Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM09Hoes0qn
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuUIe2i3SX
“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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB90EWd44zB
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAGOBpaCe0
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHyoCeqRvi
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrECprNFFZ
“What’s the dress like?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEjmPTjplz
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJmhJAiESN
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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxHDgBP6Xq
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoV2HEPzkm
“That’s fair.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZvZp39JDp
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9siXySJOWF
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gzFYWNLpO
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELpi5C4Nf7
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZymHkfXuY
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mOqWhu8Iv
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHLCzvcZMR
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oq8dzT2kN
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKYgp3NvGx
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80tCshRvPK
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0gkU4M9xF
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZlRVPEJMa
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYglAUhZ4B
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUinDvSOmv
“Have you tried to remember?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlmqmcKkim
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkqJWqaqz4
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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWfKlPr8Os
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jFqLwpOAj
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0P2AZesBQ
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIOaTA5UfN
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLPW8xAeRw
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j0rrdRkLb
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxufhYptQD
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhkpGHmMNU
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbgztAKwdp
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwvFMUuhx2
"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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KfY8e0MDP
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRtmVVWdSG
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jOzJ7EUPL
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrE0astUrO6
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nFuMQHLTf
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnSHEqUfC9
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5Ti22oPMl
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46jRHHi0Za
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsrQ32Wfhp
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL8kHjRDhJ
“Fuck off.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdehDoMVuez
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iCAAXNJy2
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLF09PLEz4
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfgZjlOk53
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAU5kqS5fG
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP1Z9KnBxb
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR5JBkPPyK
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡri697W4oMl
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVWtGDMqey
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvUyyPUbin
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPJdozKdSZ
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GJFTJzqdu
“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?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAlopYazUD
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2kBzMOGFQ
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5foLEc2IL
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxEXRgAc7s
“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?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYsltWYhev
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ9FidjQhm
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSDIKbwrjB
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0Cu4XBUc5
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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpreY12JsZ
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj9cBH5KQN
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50XYfxHNtw
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JrPKdDwOT
“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?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkyKjBQp7H
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJGa75JHuH
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0lyLIRLG1
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjcIX9aTrn
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3gmtgtZJq
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0yH8VQz4T
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. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDcMPs3IMS
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdygrQkFKz5
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JRDQwIbhw
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz3D1fmDrT
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XVrDgyuIN
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVXnD2X82S
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6zyBdhsVz
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXK6u6C7I7
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UrTxsZqXQ
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IQEHPP0Bq
“Xael-”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlcKEAH7Ld
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd18nOFWIY6
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgXfPUg5br
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdfPDdR8FW
“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?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLTq0jAy9o
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghHPGYf6mF
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpktbgsX7B
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLYsYgn4Zc
“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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKPojIQC80
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmy596vIwx
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNRjsasIs3
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIKsdj2wCg
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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2gWVLUXvq
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMM82aPyZz
“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?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37VuDA8oLo
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GEOB2cTNW
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuNgDsQNcq
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDHqIrOBap
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtirutmpzR
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSyiIwJJeE
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKocBYOceiW
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWaAeXDSDZ
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUpWKyQ7ch
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlplWsiZq9e
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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesWnapqNSv
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhPRiqb3C8
“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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpL4B7v37BN
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo1UQ2OD0w
“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. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeAEabGCBV
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEYdyuJMt2
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vElrbOPHz
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ558gqchu4p
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YesZbi6ur
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUKS57Vska
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1S4nwXemgy
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdyOaWTh2i
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CG8iX3KAo
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyt27vTK66g
“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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0RAHYcmjj
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSlhhZxHya
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgILr06Icf
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nXrvuHGv0
“You wouldn’t dare-”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkDU6powPL
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs96e45hjEB
“Try me!”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPIuwvVRi2
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1JZLVOtGz
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOTArrl0wj
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCMSY7nr8c
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lCm7J6igM
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRb1Ojk6nX
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sKrim0FCn
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8q653Oy13
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr4iCLnHNe
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmaIla8FCg
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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LRybaA22q
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CGXvSWOAr
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4eFIpbBBj
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTbi4eozcK
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qrCp6pKCY
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGsx81u2kF
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB26KypIrUm
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGvs9PQMrm
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpG9FJaOu4l
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkVN09qNx0
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlG1cjkO9c
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4b6ZmSkQN
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiCZxu2iWT
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3MCz6QQN3
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo6eIqyWYl
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpdYWFR26m
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYYjQebzjj
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqhku89sUT
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pAszkAWXh
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCcMMEvWdF
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8f3bYNbRK
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJArPU1l9HF
“I don’t like you.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F8DkI25mm
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tET0VvShA
“People usually don’t.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzme9FF7M3
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMqvbsToYB
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxmJ8LhFUw
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlnDahHUO2
“Thank you for the compliment!”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy6LyHyEuT
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDSIQwjqIJ
“Wasn’t a compliment.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGGGhI7cEJ
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwJwAGjpUh
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGKgvwikmK
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNktNi0SCXi
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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYy18t2tPz
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBN8pFJgIW
Maybe I am funny after all.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS4bSbY9oU
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41AI46ttG7
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu3Mb64sE0
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLT2ARCEr8
“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. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtzJMWhzsZ
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelJrpvU3tR
“Draw?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpUypMm3Xs
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzft68Z9hDu
“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-”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUAb2DDDzl
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyz3TmjxyN
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfJX6ch0Jr
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdruzO8Pw9Y
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnZW5tKSbg
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTVl6EePOA
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCbWE8uV8N
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWBQqvvhnV
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyUTM3z6SB
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UFPrDApFo
“Are you sure?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9V3xacKst
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaN9gVr3h2
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRW5zTvGN8
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMVME3IQgT
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBvp1jExRY
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimJ8LuILC8
“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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTVuf8hlqd
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiND5hWKewB
“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEv5SlSh5E
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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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyN3IhkOCTm
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“I think she has a system?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdphOGo5KTJ
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NWbbNqQt2
“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!”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy9tQFVxcK
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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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFueHO5HcDy
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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!”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKrbiehVcH
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70m0LInLqY
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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-”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX6hyvjq0W
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKBGj82NyC
“Steri-strips?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVmvZQvdYX
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“Yeah them.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDbfIJDvi3
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQmhoyd4SM
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTye2HWgCGt
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37cdoRto2G
“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD3IYtGJbR
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtLBMOm528
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcutHYmWl1d
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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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JFbU6OJTD
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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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qkHOtHY92
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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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fg1rYo4O8
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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?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzP85bY7vk
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“Absolutely yes please.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoTo4TfQXw
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyVg8BdKPu
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmihgcoezsa
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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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdV0rgJ0nB
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRO0hV3DDl
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“What goes where-”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxEFGw3SYL
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Gd1DclCCL
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSPXqBAkSS
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“Yes.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxXjtelp63
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv76ir7R3D
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOVCotRu43
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“No you aren’t!”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWWkPXoCsr
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“I’m not you’re right.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAryKkt7MQ
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EVu8vxL9M
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“Please don’t?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ855UnrUp6v
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwRKAhzcq5
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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. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWjhdiaQ0x
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGZSwyJIO7
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAEGVGSIDv
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2S9Dan2i7
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6RvVn8EiX
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLsE9kDU6R
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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.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5jOAIBSn4
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9gms9bmoh
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“Did my breath smell?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCreAvyT4D
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacHWZDDvHE
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGxORoFAT1
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Jason nods in understandable.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag1UwkK79w
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxT3msPOHs
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIFof8nTfZ
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEgv8twhxX
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“How do you know what those are and why?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCahNyPIjQ7
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zV5auj9Jj
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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.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQwHthPE57
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhypl4en9A
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8wsADSGNN
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDtKd0n63x
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAevuZSeHkq
490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8alKdhHz29
“His love language is words of affirmation. He likes being told when people love him or appreciate him.”
___________________________________________________________________490Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaaq46R7W1
Question of the chapter: what's Xael's love language? Why is Conner's language words of affirmation?
