I'm so sorry that I was 3 weeks late updating! I know it's ridiculous, but life is crazy. School is crazy. I barely have time to sleep let alone write, but I'm doing my best. Anyway, here's chapter 3.
Claire wasn't sure how long she sat next to Paddock 9, watching Rexy through the glass. She had felt like her whole world was crashing down around her, but for some reason the looking at the T-Rex soothed her.
But all good things must come to an end. She didn't want it to, but she decided it was time to get up after Zara's fifth phone call. She'd have time to mourn what she lost (and never really had in the first place) later.
Fifteen minutes later, Claire walked into the control room with perfect makeup, straight hair, and a blank hair. "How're we doing, Lowery?"
"All attractions are running smoothly, and guest satisfaction rates are fairly high," Lowery announced before lowering his voice, "Are you alright?"
She shot him glare, finding it very hard to keep the sarcasm out of her tone. "Yeah, never better."
Lowery didn't seem very pleased with her answer, but he had decided that it wasn't worth putting his superior in an even worse mood.
As the redhead observed the screens in front of her, she heard the elevator open with a ding behind her and the tapping of high heels against the hard floor.
"I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Claire Dearing may have been having the worst day of her life, but hearing her assistant's familiar accent made a smile tug at her lips. The only reason she didn't mind the Indominus incident having never been reality was the fact that the closest person she had to a friend was still alive.
Zara quickly came to her side, a notepad in hand. "You've got four new messages, Miss Dearing. I've written them all down for you. InGen called, as well a couple of investors, but I suggest you respond to Mr. Masrani first."
"Since when do you call me Miss Dearing?" Claire asked, raising her eyebrow slightly.
The black haired woman glanced up at her, grinning sheepishly, "Sorry, Claire."
"It's fine. How's the wedding planning going?"
Claire took the notepad as she listened to Zara dramatically talk about her struggles with her wedding planner. She had never really noticed how much alike they were until now. They both walked in long strides side-by-side, their hair perfectly straight, and they rocked heels daily.
"Part of me wants to have it back in England. Would that be ok? I know that there's so much work to be done, but I my family would never fly all the way to the island..."
"Yeah, that's fine. You work as hard as I do, Zara. You deserve a week or so off."
The smile the black haired woman gave her in response made a week of handling her schedule on her own worth it. "Thank you! You know you're invited, right? You may as well be the Maid of Honor; I spend all my time with you anyway."
Claire didn't know what to say. She'd love to be there for her best friend. She'd love to get away from the land, all the dinosaurs, and Owen. But since Mr. Masrani only handled a select few issues, every other thing you could imagine was left to her.
"I'll try my best. Just give me a date and I'll try to get it worked out with Mr. Masrani."
Before Zara could respond, her phone started buzzing in her pocket. Claire gave her friend an apologetic look before answer her phone. "Claire Dearing."
"Ah, Claire. Slept in this morning I heard?" Mr. Masrani's voice asked.
She hesitated before replying, "Yeah, something like that. What do you need?"
"I need you to keep an eye on InGen. We tolerate them because they've given us a few good trainers, as well as invested highly in ACU and park protection, but they've been giving Dr. Wu an increased interest lately. They also have had someone stationed at the raptors paddock for months. Maybe consult with Mr. Grady about that. InGen did hire him on, but he's been very loyal to the park."
Her stomach did a flip as a wave of nausea. Owen. He wanted her to talk to Owen Grady. She had already seen him once this morning, and after her dream she didn't really want to see him again any time soon.
He didn't remember anything, but she did. She finally admitted to having feelings for someone in her life, and he didn't remember it. There was no way in hell she wanted to see him after being that vulnerable.
But it's not like she could say no to her boss. God, she felt like throwing up. "Yes, sir. I'll get right on it."
When the sun had finally set over Jurassic World, Claire collapsed on her bed. Her work never failed to drain all of her energy, especially after the restless night she had had.
She lay there for a few minutes, staring up at the ceiling. Suddenly, she pulled out her phone and began to dial a number she knew by heart, but hadn't called in a long time.
"Hello?"
Claire's heart skipped a beat as a familiar voice came from the speaker. She whispered a greeting, mentally exhausted. "Hey, Karen."
"Oh my god, Claire," Karen's voice chocked out. She could almost picture the tears running down her sister's face. "You never called."
"I know," the redhead replied, before adding, "I'm sorry."
"How are you? How is life at the park? It must be so exciting!"
Claire thought as she said softly, "It's okay, I guess."
The line went silent for a few moments before she blurted out, "I miss you."
"I miss you too. Oh, Claire, where did the time go?"
She wished she knew. Sometimes she asked herself the same question. "This all seemed like a good idea when I took the job. Work-wise, it's still great. I don't know. It's just kind of lonely."
"You have friends, don't you?"
"My assistant, Zara."
"And what about that guy? Owen?"
She forgot that the last time she had talked to her sister was two years ago, before she and Owen had gone on their awful date. Her heart ached slightly at the thought of him. "It didn't work out."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. It just wasn't meant to be, I guess."
Karen's voice faltered as she tried to respond, and when she did Claire couldn't be more surprised. "How about the boys come and visit you for a week? Things with Scott aren't going so great. Can they stay with you sometime next month while we get it figured out?"
An uncontrollable smile lit up her face at the thought of seeing Zach and Gray. In her dream, they had gotten pretty close. They had been the first people she had called family in a long time. She didn't really remember much of what it was like to have a family that she was close to, but she knew that she would jump at the chance to find out.
"Of course! I'd love that!"
"That's great! I'm sure they'd love to see you!" Karen exclaimed, before adding, "I got to go. Talk to you soon?"
It was a question, not a statement. Claire knew that. They hadn't talked in two years, and she could hear the hope in her sister's voice that it wouldn't be that long again. "Yeah. I'll call you tomorrow."
She could almost picture the smile on Karen's face. "Sounds great! Good night, Claire."
"Good night."
All her problems momentarily forgotten, Claire felt herself drifting off to sleep. For the first time in as long as she could remember, Claire Dearing didn't feel so alone.
So there's chapter 3! Please let me know what you thought of it if you have time! Thanks!
pure-black-wings
