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A ed women with short brown hair smiled up atappoint" She reached down below and then pulled out a clipboard with a sheet attached "Just take a seat and fill this out"

My gaze darted to the couple of empty seats in the room Some students looked up and the momentary shame I felt almost made me fly out the door But then I realized they were here too, for their own troubles Everyone had problems Who knehat theirs were-- Jessie’s trauma term, and then stood up to hand it back to the woman at the front desk She looked it over and then scheduled me into a slot

As I headed out the door, I felt almost buoyant But the sheer fear inside me tempered it I stepped outside and turned to find Jessie exactly where I’d left her

"All good?" she said, straightening froht voice, still unsure of what the hell I had just gotten ot an appoint outside and holding my hand like I was some damn kid afraid of the dentist"

"The dentist feelsyour soul to sohten Shit I supposed I could always cancel that appointment She tilted her head to the side and looked me directly in the eyes "It’s no probleain for your first visit, I’ll offer that, too"

"Thanks" We stood staring at each other for another longto say to keep her there longer This was new for irl that I had screwed

Maybe she was the black hole because goddaet She s aboutShe helped ood

She owned her probles and I wanted to be someone better when she was near I alanted that, I supposed, which is why I never brought girls around her She just set a higher standard without even fucking realizing it

I was already wondering when I could see her next

"It was great running into you, Square," she said When she used ely hollow "Where you heading to next?"

"Thinking of going rock cliyh excitees the last couple of weeks" Her lip tipped up in a s

"C’mon, Blue," I said "It’s only fair"