Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1TQBYL7xP
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cTdXl2pu7
“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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlgyzgZsUd
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqPcAXNQKS
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjeWU6UZmk
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVNmpO8Nfg
“What’s the dress like?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnZCKa30kH
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEttpULo2NQ
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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsseD3peEF
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxA7OXzVsC
“That’s fair.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBStl2nWRQ
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiOPEHr4kA
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡly5X54H5yR
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ077JjdRswQ
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfpNQdEBYh
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyMa2Phy9S
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW8MxZiW0T
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VJOW72Kkj
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiB0kARhD3
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz3xrL83EF
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQwPGFz0lH
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx10FaVBAFo
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNpbxwLaeU
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqeGuHif1r
“Have you tried to remember?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pvQbaTRBF
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPbfzs1JQ2
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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPpCEAVt9Y
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n747fXmXU
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PO3VgaH2h
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3sMNLBe3G
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhECYTQQKK
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpKOTa8DHV
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdRqNJ1Kp2
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX9xCDjISF
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoAitj7m7G
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd97ao5pKA4
"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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqGtNesMrr
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVO7yJ4cgR
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdS01R5n01z
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslwvewUCJH
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55fpwU6YhG
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejsqK51yz7
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo8ORQCuoU
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mkadT95y3
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfIE8QHgDZ
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXOc8i9xHa
“Fuck off.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1cBMnlT4K
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYMHpIEsNf
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXEGJ625Ma
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUARbaWgCYm
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zNAY0WKXr
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOJXWf27tc
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3WbqdPUKf
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kR6NGH2um
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHfa17U9WD
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1M9duKBNL
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhxeeUVcSK
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15s3MZ7cpC
“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?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcZS5cUF4h
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqzh9VAcs1
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL9qMcMiv5
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5qJc9QKas
“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?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVPA54jU8c
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXJvKIBVH5
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcML7P2mATi
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt45yZ3klgW
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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpML5eIXjl1
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhkr6NdN8Y
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzGtRmmzaS
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz3HijOp8K
“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?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkAC4269wZ
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUF1AeXYiE
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMdHZM5nnx
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWUpIeGiv2
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8JDrugTsE
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd90UDnydG
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. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjs5yTxvVb
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5oI6IjP8f
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIf5P6jtak
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AcZ9jFnIV
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNkPJrQQXm
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡere8pNmePl
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXnGdFSr9T
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGFSLwqqvF
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCvNuYdXQw
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRsffCwFUQ
“Xael-”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGAfahbR6l
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0RkApt3z1
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jxGsBVuTR
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarlm5r2RDn
“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?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlvtzhREx1
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafl9baaFE2
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJQOogQjzZ
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mxcqnLVig
“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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnf1p8zE7H
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27stY38IaJ
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EqBc44lyn
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKc2aBi8TK
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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZcrIaFqtH
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMlvE3EBdp
“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?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVDRP5AUpc
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFi1iUkk6B
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwaectImE8
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ftGqBFViu
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxPOycn5yN
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrCiRSfkAV
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyHd11Nggs
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQBImZRQin
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg3rRYgoak
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwP6t6CRNi
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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9Fz1JgDsg
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhHllXXQRR
“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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySdTrvuFhR
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEADB2XISKy
“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. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRiJSPg2zx
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNTLquIQky
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGQZF4AYV9
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd1uHAjjgX
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMaBMvv8SH
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7ARqXJ7MY
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSjZ65MhrY
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UTdwLDIvv
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhs0X4yTXF
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhqkrRKZJl
“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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMiN3ZCq2P
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1kgGh06Fn
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTNdjWdeOb
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpmBMqGgUr
“You wouldn’t dare-”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYXnhpH4UU
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSBezP0ezZ
“Try me!”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAEB0c14QO
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2FO4k1IRl
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdqgNDCf1p
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzych7jZT1G
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbbG4fe2Xk
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXPqHkJeaS
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5LIwAC7rU
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN2JS0yTxG
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Funqu2j5x
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGYLXrY4Oa
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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyECC8CE26
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehPB8FQjzY
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgE2VUX8Ek
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgONlOGKIyg
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyVbWD7LNc
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ4PAE8pxg
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPU7nkcihb
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTlykN0p12
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfYOIOR7RW
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKn6fDGUoN
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5330uBJlU5
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqMNCtvDuz
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qxpTXmIX3
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44XMg7mCky
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iO2DHpSRc
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphQMiF0LfG
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqSCWjyC8r
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lR7gj4SVS
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK926lAWRRu
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJkQZyBxHM
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MJhQLPLdv
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHECORkdRBQ
“I don’t like you.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTNGfBZCJK
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJvT6YJjAU
“People usually don’t.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaNXs13OTs
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVydiJd7Dq
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8XJyrnntc
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJetBeqTxw
“Thank you for the compliment!”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqh9hJz7my
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvlHayaXBy
“Wasn’t a compliment.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOtHgWdQ1e
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiPKGyFXR6
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKR4p0RSfx
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW78o4sw0eU
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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpizkx4VMGw
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Maybe I am funny after all.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uXCGHcO8V
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPk5GuuMML
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpHgwMHAWl
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFbmQRNMAI
“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. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6wZJ8vGGs
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiQex1dIAH
“Draw?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8U7LosTpL
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy01nI7AVQJ
“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-”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDSvic4h7r
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAcHp2VXmU
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc6JX49vPH
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj1lnep7A6
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvkslcQJ4X
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUFiEANSeM
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1qYd0LSF9
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbpPViBKte
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCbKXCTRjX
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JKz7KxN9l
“Are you sure?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kDOeEVuTs
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpzGtZk3Cp
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ98BnQMzc
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqQPiS2swk
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwDh5xBnaU
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6VOHW8qdG
“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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc4yQUZAKp
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyAmgOCjv2
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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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW1lButPVk
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“I think she has a system?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ThyR5MdDJ
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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!”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f6UoB6rhT
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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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqRtecxe64
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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!”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1udfhEOUMb
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn9RagsOeO
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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-”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YhmOC3r1a
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“Steri-strips?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z7j90loS6
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“Yeah them.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EHHqKq2Dq
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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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf66lDAXLo
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxl29UB8pF
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ON149NV8B
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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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReEZvKOCF5
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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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3TDEg0BIY
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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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzs4ROqTM0
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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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBoM8HqIH9
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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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31JSM1Jx8S
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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?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4HXISWI4N
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“Absolutely yes please.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CbXAQ0ovp
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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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX21ZVZZhN
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M0sfstjng
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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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtPfQNOjns
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLBdNPHXOR
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“What goes where-”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUPCwtleeE
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyb9PiV4b1
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTktfvJPVv
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“Yes.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07Hz4Oi03F
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUm108mX3GA
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpmWgDrtUj
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“No you aren’t!”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCrS0tf2pp
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“I’m not you’re right.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFOFJOMqhc
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynw4CAaQYE
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“Please don’t?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q8nevcjCV
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hji43TMWA
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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. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0LNuMUtnr
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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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6CpfT41vH
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIHhkZ1smJ
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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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oI4R763IB
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9JrBKOIId
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoSOjYXtWV
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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.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbxQDQYHQE
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkOH3h6FAZ
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“Did my breath smell?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHh4R0rjCSN
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHGvyyUebp
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSPXfbmTjr
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Jason nods in understandable.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFDhNlvL0G
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WyHILeJQu
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhoDRXcz9x
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC6ahNVIvc
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“How do you know what those are and why?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rsyMd4kZk
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcYq0DGxtt
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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.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAxAhOUDSc
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D8JHvKgyG
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ca9vgdJcE
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuw9HCyC64
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2MRW6Xqss
517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ar6tHZRTS
“His love language is words of affirmation. He likes being told when people love him or appreciate him.”
___________________________________________________________________517Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9QqN3HtrX
Question of the chapter: what's Xael's love language? Why is Conner's language words of affirmation?
