The Niece of the Raptor Man

six

We walk out from the Mososaurus exhibit and into Main Street. Gray in front, as usual, speeds off in the direction of the monorail. Zach had asked if we wanted to go to the Gyrosphere and Gray and I, excitedly, agreed. It's really the only ride here and I haven't been on it before because there's always a long line. Thank God for these wristbands.

As we step onto the monorail, I sit between Zach and Gray, having Gray at the window. Zach turns around to a group of girls.

"You guys been here before?" He asks and I roll my eyes. Gray just stares out the window. I consider asking what's wrong but he speaks up.

"If mom and dad get divorced, will one of us be with mom and he other with dad?" Zach whips his head around and faces Gray. "What?" He asks, dumbfounded. "Why would you say that?" He turns his attention back to the girls who are giggling behind them.

"Because they are."

"No they're not getting...they're not getting divorced." He now puts his full attention on Gray. I feel so awkward, being in the middle. "Look, you haven't been around long enough. They've always been that way."

"They get mail from two different lawyers."

"That doesn't mean anything." Zach sounds like he's getting angry.

"I googled, they're divorce lawyer," his voice wavers and he sniffles. Tears spring in his eyes. Zach looks at me. "You know what? Whatever. It doesn't matter, ok? I'm gonna be gone in two years and, I mean, all my friends parents are divorced...Hey, knock it off!" He says to his now crying brother. I look at Zach and scrunch my eyebrows.

"Why would you say something like that?" I raise my voice. I grab onto Gray and let him cry in my shoulder.

"What, your parents aren't divorced?" I look at him, tears filling my eyes.

"My dad's dead. My mom sent me here because she couldn't take care of me," I say, my voice wavering. Gray and I just sit there, crying, while Zach just stares blankly at nothing in particular. He looks back at me.

"I-I'm sorry..." He places a hand on my shoulder. I was too into crying to make him let go of me. I pull Gray off my shoulder and look into his eyes. I wipe his tears away with my thumbs. "Hey, you'll be alright. They love you, and they don't want to hurt you. Would you rather them fight?" I ask and he shakes his head. I smile a little and smiles back.

"Thank you," he whispers. I smile and look at Zach. He's still staring at nothing. I rub his shoulder. "You ok?" I mouth and he nods.

"Does someone need a hug?" I ask in a sarcastic tone. That makes him smile and I ruffle Gray's hair.