Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RAV5I2Jym
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnZ19TnA0x
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndO3juy4j7
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“What’s the dress like?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpbBCX8tLN
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iOpA7erzg
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“That’s fair.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7otJsz14ll
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We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXbsr6Mvhp
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“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPA2IhMeUp
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“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU1bWjsx6c
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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.” 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYZm2O5UC6
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“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECAC4zkph7
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrgp8vMqTE
“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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNctp0m8Qmt
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“Have you tried to remember?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUtFREOoCI
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobW2htM0B6
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“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdsQPuLvHG
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Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIMgV7ocKo
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04ckK4gWjZ
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mpsRBXqfY
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xBEPfqHkC
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACG9nHRKvN
"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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiadNy7pdSY
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwEmkv9kKs
“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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZM4LpsUiO
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ccXOglVtE
“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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ay3IDQbs8
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What’s with the sudden attitude flip?428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk6ONiX1aH
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“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gzqjHD4A5
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“Fuck off.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB3entPu3R
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I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutthyAipow
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDKmHXnh5f
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This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyVKNZzKqb
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“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AAjaehW4e
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9flsZo5ep
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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?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaFa9VOuvy
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“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6z6lSGTQK
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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?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUe0ogq8sa
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“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31kjXsT8CC
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPxQ684Y4C
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmafedID2mQ
“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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7s4bAUxGj
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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?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubEFroITAL
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Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5koSrBdPs
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUrRxMnZs1
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTseB9QBmrT
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4KjOF5hKn
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. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIoVcSvSZv
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm28jwrcnZ5
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBMhwVyhqS
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj3ZxsiaV7
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIs3MwTGTEK
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“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T0oyUC2cY
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOwn90OySs
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“Xael-”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFkV4OuH4a
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“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPx8nZt73e
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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?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8PiTEWct0
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I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPVvK7UOaB
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaERFaTpM8O
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I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zJtrIzEMi
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4KHlMmlIC
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwD7zbNNPB
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpHXMr82tX
“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?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyzRv0goPp
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA5f0WzywI
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTv5oKNnUO
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“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlN5qmGDWk
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdghBipcga
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQWJ3BGqFH
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBc2EtHOcz
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kkOWZatqZ
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnPjtZEtSM
“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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IbaynbYDH
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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. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiSejlAFUy
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrtKufrAD0
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhVuOrUaYS
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTi1i0rSIQr
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I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnbdpTc1Ub
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“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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTOtlUQnpg
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Z7zHHvAv4
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCrtSftVE6
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“You wouldn’t dare-”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLikmWwy6Su
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“Try me!”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXP5FHDzMU
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nxPwhJdjS
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHZy74XNtB
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“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6uMjZif1x
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“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsFsrtVYga
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“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxz49uqZfu
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGFeDbi4gu
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpBQXM2ZAQ
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“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡice4AJ1B9e
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“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYZqmYTQ8g
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO4aEjE5KV
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDG5if07na
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“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IWx7JOrXq
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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?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPhVgWFRRc
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Xqzz4LqRL
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1DnbM0UCS
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I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtjbCuXUuV
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“So there are cuts on your stomach.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65rNbo3bCK
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsIlo2Gknz
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ePT9GDhQc
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6lIWXzPGs
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHqAePOHF4
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“I don’t like you.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEcUvHFkRk
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“People usually don’t.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfELyfgRZP
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“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBndGLmP3H
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“Thank you for the compliment!”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILJtxMxmW2
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“Wasn’t a compliment.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8efwDqOJQ
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“And I still took it as one so suck it.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWTMcgPm9Y
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMERD0zUOp
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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroYigJXm4Q
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Maybe I am funny after all.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjq4Qe8Zbb
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“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSWUvg4Qse
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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. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oKaQyS6fT
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“Draw?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XJmvr8vNJ
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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-”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku1pik03aQ
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6DFLDUwa8
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“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡER4CVheFBC
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZ1lKQJZ0l
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“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyXG8ZawWy
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxeqerXmgW
“Are you sure?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMt5CgHmTD
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCeHEpfrjc
428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LtsRnr80H
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCXwhSAnAj
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“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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHQlas1IuU
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“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj4a8n0Mrh
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFgFEBtluo
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“I think she has a system?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzlePkZOTo
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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!”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnS1Ciyais
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMAs6XRdUa
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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!”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlycR7wxGYh
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“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG6Eyv6fEO
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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-”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD1AKBFYmM
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“Steri-strips?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44Dq34dpRP
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“Yeah them.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPqY5UBWLI
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjIuJmrSA0
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Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXRawY3avE
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“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjEiSiKZZm
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof0o3gBT7D
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4BD7kKDZ4
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuKhwmL9ae
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ToREOGven
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgW4XJi6B4Z
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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?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1lMX0aV6y
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“Absolutely yes please.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybM0KeY7ED
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbObGyXzBO
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“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9IF4n9dEt
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJblyD3IGh1
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Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2CkXrk3qc
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“What goes where-”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoBHhA5Vup
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“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCfOz2T5LP
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“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKstmHVYQA0
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“Yes.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqjv85Jp1O
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“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpf5BUOumj
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“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dP3b5PTiF
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“No you aren’t!”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpds6RTh1D8
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“I’m not you’re right.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhTvFksmmE
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“I could just let you do this on your own-”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N0Jp7oEIW
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“Please don’t?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFWLA4u3Gs
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Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1Q4MuiQ2T
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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. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw5NPtY07f
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpckcz3Urm
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“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLZaYElr0E
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ikUoU5Hwp
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“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb4F9NFcbv
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“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQq3RtLTSZ
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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.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS1X8LDWie
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“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieIzsUmlob
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“Did my breath smell?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gEfLfI1xo
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I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJulGC4CqM
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“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyE0iUQRIb
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Jason nods in understandable.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLflD51LW9
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“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq4hxnupDv
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“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoghGGxFtnc
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“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uSu4Bt7tL
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“How do you know what those are and why?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFRgjsceSb
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The smile on Jason’s face fades. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSXsBbFWxO
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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.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp1uyrmBjR
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“Did you ever figure out what it was?”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT6hiLu0cG
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Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHGKWhMowe
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“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSgRiB0Ch8
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“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 428Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4mSOzCeWm
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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?
