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvbLmiv6l4
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppQBXk2dcI
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlGoI5QGBU
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiT3ejTIog
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6rGFCy1UI
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenHnfFhcbH
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINtHfgsHfQ
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaTlhBarG8
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5cHEm7dlr
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQcg3I1wzS
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3fQWEq1HF
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28xAn2HsbA
“I don’t like you.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw6ofRNPv9
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“People usually don’t.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIuyVRzGvK
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“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BqEEgsonq
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UFXlCFlgm
“Thank you for the compliment!”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWViIkIrOZK
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyaSSwqgfd
“Wasn’t a compliment.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF7zZdkLjE
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zFoVMxXCk
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOY9J3EzR3
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr14olw2Vtf
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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsaF1VJcco
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Maybe I am funny after all.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM7kEMt6Sb
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“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SOOIEjCL1
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“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. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhTdtqLqgf
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“Draw?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVUjVYBMH7
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPLFCRMjRn
“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-”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZMWkZ34Gi
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXlYgiH85J
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QoRhSx9YJ
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwsvpXxxPM
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZQEybQ0QX
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsj9zqgtKW
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQulejjMZx
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7AgnRUvuk
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqNzOn5ubs
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q8ZJmbdKO
“Are you sure?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wURjzRfKd
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I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQxkaLAtYH
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzADSPmERnX
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX6s9miBTS
549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt0IZKOvJ5
“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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst6UYTPqWs
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPK2rdONpA
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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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1n62k2bng
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“I think she has a system?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEmQIYSIiq
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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!”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQx4vUwo9M
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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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hnJxBWVZl
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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!”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiM1P7GMpi
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tNoDxYpxE
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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-”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPr91AdtLW
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“Steri-strips?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1bCzsNkar
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“Yeah them.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixvGuEgbjg
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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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb6Y7nsnRG
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy70dhXZAi
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu9WZ4Y6rS
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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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFS5mQYC2F
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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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5fvLLI2Rk
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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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z0kfclQuQ
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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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTcoPKBd33
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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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig5DQ3TUUx
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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?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhwKUxIevc
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“Absolutely yes please.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2arFgbQRr
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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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb0kRnvVAp
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4nNgrYZK7
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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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6TekUUcmZ
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1qYPuMDfP
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“What goes where-”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaDVnn9HV4
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTqSJTFN4F
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2TCbuVgm7
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“Yes.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGZv5oWnfp
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAybBXIpv1
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVBCyWXnUF
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“No you aren’t!”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JJCXl5hs3
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“I’m not you’re right.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRdPrOfFi5
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5PQTW7aBP
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“Please don’t?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z5oiFGbhn
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgT9Vt88jO
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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. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUDBqR1en0
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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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn4DNjYlqn
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYKMH0edoz
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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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63Gaof8IHQ
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lnp5BBxgV
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXmbc98HOu
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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.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9V6sLSITt
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFAmaRpbID
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“Did my breath smell?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gqfrKVJng
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymUOgbGhOL
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JV5AVCpRT
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Jason nods in understandable.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ST4t0G4QE
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhbpR3enS3
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjCPy7eeza
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrBQSjpXPJ
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“How do you know what those are and why?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9pK1XPBau
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohlknlby3g
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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.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7OwsiRKbh
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDBbtRzqKy
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UVZRH2Z7W
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO2nTPWMuX
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 549Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuYCK1rlFe
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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?
