Chapter One

"You look so grown up!" Claire cried as she ran towards Zach. "I've missed you so much!" she grabbed him as he dropped his backpack laughing.

"I've missed you too." He pulled back and looked around at all the people filing by. He watched the computer-generated dinosaur roam the lobby and the kids watch it in awe. It was good to be back. "Where's Gray?"

"He's working with a Stegosaurus who contracted an infection." Claire explained as the two began to walk towards the staff section. "Gray is just great. He already knows so much more about the species than any of us ever will."

"I know he couldn't wait for the internship." Zach nodded.

"And Owen works so well with him. He's a great mentor." Claire beamed at a family as they walked past and waved to one of the little girls that ran by with a lollipop. Zach was surprised. He had been gone for only a year, his first year away at college and he had come back when he heard the news that Jurassic World had been opened again and, while not as popular yet as once was (due to the Indominus Rex scare), the park was again thriving, the animals enjoying life. And it looked like his Aunt Claire was too. She looked years younger, her attire casual and comfy. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and it looked like she had been growing it out.

"Mom and Dad told you they switched their airline, right?" Zach checked as Aunt Claire led him through the protected section with a swipe of her card in the security unit.

"Yeah, your mom sent me a message saying they switched to…?"

"Southwest." Zach clarified and his aunt nodded.

"And they get in around two weeks?"

"Yep." Zach nodded.

"I know they're excited to see you."

"And you." He added. "They haven't seen you since Christmas. It's been over half a year."

"We've kept contact." She reminded.

"Gray!" Zach yelled as he saw his younger brother racing down the hall to greet him.

"Zach!" Gray cried and ran into his brothers arms as the two shared a moment of relief that Zach was finally home. "You've been gone too long."

"I'm here now." Zach promised. "Here for a while."

"Zach." Owen smiled and walked at a leisurely pace. Zach looked up and reached out to shake hands with his aunt's new fiancé.

"Owen." Zach nodded.

"How's college life treatin you?" Owen asked and snaked his arm around Claire's back smoothly. She leaned her weight into him.

"College is great." Zach nodded.

"Did you hear he switched majors?" Claire prodded Owen in the side.

"Already?" Owen looked at Zach in surprise.

"I wasn't really feelin the whole doctor thing." Zach shrugged and dug his hands into his pockets.

"He's studying animal genetics." Gray blurted as the adults all looked at him.

"Wow." Owen turned back to Zach with a look of admiration on his face. "I would ask what prompted that interest but I think I already know."

"No promises on working here." Zach held up his hands and laughed. "But the topic is really interesting. And with a first-hand experience, it's helpful."

"Not as great as Paleontology though." Gray pointed out as the group began to make their way out of the staff rooms and towards the elevators.

"I'm guessing you're still interested?" Zach teased and ruffled Gray's hair. He was surprised at how big his little brother had gotten. Of course he was still shorter than Zach but he had cut his hair, making him look more mature. Zach was happy to be back with him. Gray was always his biggest supporter and was one of the main reasons why Zach had been able to keep up in classes. Gray was a great tutor.

"I told Teagan to book your room." Claire explained as they crossed to one of the many hotels on the island and approached the front desk.

"Teagan?" Zach looked back at Owen for clarification.

"Claire's new secretary." Owen explained. Zach nodded. "Claire adores her. She's a hard worker."

"Was she here last time?" Zach wondered if he would remember her. The name didn't sound familiar and he definitely couldn't put a face with it.

"She just started working here about two months ago." Gray piped up as they stopped to go let Claire get the room key. "She's nice."

"She just graduated." Owen explained. "Needed a summer job. I put in a good word for her. Her brother is one of my best friends. Met him in the service."

"Here you are." Claire appeared and passed Zach a room card. "Room 1369."

"Great." Zach examined the card and thanked his aunt.

"Again, sorry Owen couldn't put you up with him, but he's in the process of moving out. His bungalow is a tad out of order." Claire sighed.

"A hotel is fine." Zach laughed.

"Alright well how about you go get settled in and we'll meet for dinner?" Owen offered. "It's on me."

"Sounds great." Zach agreed. "Wanna come hang with me, Gray?"

"Sure." Gray nodded and trotted after Zach as they waved and headed for the elevators.

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"Hey, change of plans." Zach called to Gray who was in the bathroom. "She says we have to meet her at the control room while she and Owen finish up something and then we'll all head to dinner together."

"K!" Gray called. Zach pocketed his phone and sat up from where he had been laying for the past half hour. He hadn't realized how tired traveling had made him. "Ready." Gray popped up next to him and Zach hoisted himself up. Dinner sounded pretty good right then.

"Aunt Claire has changed so much." Gray explained as the two crossed back over to the main building, through the lobby and exhibits, and into the back area. Gray had a card he swiped as well. "She'll get you a card by this evening probably."

"All official now, huh?" Zach nodded to the pass that hung on Gray's shirt.

"It's pretty cool." Gray looked around them as they passed into a hallway that led to the control room. "I still can't believe I get to stay here all summer."

"Aunt Claire says you're doing a great job."

"Mm." Gray chuckled. "I'm trying."

"Boys." Claire stepped out of the control room quickly. "I'll just be a minute more. Gray, why don't you two go check out the lab? Owen will come find you when we're ready." Gray nodded and they steered to the left and continued down the hall to the lab area.

"The lab is usually not very busy." Gray explained as they entered through the compression glass doors. "Not many workers are hired and when they are it's only to monitor the breeding factor."

"Then who's that?" Zach caught sight of a person sitting at a desk in the middle of the large room filled with tubes, bottles, and cluttered with machines beeping and steaming.

"Ummmm." Gray craned his neck to get a better look.

"Ma'am," Zach began as he saw the head of long hair move, "I'm sorry, but this is restricted access."

"Gray?" the girl stood and Zach caught his breath. She was fairly short, but she was built slim, with curves that hugged her body perfectly. Her hair was long and was held back by a thick, white headband that matched the plaid shirt she was wearing, which he vaguely thought was a man's shirt. It was big on her. Her skinny jeans were a light shade and were covered in stains.

"Teagan." Gray piped up. "Sorry, didn't see you there."

"Who's this?" her eyes darted to Zach as if she were a deer in the headlights. She looked very uneasy.

"This is Zach." Gray announced proudly.

"Oh." Teagan's tone changed as she rounded the desk slowly, unsure of herself. "So this is Zach." Zach flinched. Gray had told this girl about him? Great.

"Nice to meet you." Zach tried to ignore the feeling that the girl was already judging him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know who you were." She mumbled quietly.

"Don't feel bad." Gray spoke up quickly. "You don't normally get visitors at this hour."

"I don't mind some company." She brush a strand of dark auburn hair behind her shoulder. Her hair was long, flowing the middle of her lower back. "I was just finishing the calculations for the amount of breeding we did this week, you know, how many cells we transferred from the other lab to here."

"I know you were hoping to get that out of the way." Gray nodded. "That must be a relief."

"It is." She did sound relieved. Zach watched her smooth motions as she went back to her side of the desk and shuffled some papers. "I have this for you." She handed a stapled packet to Gray. "It's the change in the Raptors diet. I know you and Owen were hoping for this sooner but…"

"Don't worry about it." Gray shook his head. "This is great."

"Well, that finishes everything for the day." She reached to turn out the lamp on the desk. "And Claire gave me the rest of the day off so I think I'll just have to go get myself a cold drink."

"You could join us for dinner." Gray offered and immediately Zach wished his brother had not offered. The girl had something about her that he didn't understand. How could anyone be that dull? He had at first thought she would be one of those girls that he had seen so many times on campus. The ones that enchanted the guys and didn't even try. But she was too timid, plain. Plus, she talked quietly, in a way that made Zach have to work to hear what she was saying.

"That's nice, but I actually promised my boyfriend a date tonight." She replied quickly. Zach's attention caught on that. She had a boyfriend. He hated to make assumptions about people, but he had to admit that he had assumed this girl would not have a boyfriend.

"Some other time then. I know Aunt Claire has been meaning to have you try some of her food. She's been practicing cooking." Gray laughed.

"I'm sure it's just fine." Teagan shook her head. "You need to have more faith in your aunt. Besides, I don't think I could eat her food objectively. I'm paid to tell her what she wants to hear. And I don't particularly want to be out of a job. That would mean no college for this girl." She sighed and scooped up her messenger bag that looked slightly beat up. "See ya tomorrow." She waved to Gray and headed for the door. The automatic doors opened and she was about to leave when she turned back. "Oh," she remembered, "and nice meeting you….."

"Zach." I spoke up, already my pride kicking in.

"Zach." She nodded absently. "Right. See you tomorrow, Gray." She pursed her lips and hurried out.

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"I thought she was Aunt Claire's assistant." Zach grumbled to Gray as the two headed back to meet up with Owen. "What was she doing in the lab?"

"She does some office work in there when they're short on employees for the day." Gray shrugged as if the question Zach had asked wasn't important.

"And why does Aunt Claire like her so much anyway? She's so…."

"What do you mean?" Gray stopped and looked at Zach. "You didn't like her?"

"Why do you like her?" Zach shrugged. "She's so…boring."

"What just cause she's quiet?" Gray asked as the two began to walk again.

"I don't like that she wouldn't even look at us."

"She's shy. You just have to get used to her."

"And you have gotten used to her?" Zach asked, curiosity lacing his voice.

"She's quiet, but she's helpful. And Owen likes her since he knew her when she was young. So I tried to be polite. She's actually pretty cool."

"Whatever you say…" Zach sighed. She had even remembered his name. He, a regular, cool, smooth guy and she couldn't remember his name as if he was the dull one. He knew he was being immature, hanging onto what had happened, but his pride was bruised. He thought for sure he would be the one to say something like that. But it was she who had to ask for his name. She who left first as if he had been the one keeping her from something important. Zach didn't like that. He didn't like it at all.

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"You asked her to join us, didn't you?" was the first thing Claire asked when Gray brought up that they had chatted with Teagan in the lab. Owen, Claire, Gray and Zach were seated at a table in one of the evening restaurants with a view of the ocean.

"I always do." Gray nodded. "But she said she had plans."

"Probably with that boyfriend." Owen muttered.

"Oh stop." Claire lightly swatted him. "Teagan has good judgement."

"That boy is not good news." Owen growled over his food.

"So she really does have a boyfriend?" Zach asked in surprise.

"Unfortunately, yes." Owen rolled his eyes.

"Owen does not care for her friend." Claire explained. "Just because he's a hunter."

"I don't like people that go around killing animals for sport." Owen added in.

"I've seen the boy and I think he's just fine." Claire ignored Owen's comment. "He doesn't do anything illegal that I've heard of, I know his mother and she seems just fine."

"He lives on the island?" Zach asked.

"His family has a summer home here." Said Owen.

"That's convenient." Zach grumbled.

"What was that?" Claire asked.

"Nothing."

"Zach's just grumpy." Gray began and Zach knew what was coming, but was too late to stop it. "He doesn't like Teagan."

"What?" Aunt Claire asked in surprise.

"I never said that." Zach began to defend himself and shot a dirty look at Gray.

"Why don't you like her?" Aunt Claire sounded slightly hurt.

"I do." Zach lied. Gray looked at Zach skeptically. "She seems nice." He lied again.

"She is." Owen nodded as he sipped his water. "She was raised right."

"Well I'm glad you like her because I was thinking that tomorrow when she goes to feed the petting zoo dinos that you could go with her." Aunt Claire spoke up. Owen looked at her in surprise. She didn't pay attention again. Zach thought he was being punished. "You came here to help and one of the staff is taking his daughter to a concert tomorrow. We need you to help fill troughs and clean the animals up before the park opens and the kids ride them."

"Whoa whoa." Zach set his fork down. "Before the park opens? Like in the morning?"

"That's what I meant." Claire replied, looking as if the world had just fallen into place.

"You want me to get up before the park opens? It opens at nine!"

"So?" Claire looked at him.

"You forget, we're not all early risers like you." Zach motioned to her with his silverware.

"Right." Claire nodded her head as if she had just remembered what he was talking about. "Well, since you'll be here a while, you might as well get used to waking up early. It's either feed the little ones or help Owen exercise the raptors."

"How do you do that?" Zach asked Owen.

"You start running and hope they don't catch you. I call it "chase". They love it." Owen smiled at the expression on Zach's face.

"Great." Claire clapped her hands twice. "That's settled. I'll tell Teagan you'll pick her up by the fountain at eight. And when you're done you can go back and sleep away the day if you want."

"Great." Zach sighed and asked himself how he had so quickly gotten himself into this situation.

"Let's talk about college." Aunt Claire had changed, but not completely. She still loved to run a conversation and she still kept things moving. "Tell us all about it."