The First Time I Saw You

Chapter 2

"Don't pout, you look cute." Owen laughed while they walked over to the Cretaceous Cruise.

He had gotten them into this one souvenir store by the monorail station. The sun was heating with fury over Isla Nublar and they had decided to get a couple of bottled waters to dehydrate themselves.

Owen had also gotten a baseball cap so he could cover his head from the sun, and it didn't matter how much Claire insisted that she was fine, he didn't accept a no for an answer; she was getting one too.

He didn't get her a regular black baseball cap with the park's logo like his, though. He got her a cute green T-Rex beanie. The little bits of that beautiful emerald in her eyes highlighted by the beanie's shades of green. Owen had to take a second to admire them. Maybe deep down inside he had gotten that one cap just for this one reason, but the cover up was to tease her.

Claire rolled her eyes but couldn't help smile afterwards. She didn't know why she was dealing with this. She was a grown woman, an adult, and most importantly the one in charge here. And yet, even if she had the power to take the beanie off and toss it into the first garbage can, she didn't. She left it on.

He had gotten all sorts of merchandise which was fine, but he had not only invested in some crap for him but also her and that was not okay.

Claire was not the type to be sporting all sorts of dino-knick knacks. Owen on the other hand, was already wearing a t-shirt featuring the mosasaurs and he had gotten a waist pouch bag. In there he had put the rest of his new things; all sorts of pens and keychains.

"I'll make sure our merchandise department sends you some coupons for your next visit." She teased him.

She had been working on her cellphone while they walked. She would rather be doing all this through her laptop, but she was stuck with doing this tour.

"If you are going to keep your nose on that cellphone, the least you can do is use the cover I got you." He shrugged. He was enjoying a brachiosaurus lollipop he had gotten.

"Can you be more noisy while sucking on that?" She wondered, a little annoyed by the noise.

"What's the fun in having a lollipop if you don't feel the sound?" He wondered, making the smacking louder, just for her amusement.

"I hope you choke on it." She smiled over. She knew that candy dinosaur's long neck would crack on him any second.

"You should have yours too, so we can choke together. It'd be romantic; just like Romeo and Juliet."

Claire glanced over, "I don't eat sweets between meals".

"Speaking of, you should let me treat you to lunch. I promise you won't regret it." He grinned.

Her eyes fixed on his for a second, she had to eat and she was stuck with him until this insufferable tour was over, so why not. "We can have a lunch break after the Jungle Trek." She pulled out her map. She had it all planned out there.

Owen just eyed her. He found that map ridiculous, "isn't the next one a water ride?" He asked while looking around.

"Yes."

"I hope that stupid map falls into the river." He offered.

"If it does, you are going after it." She added dryly.

He just pulled his hands up, he was not going anywhere that map. He couldn't help but smile at her, though.

There was something about her and the way she got so defensive. He had noticed the way her freckles danced on her cheeks when she did. He found it adorable.