Jason didn’t respond. I didn’t blame him; how would you respond if someone said what I did?485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs6EGOtPlN
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMtSkJWKA0
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OZSY1T6Ez
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBweqvi1Ov
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeMXNQccBU
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmmDobkszG
“What’s the dress like?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9l1EjU3gN
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXlCEtUnhQ
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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgKYZXIFcM
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32iWlnYZXt
“That’s fair.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw4ISe1ono
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLX28Q1m1uQ
We fall into an awkward silence, neither of us sure what we should say.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2CyHjLaQs
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ179ydWZFBN
“Astrapophobia,” Jason says suddenly. I nod, looking at the weighted blanket. “It’s the fear of thunder and lightning.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA4BLIvIJA
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6mABn8OEG
“If you don’t mind me asking, how long?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqM5hAgl1JM
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5LVMvm8u6
Jason shrugs, looking around the room. “About eight years, I guess. I can’t quite remember why I have it, but I have it.” 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEPR0bzM7r
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymVSomlXwr
“You don’t remember?” I sit up a little straighter. “At all?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4wYMbDq1z
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCXjQLKTKD
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0ubuK0Q6e
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS92d62CrN
“Have you tried to remember?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DZtK0uPiT
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2abTW90AN
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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMimrUPtXhl
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWLXHUUNU9
“What if you asked your mom to take you to a therapist without telling your dad?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkZFFHGu11
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01ls5gHIam
Jason opens his mouth to say something, then closes it and blinks a few times.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3Epd2eQ5Q
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9REQKvk3NH
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeGIRMOiH8
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQImN7AeMY
“That- that doesn't sound like a healthy relationship."485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA8WuDWSxs
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h2BlDlPF1
"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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZspF2AI2H
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWMxMx00r6
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cPCr8asjb
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQr3yKPOmi
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOtE6Ha1MV
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8IWFaeYSj
What’s with the sudden attitude flip?485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQheL8FoR9
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo45fIDVg18
“Jason, I’m not trying to control your life, I’m just suggesting-”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMtzlwlINf
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EsXJ1e0wv
“Fuck off.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeyuEbtCAk
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8ZYyFDpJ1
I stand up and brush my hair behind my ear, turning as I do.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3tM7HefXw
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33gdyxo3z2
“See you around, Jason,” I say, walking out of the room. I manage to take three steps before breaking into a sprint.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHKZdefAm1
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYmu5SNJ60
This is what happens when you trust people. They only let you down.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1Rx7KnGZI
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFLnTkJS9U
“Woah, Xael!” Two hands grab my shoulders, preventing me from running into the person. “Where’s the fire, girl?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3tCK0M4fQ
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw91t55D0T
“Sorry,” I whisper, looking down at the ground, knowing that Jonny’ll be able to see right through any lie I try to tell.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5g16dsb3a
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0yQiiSBbc
“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?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK2Yy2QYeY
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ITqkNCRbR
“Actually, where’s Lukas?” My voice cracks when I say Lukas’ name, and I mentally curse myself.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQBshmuScI
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0mFXUAHGy
“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?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D1RUw9957
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0i2D169Q9
“Thanks, Jonny, but I want to go speak with Lukas about something.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ18Rdqj7Ji
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZnbA5zajj
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPi8yBGmV31
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU16DDAY1DA
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AVHv0FrQj
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKArNMygih
“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?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihqb9oLXAe
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAyGEOwEtc
Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as Lukas’ arms slide around my shoulders, holding me against his chest.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLrwb2lZYi
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2tj831wiU
“I don’t know,” I murmur, my hands in fists at my sides. “I don’t know.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWy7GL7Pkj2
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCNPJCPwWR
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. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9HE3CORtX
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrzVtC4ydY
“You were with Jason, right?” Lukas asks. I nod, looking down at the floor.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JbHbbCa1l
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbwUhK8yY8
“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, rubbing my eyes. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be on my way now.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0yd7gSpGF
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmXzdMGdop
“You aren’t leaving this room until you’re not about to cry,” Lukas orders. “Take a seat, hon.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJN8d5p1tW
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0TzFkdTu4
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYgIuYhIFY
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNepfLb3uW7
“Xael-”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN25PVj20K
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXBoMm2Ygy
“I promise I’ll be fine.” I look up into Lukas’ eyes, blinking away my tears.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDWXDo98hL
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvljesNhSv
“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?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPZgcTUDbA
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwIZs3TfqN
I nod, even though I have no intention on going to Sophie.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZFdJPpPjS
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXNlTsKYug
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhfwa4fCln
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvhpr2LqsE
I won’t do it. I’m not going to stoop that low.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bz4W4uEkB
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmuWwKNRJu
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoejiE6trj
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxrfiUftJI
“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?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4sxhGpQeo
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfopeS1BGph
Jason shrugs, pressing his lips together into a thin white line.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrikWsvLlfe
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B1lWxUtlc
“Not in the mood for talking. Got it. Hold this against your shoulder.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7mVrWxMlX
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3zFuJ5EBC
Jason reaches a hand up and presses it against the cloth as I retract my hand, already scanning the room for hiding places.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqUZEjsvVJ
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduXDyqlYR3
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ovCkKRp9h
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9CuTOUUC4
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENZkmA9cW6
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf5G2dNUpW
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0Wl2XAPZJ
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQgtSwzPZM
“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. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsyF0OrPre
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttMKztPLXl
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7uaDxZUBJ
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfnQS6dR4B
“They’re not in the cloth or the boxes.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHYKjpJd5C
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyeMakcDtV
I grab the cloth and unwrap it, satisfied when four razor blades drop onto the shelf.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1m4hcf3qJ
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykq788RbO2
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELgdcKdjkm
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHu4CHi2jE
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevGKR1Y5YS
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiLFYiUtG2
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT54hE4MM2g
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3JyWWMHtB
“You wouldn’t dare-”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50Ax7XtJwL
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahHtZuF7Wi
“Try me!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uwM2PAdI2
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6zA1hrFhF
We glare into each other’s eyes in silence. Jason seems to ponder my words before stepping back and nodding.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9BY5mcVQT
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZW9zZ5YfJ
“We’re going to Sarah’s office though,” I state, marching past Jason and opening the door.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1ErySW3Iu
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdEXZk01rj
“You said that you wouldn’t tell-”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP9OQoAbt2
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrInNN3gDvh
“I’m not going to tell her, we’re going to dress your wounds.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVW292uQ2f
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0rku2IdHM
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVUDhrdwvP
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuP1TkqXwi
“How long?” I ask, walking faster than I’m used to in order to keep up with Jason. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjYC6Crumo
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUdECxuox0
“A while,” Jason answers. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OTVYTvtRc
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqiZWnsIdy
“Very specific,” I grumble. “Where else?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaWdK2ChKP
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ143URlVswt
“Nowhere. Just my shoulder.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2bTyUvF2W
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorE5jFhgCq
“Now that’s a lie and we both know it.” Jason picks up his pace, forcing me to do the same. “Thighs? Ankles? Stomach?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjauuda6SbH
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr74PtWB21
“Just drop it, Xael,” Jason snaps, turning to me and grabbing my shoulder. “Stop. Talking.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUyGjmiU8h
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVK3x2bPa9
I close my mouth and glare at him. He turns and walks away, satisfied.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs91MjSkdue
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn37PIIDgXk
“So there are cuts on your stomach.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qkiK9AHuW
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuqtajkpAg
“No, there aren’t,” Jason growls. “Didn’t I tell you to shut up?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SRzZpB4Jf
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyzqhBZYxO
“You did.” I catch up to him quickly, lacing my hands together behind my head. “Doesn’t mean I’m gonna listen.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuidWkEph6b
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06RXFya6oB
“I don’t like you.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINRhyC3rnC
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTemClKWBe
“People usually don’t.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeFQ9vnjj8
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMljamw4jj1
“You’re such a lovely person to be around, you know that?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gUrzat1hV
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQGIGgd5kn
“Thank you for the compliment!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFX57YsLQv
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvz692b9DV
“Wasn’t a compliment.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKsS0WgmBD
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHI11fMrrz
“And I still took it as one so suck it.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFDfNAyQcg
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTU37dDq9rU
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qAhnKEHl7
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdbTZXfBNK
Maybe I am funny after all.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mzAotzTLp
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxud5jNRXN
“Why did you come upstairs?” Jason asks, startling me.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5KNv1wrTa
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW6F5i3V9H
“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. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DmYaZAlI6
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkPX7Oyq4p
“Draw?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWZMMXOJOZ
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fa27XCaUS
“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-”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpQ4jfdN5l
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeXKaXaXOL
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSVYJLmKq5
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzZfgPuhVM
“Exactly!” I snap my fingers and point a finger gun at Jason, happy he understands my thought process. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucWMcle0Cr
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI8tcfiB8G
“Do you have a spare pen?” Jason looks away from me and rubs the back of his neck, and I smile softly.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZGUdF2qXw
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozpZ0H1dkW
“Take this one.” I offer my pen towards Jason, who looks at me instead of grabbing it.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicHKVOIwdW
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LkSlCV5WF
“Are you sure?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOPe4RLNtz
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW6jgHmYqs
I nod, then slip the pen into his pocket. He immediately takes it back out and slips it into the other pocket.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvkJt959UU
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ4QVcTIf0
“There’s a hole in this one,” he explains, turning the pocket inside out and showing me. “Didn’t want it to fall out.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmwGJMWMN7
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CxeQL6feK
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetICOLMldh
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwvs9eqIfY
“If you can find it,” Jason states, watching me open a cabinet and immediately close it.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GJ7f4G4Hd
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdoNurG8rX
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzYdazv1m2
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraWUcoL3ng
“I think she has a system?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrckcoTbwq
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg35SQ2M7GB
“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!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOT1OCdoS0
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8FRoejoMo
“Xael.” Jason puts a hand on my shoulder, and I sigh. “Chill. It isn’t nearly as bad as it seems.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1MDBoVRAz
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVGElAVmqZ
“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!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnm9c7mvsI
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMvslgJZ5Y
“Well, at least her countertop is organized,” Jason remarks. I nod in agreement, looking at the perfectly organized counter.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3VrCS58QG
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu55cCOYAn3
“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-”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdxdbTdwbg
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDnnPP3LzW
“Steri-strips?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14f76lAh0B
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczHFpgcFMx
“Yeah them.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvyXDBSHrO
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtemETex9UK
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4BAI2vLgu
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qFL6yh4H7
Jason and I look at how messy the cabinet is and sigh in unison, then giggle. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWydYPx8JAo
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs552BUQjlV
“Are they in this one- they are!” Jason exclaims, handing me some sterile bandages. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9hFPhK8Rv
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd9adkTSN8
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1MsszDOdK
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l0HTSCVEr
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT64cuNEY7j
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlQBqvuotX
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADC8I00WQW
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGP28UuQQH
“What story has a scene with self-harm wounds?” Jason helps me with the Steri-strips. “I’ve read all of your works.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFnjvRsFKG
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmmUYHnFOl
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfVDo7oGaM
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtId5knLa6
“You’re good,” Jason assures me. I stick the last Steri-strip onto his shoulder, then roll his sleeve back down. “Organizing time?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeLaeVULEd
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH063IHVQog
“Absolutely yes please.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOxZtsWujf
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFBUXuo5G9
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ720tFKABGz
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsErxcZAXjl
“This cabinet is just empty!” Jason shouts, gesturing wildly. I peek over and laugh quietly at the very empty cupboard.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFZeTVNGQ1
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S4mqMhAF6
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOgEpEabOU
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiRHXMHuXH
Jason and I fall into a comfortable silence as we empty out Sarah’s cupboards and drawers.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvX4liCCYY
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwl0KRx2x9
“What goes where-”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o89tqRWw3
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h8zSgZyQp
“Bandages go here.” I tap the cabinet most easily accessible to everyone. “Disinfectants too.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEQkBX5n3Y
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTVtT94JyT
“Rolled up bandages, or band-aids?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKwrMwAgyw
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQXmib9zTH
“Yes.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0sqtX9ScE
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8m5nhb2Og
“That wasn’t a yes or no question!” Jason swats my shoulder, and I chuckle. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nswUhxuUm
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzKSLp4VSc
“Sorry,” I say, definitely not sorry. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCnHtGrJ0l
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZoTea40Xj
“No you aren’t!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWB6WtA6Sac
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15uUsji5DZ
“I’m not you’re right.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVhnAVT9UU
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsIfGw1AlZ
“I could just let you do this on your own-”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyRlCnru67
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpEXS2KDBu
“Please don’t?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJJY3LAifi
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWAFppmUfB
Jason rolls his eyes and raises his arms above his head, one of his elbows cracking in the process.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC6QTC86vC
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNia65K1rH
“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. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0GUQJbTJV
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5BKHJ7jCf
“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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGigTwHXhRm
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjAoxhpxAZ
“I can do a magic trick,” I whisper. “Look into my eyes.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvLYuLo6mn
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunMhlWlqnt
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.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UJlTrZJGm
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4B2yuYxIt
“I can do a magic trick too,” he murmurs. His eyes shake violently and I laugh.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uku4h2nCs
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaGacPpHHW
“I have never seen someone else do that. It looks so cool!”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7T104urqO
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMNk4W5eQO
“I know right?” Jason and I laugh together, then catch our breath. I realize how close we are and take a subtle step backwards.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXcJu9XA0u
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgUJtFKQ5D
“I guess we should get back to organizing.” I point towards the cabinets.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJjyGncNSM
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEY5xqMKig
“Did my breath smell?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvgROJeMu6
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMKXLScz0g
I groan and face-palm. Guess that subtle step wasn’t as subtle as I wanted it to be.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY8b8P22s2
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc4cchQrTU
“No, I’m sorry,” I begin. “I’m just not that comfortable being that close to someone for that long.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTe0fE07FO
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16VGmYTTi0
Jason nods in understandable.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmlYrnK3gE
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQxxNbgAHc
“I get that. So, you’re not a physical touch person.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K5wfVhvm1
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD1gxtFfp5
“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBSXKQm1Ju
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCuPswyzmV
“The five love languages,” Jason explains. “It’s physical touch, quality time, and some others.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SxZ7g0oM2
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBmyNr0X3p
“How do you know what those are and why?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj6aRXuEWZ
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWuINNslTF
The smile on Jason’s face fades. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMP6ima5aY
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztzJqlAhjv
“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.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6sntRKd5T
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjBnHyVDcE
“Did you ever figure out what it was?”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVyvVHoTmo
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKeMXWIdQ4
Jason chuckles and looks up at the ceiling.485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qOf4ykoQ7
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg0nf1CHLR
“I did,” Jason states. “His language is one of the last ones I would’ve thought it was.”485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Sd6gExryW
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Nb6sBBLXq
“What is it?” I make a mental note to look up the love languages later. 485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7OAY5X0yU
485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuTERisZo6
“His love language is words of affirmation. He likes being told when people love him or appreciate him.”
___________________________________________________________________485Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjE3RFavRo
Question of the chapter: what's Xael's love language? Why is Conner's language words of affirmation?
