Way Back into Love ↪ Owen Grady

eight ↪ visitors only

    "There's something you should know" was the first thing Nick told me when I unlocked our hotel room and walked in. "Michael called"

    "Who?" I distractedly asked before all the memories flew back violently. All the pain, the lies, the heartbreak. "Oh"

    "Wait" my brother's lips curved up into a wide smile. "Did you just-"

    "No" I quickly dismissed.

    "You actually like that raptor guy!"

    "What? No, I don't"

    "I can't believe you right now!" he excitedly raised his voice. "You hate most people but you actually like this one guy?"

    I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the living room area, so I could lock myself into the bathroom and slid into the shower box, smoking hot water pouring down on my skin.

    "You know, you should tell him!" Nick's muffled voice yelled from outside the door.

    "First, we will be out of this island by the end of the week, and second, stop thinking about it!"

    "If you don't tell him I will!"

    "Nick, I swear to God-"

    "I'm out of hereee!"

.

    The line to every ride was pure chaos. Thousands of sweaty people crushing against each other, babies crying, couples yelling at other couples. Also hot. It was super hot outside, crowds were not recommended at all. I surely wanted to see everything in Jurassic World, but I also missed Pachy a lot. Which meant the only ride I was in the mood for was the gyrosphere one, again. Paddock twenty-one, like every other herbivore dinosaurs' paddock, was connected to the Valley. During feeding time, the dinosaurs were called and sorted in said paddocks, but after that, they would be released back to the Valley.

    "Elle!" a high-pitched voice called out from somewhere in the loud crowd. I snapped my head in the direction of the sound and spotted a redhead. "Here!"

    I sighed and stepped towards the girl, knowing well how I would've given up my turn on the ride. "Claire, hey"

    "I have news about your internship" she tried to hold eye contact but kept looking around. - "Unfortunately Roger doesn't want to reconsider your trial."

   "Yeah, I get that." I held back some tears. "Actually, no, I don't get that but it's okay"

    "How many days left on the island?"

    "Six"

    She looked thoughtful for a second. "Hey, what about a Jurassic World full tour night? We meet at eight, have dinner, walk around the park, bonfire, have fun. Yeah??"

    "Uh, okay, sound good" I shrugged.

    "Great!" she excitedly grinned. "Your dad and Nick can come too!"

.

    "So, it's dinner and what?" my dad asked confused.

    On the other side of the couch, Nick had a creepy smile plastered on his face. "Is Owen going to be there too?"

    "The raptor boy?" dad asked again.

    I spaced out for a brief second before answering. "I don't know"

    "But Claire is, right?"

    Now it was my turn to smirk. He was acting so interested in my crush for Owen that he successfully managed to hide his crush. Claire.

    "What's up with you two?" dad raised his eyebrow.

    "Nothing" Nick and I said in unison.

    The three of us were all ready to go by seven-thirty. Nick went for a casual look: a dark grey t-shirt and black jeans. Dad, on the other hand, didn't put much effort into his outfit. And I, I was a disaster: a grey comfy t-shirt, black leggings, and white sneakers. I wore natural make-up, as always, even though I felt like I had to put more effort into my appearance, which I never quite did.

    Eight on point. The diner was empty except for Claire and Dyson. I frowned, disappointed by not seeing Owen sitting with them. Nick eyed me with a sad expression but eventually stepped in Claire's direction. At least someone was going to have a good night.

    "Elle, you made it!" the redhead excitedly yelled.

I faked a smile and greeted both of them, as also my dad and Nick did. Good thing the diner had a lot of fries I could drown my pain in.

    "Oh, I almost forgot!" Claire said in the same high-pitched voice. "Owen is lighting the bonfire by his bungalow! It's going to be super fun!"

    I almost choked on my food, only Dyson noticing. "You okay, kiddo?"

    "He didn't want to have dinner?" Nick asked before I could.

    "Didn't have the time, he said. Apparently, it takes a while to light up a fire" Claire shrugged while I just stared at her with wide eyes.

"Be right back" I excused myself and stood up, taking steps towards the check-out counter.

    My dad reached me a few moments later so he could let me know we were about to leave soon. He started rambling about how he thought Dyson liked me romantically, pathetic; how Nick was so obviously crushing on Claire; and kept asking me why I looked off.

    "What are you doing?" he then asked when I didn't answer any of his hundreds of questions.

    "Grabbing some food for Owen" I mumbled, loud enough for him to hear.

    "That's sweet, Ellie" he smiled his biggest smile. "I'm sure he'll appreciate it"

    "Shall we go?" Claire called.