The Lost Dinosaur |2| Nublar Seven Series

Gates of Change

Hayden

One of the best things about university was that my dorm was close to the sports facility. I just had a very intense solo training session, all that I needed to clear my head from yesterday's events. After taking a shower, I met my friends for a morning coffee at Starbucks.

I greeted the barista, an older guy with an impeccable beard. "Hey Chris, is Zia working today?" I came here way too often and usually she was on the clock.

"Girl, I'm covering for her. She bailed us last minute, when you see her, tell her she owes me big time."

I chuckled and headed for the back of the coffee shop.

Mary and Rachel were waiting for me, so I sat next to them, greeting them with a wide smile. On the other side of the table, Mack was sipping on his macchiato. He was very tanned with brown short hair. I usually saw him training at the gym for the swimming team. I said hello to Mack and my eyes locked on a slightly smaller man next to him. Sand colored hair, a few freckles and a hesitant smile. He had the same lean build as Mack, broad shoulders and a lot of muscles, probably his buddy from the swim team.

"This is Liam." Mack motioned to the shy guy, who waved awkwardly. "From the Swim Team."

I smiled. "What's up?" Everybody already had their coffees, Mary with her vanilla Frappuccino, Rachel, like Mack, had a caramel macchiato. Liam had Matcha Tea and in front of my seat was my usual cold brew. "Thanks for the order." I beamed, sipping on the coffee.

"I'm keeping tab." Rachel snickered.

"Yeah? And what about those times I was your personal Uber driver?" I counted on my fingers. "There was one... two... five... twenty times I dropped you off on Southside."

"It's not even that far and your bike always messes with my hair anyway." Rachel tossed her hair over her shoulder with a pout.

"Then walk. Or have you broken your legs?"

"You wish."

We smiled at each other and returned our attention to our coffee. The new guy was watching us going back and forth as Mary only rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry Liam, they aren't always like this."

Liam leaned forwards. "You have a Bike? What kind?"

"I think it's a Ducati um... black?" I frowned. "That's about it, I know nothing about motorcycles."

Rachel coughed. "Present from her sugar daddy."

"What?" I dropped my coffee a bit too hard, spilling some. "Kenji is not the daddy of the relationship."

"He showers you with expensive gifts..." She said dreamy.

"And has you flying to him in a private jet..." Mary added.

I groaned. "Oh, shut up."

"Sounds like a sugar daddy." Mack grinned.

"Not you too!" I snapped. Liam opened his mouth, but I shushed him right away. "Don't you dare agree." He smiled, raising his arms in surrender. "Besides, I'm older than him, so not a sugar daddy." I crossed my arms.

Somewhere in the coffee shop someone raised the volume of the TV and my smile fell. I had almost forgotten about it, almost.

The news anchor, Philippa, spoke. "Three years after the fall of Jurassic World, the debate over Isla Nublar rages on." I lower my cup, not that invested in my coffee. "The island's long dormant volcano, reclassified as active, has shown considerate unrest in recent months. Geologists now predict an extinct level event will kill off the last living dinosaurs on the planet." Old CCTV images from Pteranodons attacking the public in Main Street was shown. "Since the disaster that shocked the world in 2015, InGen, the Masrani Corporation subsidiary, has paid out more than 800 million in damages to settle class-action lawsuits brought by survivors."