Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVZrsCMiph
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“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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivmCS3eMOB
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWgaGJ1qWe
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“What’s the dress like?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4ueMDj64o
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXSwBDqYaO
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“That’s fair.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9clzvzFAE
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We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcGhoa6525
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“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRBFBlhxSY
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“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaA42W5Mmc
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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.” 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwCAE3J5vW
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“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdQMqd64vu
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“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDGrnJgNAA
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“Have you tried to remember?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpak3dvzGO
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZtTiT6mlE
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“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5HIrxRTB0
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Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuED7Ai4uHD
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“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzxbEgH2Vo
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36jMAnSE8M
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5AYinPKrG
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7jrmwpUSW
"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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VO0kHb7DV
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73FHsMOpxv
“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlsZErAk0E
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB901cXrvzt
“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwOGGt8pte
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What’s with the sudden attitude flip?540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjMXx2GzYn
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“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68KlH6SHK2
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“Fuck off.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSiWyPBQAP
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3IPkgDF84
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7kyxbW2D9
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“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlphLQH85pQ
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This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLmfOg5c22
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“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTYc76Gfbt
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“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6ZPImFahA
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“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?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsYlVmKPtt
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“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFGEfBrX9p
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“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?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3sI6llVzQ
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“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbX8VVFkqk
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PD47jcbAK
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aOzhinVg7
“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXXdiPjzoz
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“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?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlHuZS8NHn
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Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRFAq0aaG8
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlrtxFfdsd
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLqpgwqcFo
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM54XUDZxDQ
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“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokr818lHq4
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“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrDiaBuq1w
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“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANDiTgWjUc
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“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKAQLTvCvu
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“Xael-”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiv81xlmC7
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“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHlLF1E8ki
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“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?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJmgpxMLPD
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I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUIBCrPjyQ
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“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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q0ubx016i
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I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoSb4CvloC
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0dOT6vJpn
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“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?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY9SBqpp32
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Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThuX0aYkUr
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“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rMc1OL9x4
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnKf7Rj9ly
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIb9jIYQXX
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“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7ADPw8nCw
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sMzegZXH9
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“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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlutDSGL04
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“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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9kqEBKirz
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlObVpqFLdr
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“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjAGNCvsvy
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I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugunx4bUhC
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRPeMu5wlx
“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDpII9L9DQ
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyk7euCyd0
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“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlLlzkPsij
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“You wouldn’t dare-”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpfDHRnjcM
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“Try me!”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90aubI9UBV
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We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyf9oUCDpF
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“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6UN3URp83
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“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBbRBBsM8B
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“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCcVnxPTh0
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlqu0NQm5l
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“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O901zA4Hp
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“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWRSGSDdmE
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“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpWxBCurun
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“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFjqPjMKGz
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“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12Eucx2KLR
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“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK5o5WUY4j
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I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRSFAeZQRL
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“So there are cuts on your stomach.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9klyZ02YAD
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“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGbOtMu3yw
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpuTBICzWh
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zo3nFfKrB
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“I don’t like you.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAGN9Il1uC
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“People usually don’t.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKoTGS2IY9
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“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMT9ubFR4S
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“Thank you for the compliment!”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57VFLbm1m4
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“Wasn’t a compliment.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE602psOiUS
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“And I still took it as one so suck it.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb8SDxCQ1u
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vHOyq28dj
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Maybe I am funny after all.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgh1rox4KO
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“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8MlBFHpiJ
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXTzRJXpIS
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“Draw?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2IRs9cuy9
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“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-”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SLNnYkNnU
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“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpxwIq5c5O
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“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5K9l7V3Dj
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“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lKfjCJsiZ
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7FTQCQvHM
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkFB47ksAa
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“Are you sure?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfP9JYAONA
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26fN4tlejF
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“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuBQsJn65b
540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbqfwltLJf
“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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ718SDGqHHu
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaZ1tavHd0
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaQgA7LAuU
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“I think she has a system?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdj6r0PKtu
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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!”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0JEB1rvb5
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQDdOpA95E
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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!”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlns3iCAK1B
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdINPWWeS7
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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-”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERzKmi4wNS
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“Steri-strips?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpwcLvBNju
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“Yeah them.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3AYDroUpk
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZc7xhcwDT
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSap5Z77w6
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BVZfbRYwR
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2VE9zEcBK
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHWJJP6ETT
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR1e0CD79Q
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLpNNkIDNv
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQOyLkAWmD
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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?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnTs3pxCAH
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“Absolutely yes please.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3PK7vEwyQ
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd4QtZOFJE
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7b1rvdiSH
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Py4Ku2mXJ
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWXN1hL43d
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“What goes where-”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03ZxXAIypc
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ20L2SdU0o
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8ONOF7tvg
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“Yes.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7oqu94KmF
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExRexrxy0p
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgxOPsctq4
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“No you aren’t!”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhItmlzTzjt
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“I’m not you’re right.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv02Gz36G3
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEakE1uuptr
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“Please don’t?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMVtUZfVQs
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75DsMfpNz9
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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. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6OKbaRCWo
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf4KrW6awC
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LlABPLxXL
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFei9j7Hyb
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmbR0DXRTR
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLuUZmqc4o
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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.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8sju0jcSH
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYHG8ZOePB
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“Did my breath smell?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPue7erEem
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUaxuE7dPN
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNDSKQzLZr
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Jason nods in understandable.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcw2i5VRg2U
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5STJUwwqO
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SmKqM8ruD
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gvGNmfPCe
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“How do you know what those are and why?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nntlFJ0Gr
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVDbwenXB4
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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.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPB1raDR7c
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyqzdYYwN4
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1TkAipUbO
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrEM9F7z00
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 540Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9ITrBLQoA
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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?
