Second chapter to make up for the wait
Chapter 10: So live like you mean it
“How’s your arm?” Kutner asked as he walking in the door to the conference room on Saturday morning.
Laser tag had been fun, and Thirteen had had no problem keeping up, until an over excited parent who wasn’t looking where he was going had run into her, knocking her into the corner of a barrier.
“I told you, it’s just bruised,” Thirteen said, rubbing her shoulder in spite of herself.
“Yeah, which is why you could hardly hold your taser after that,” Kutner said.
“I did just fine,” Thirteen said.
“Still, wish you’d have let me help,” Kutner muttered.
“I didn’t need any help,” Thirteen said indignantly.
“You never do,” it slipped out of Kutner’s mouth before he could stop it.
“What does that mean?” Thirteen asked.
“What it sounds like,” Kutner said. “You never need help.”
“Why’s that a problem?” Thirteen asked.
“It’s not a problem. It’s just concerning,” Kutner said. “It’s not really that you don’t need help. It’s that you won’t accept help.”
“Because I never need it,” Thirteen said defiantly.
“Yes you do,” Kutner said. “You can’t handle everything on your own.”
“Why not,” Thirteen asked.
“Because you’ll crack under the pressure,” Kutner answered. “This is your only life. You’re being stubborn. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.”
“Yes it is,” Thirteen said, her face ice cold. “I don’t need help. I can do this on my own.”
And she and Kutner both knew they weren’t talking about her arm anymore.
“No one can go through anything like this alone,” Kutner said. “It’s not going to be any worse for me than it is for you.”
“It’s easier to die than to watch someone die,” Thirteen answered. “I know what I have to look forward to. It’s going to be hard for me, but it will be harder for you.”
“I don’t care,” Kutner said. “How many times do I need to tell you that?”
“At least one more, as always,” Thirteen said.
The tone of her voice was becoming softer, but more forced. Kutner knew she was near the breaking point, so he didn’t push her. He didn’t think she could withstand an emotional breakdown right now.
Chapter 10: So live like you mean it
“How’s your arm?” Kutner asked as he walking in the door to the conference room on Saturday morning.
Laser tag had been fun, and Thirteen had had no problem keeping up, until an over excited parent who wasn’t looking where he was going had run into her, knocking her into the corner of a barrier.
“I told you, it’s just bruised,” Thirteen said, rubbing her shoulder in spite of herself.
“Yeah, which is why you could hardly hold your taser after that,” Kutner said.
“I did just fine,” Thirteen said.
“Still, wish you’d have let me help,” Kutner muttered.
“I didn’t need any help,” Thirteen said indignantly.
“You never do,” it slipped out of Kutner’s mouth before he could stop it.
“What does that mean?” Thirteen asked.
“What it sounds like,” Kutner said. “You never need help.”
“Why’s that a problem?” Thirteen asked.
“It’s not a problem. It’s just concerning,” Kutner said. “It’s not really that you don’t need help. It’s that you won’t accept help.”
“Because I never need it,” Thirteen said defiantly.
“Yes you do,” Kutner said. “You can’t handle everything on your own.”
“Why not,” Thirteen asked.
“Because you’ll crack under the pressure,” Kutner answered. “This is your only life. You’re being stubborn. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.”
“Yes it is,” Thirteen said, her face ice cold. “I don’t need help. I can do this on my own.”
And she and Kutner both knew they weren’t talking about her arm anymore.
“No one can go through anything like this alone,” Kutner said. “It’s not going to be any worse for me than it is for you.”
“It’s easier to die than to watch someone die,” Thirteen answered. “I know what I have to look forward to. It’s going to be hard for me, but it will be harder for you.”
“I don’t care,” Kutner said. “How many times do I need to tell you that?”
“At least one more, as always,” Thirteen said.
The tone of her voice was becoming softer, but more forced. Kutner knew she was near the breaking point, so he didn’t push her. He didn’t think she could withstand an emotional breakdown right now.