~ Trenton ~

Damn you, Josephine! Damn you straight to hell!

The horrible scene kept replaying over and over in my head while I waited in line for a Gyrosphere. I needed to get away. I needed to be alone. … so cold. The whole thing went something like this:

"Josephine," my father said. I turned to see him behind me standing there pensively with my grandmother. He hesitated for a bit, but went on, "good to see you again, how are you?" He stepped forward, getting closer to her than I was. I knew he sensed the tension between her and myself.

"As always, Gerard, as always. And Sylvia, so good to see you."

"Charmed," returned my grandmother. A tense silence settled, but Josephine broke it,

"So, are you all enjoying your stay?" I replied first,

"Yes, we are. It's very quaint and lovely."

"I suppose it is," she replied. "though I wouldn't call revitalized ancient lifeforms, 'quaint.'" She let out a laugh, but we remained silent.

"Well, yes, they are quite nice—"

"Nice?!" she burst out, suddenly insulted. She forced herself to calm down.

"Hey," my grandmother butt in. "you know you have no right to tell Trenton anything about dinosaurs."

"Your grandson is marginalizing my assets."

"Assets?! They're living creatures! You're the one marginalizing them!" I retorted. With that, she gave a harsh good-bye with a "Good riddance" and then went on her way.

Why out of all the damned places on this earth, my mother has to work here? After she amounted to nothing when she was with my father, she decided to make something of herself and it just so happens to be here in my place, my niche! To rein her terror and her presence over my like some malevolent queen. The whole thing was a blur to me. A anger-filled, almost red blur. I was definitely no longer in my happy place. A pit of anxiety was sitting stagnant in my stomach. I felt restless and feverish, especially just sitting there in line doing nothing. But it was only a matter of time before I got into a Gyrosphere, my own little comfortable bubble, and was free to roam around with the gentle giants that make me smile and bring the best out of me.

"I'm sorry, sir, you must have two people per ride."

I jumped a little bit at the voice, then heard some snickers from some strangers behind me. "What …?" I replied softly.

"You need to be with one other person. We can't just send you in one out there by yourself." The worked looked no older than me, but still in the middle of puberty with a disinterested look on his face. Though, I knew that no matter what I said, this would not get me anywhere. I nodded and looked down, defeated, turning around to head back to the monorail. Then came a voice,

"Excuse me, I'll go with you."

I looked up to meet two brown eyes looking benevolently at me. A boy stood in front of me and my mind registered him in my memory in just a second. It was Mr. Black-Shirt from breakfast. I was going to retort, but in my current condition that is rather difficult. I swallowed hard and my reply came out quietly. "I … um, don't know about that."

"Oh come on," he replied, very friendly. "I know we had a little spat at breakfast, but I can tell you want to go on this ride. What do you have to lose? And, I promise, I'm not a cereal killer." A hint of laughter was in his voice. I must confess that I did feel a small bit better with his comment.

I stole a glance back at the Gyrospheres. Past the small loading area, the area opened up to a stunning valley surrounded by two forested mesas. This was where the beasts roamed. Yesterday, my happiness peaked and never came down here. I'm putting all my chip in this tactic to make me happier because of my mother. What do I have to lose? I could just be under my covers sobbing my eyes out. Or, I could take a chance and go back to the happiness I felt yesterday — in theory.

"Okay," I said meekly to him. He gave me a sweet smile and we approached the ride, soon seated in.

"Hi, I'm Dmitri," he said.

"Trenton. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise! So what brings you to the park?" We started off as Dmitri took control. I didn't really want to talk, but it might help get my mind off of the other stuff.

"Well, my family and I are here because we all deserved a vacation, and it seemed like good timing to do it when I received word about being in an internship here."

Dmitri was silent for a moment while gazed out at the scenery. After some time, his silence became rather unnerving so I turned to him, only to be met with the cheesiest grin I've ever seen.

"You're in the internship, too!?" he exclaimed. I couldn't help, but smile back. Admittedly, I was a little worried at how the other two interns were going to be like, but now I felt relieved I could get along with one of them!

"No way!" I replied, more excited than I intended to sounds.

"Yes! Oh thank god you're not fuckin' weird like the other." He sighed, relieved as any thing.

"You met the other one? What are they like."

"Fuckin weird," he laughed. "her name is Jules and she is just out there. That's the only way I can describe her. But! No matter! You're cool, and I'm tolerable. so this will be a good experience … right?"

"God, I hope so."

"Eh, me too. Where you from?"

"Boring, Central Ohio."

"What?! No way, I'm from Cleveland! Wow, small world. Oh, and, I'm obligated to ask, why are you so into paleontology?" I fibbed my answer,

"I don't really know. I sorta' just got interested when I was young and I learned more and more about it as I got older."

"Were you the weird dinosaur kid in your school? I sure as hell am. Except it's nothing cool like dinosaurs, it's rocks."

I rolled my eyes. Here we go.

"Oh, you wanna be a geologist … greeeeeat!"

"Hey! At least I don't get turned on by old dead stuff."

"But you just said you did …."

"That is beside the point here, I'm more here to understand the geology of this place. It's basically unstudied other than the center of the park, where, of course, they simply studied to build it— but hey! It could be worse. I'm certainly not a water weenie."

I laughed pretty hard at that.

We spent the rest of the ride talking like best friends, never experiencing an awkward silence, from when we got in to when we got out— even continuing to talk as we exited the sphere. I was wrong when I wanted to be alone, this is so much better! Dmitri is awesome!

Suddenly, I stopped. I was looking at Dmitri, but I sensed someone in front of us, trying to get out attention. Lo and behold, I was right and when I looked up, there he was. Zach was looking at me with those amazing eyes again and, without fail, I melted on the inside once again. A smile crept onto my lips and I looked down, timid to meet his eyes.

"Hi …?" I said, softly.

"I ... um, was ... wa-was wondering if you wanted to come with us? You know, me and my brother, Gray, to the ... the control room thing? I mean, if you want to, of course, you don't have to. It's not anything special- but to you I'm sure it's, like, the coolest thing in the world and I'm not saying it's not cool, it's just not my thing, but … it—"

"I'd love to."

Where did that come from? Yeah, Zach was floundering on his words, but I didn't mean to cut him off. Does he have a stutter? No, doesn't sound like it. Is he nervous? That might make sense, him and I are not on the best terms as new "friends", I suppose.

Then again, why would he be nervous about me? I'm Trenton! Boring, old, plain Trenton. The same Trenton who hasn't felt like he's lived once (albeit the past day) since Cameron.

Minutes later, we were on our way towards the control center. My stomach was suddenly in knots of excitement and anxiousness. This early into the vacation, not even the internship, I find myself going to the control room of the center of the paleontological world. The heart of the community lies here.

But that's not the only reason why I'm excited. I couldn't tell why or what the other reason was.

"Trenton!" Gray exclaimed as I approached him. Dmitri didn't want to come, so I walked with Zach up to him. I beamed when I see him.

"We just keep running into each other, don't we?" I replied, happily.

"Yeah! I can't wait to see the control room! Maybe they can take us into the lab."

"I hope so. Hey, maybe we can go to the velociraptors, too?"

Gray burst with excitement when I mentioned that, which only fueled my excitement too. For us, this park is like a candy store. I suppose we were being a little too rambunctious, but I didn't care! To think, just an hour ago, my mother had me wound up so tight with anxiety and worry that I was going to burst, but … here I am! And Gray and I didn't have a dry second throughout the entire ride back to the center of the park. It wasn't until we got back to the center of the park that I realized, rather remembered, that there was a third party in our little group.

Zach had sulked behind us for the majority of the trip. I was so deep into conversing with Gray that I totally forgot that he was there, but when I did finally notice him he seemed very distant and quiet. And suddenly, I felt compelled. As the train entered into the station, I turned around and spoke to him,

"You okay?" I asked. He suddenly tensed up, sitting upright in his chair.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I eyed him closer.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'm still kinda tired."

He wouldn't even meet my eyes. Then I knew.

Vividly, I could remember he told me this morning that yesterday he was tired and that was his (weak) rationalization to explain his actions yesterday— no, nothing can excuse that. But, when he spoke to me this morning, he was much calmer and collected. Clearly, he was well rested. However, the "tired" facade is something that I swear I patented. It's funny how easily that that can cover up the true depression on the inside. Truly being tired meant that one would be much more lax and lazy, but Zach was just like I was some years ago: disconnected and distant.

My first instinct was to help him, in any way that I could, but I didn't know how to do it. My own predicament was unique, as they all are, and I don't know anything about the kid other than he's a dick to his brother when he's sleep deprived. Well, and that he's got those devilishly hazel eyes, and those big, pink lips that I just shower with kisses ….

And now I'm blushing for no good reason.

The monorail came to a stop right above the Innovation Center and we all filed off. Zach kept close to Gray to make sure he didn't get lost in the crowd and I kept close behind him. Very close. So close that I could smell that cologne he has on and I couldn't stop breathing it in, but eyes meandered around his torso. His shoulders are so broad and I'm the perfect height to put my head on them and …. He'll turn around and I can tuck my head into his neck and he keeps his arms tightly wound around me, warm and snug ….

Great, now I'm practically steaming my face is so red. Relief washed over me when we finally exited the train and quickly separated myself from Zach, but the blush seemed to be here to stay. My weak self was now filled with imagines of me in Zach's arms, much like I was in Cameron's arms. But Zach just seems so much better than Cameron.

"Have you gone to the mosasaurs feeding?" Gray said suddenly. I jerked my head to look at him.

"No, I have not. It is spectacular?"

"Yes! They recreated everything to a tee, even the behavior …!" Gray began to drone on and on about the mosasaur, but my eyes passed him to Zach. He seemed busy on his phone for a few seconds before hastily putting it away.

"Well, there they are!" A woman approached us. Gray ran up to her, yelling,

"Aunt Claire!" She looked uncomfortable hugging him back, forcing a smile. "Aunt Claire, this is Trenton. He's a dinosaur fan like me. Can he come with us to the control room?"

"Oh. I thought it would just be us, three."

"Please! He's in the internship you have here!"

"Wait really?" she looked up at me. I reacted quickly and stepped forward, extending my hand.

"Hello, Ms. Dearing, correct?"

"Yes, charmed. You are?"

"My name is Trenton. Trenton White."

"Nice to meet you." Her reply was hesitant and it made me feel uncomfortable. Apparently this was there aunt, one of the heads of the park and it's obvious I'm intruding on this family event. I stepped back and looked down and away from their eyes. Ms. Dearing went over to Zach and spoke to him softly. I could only catch Zach's response to her,

"Yeah, he's cool. Gray loves him."

I looked up to meet their eyes before I looked away, frightened by that encounter.

"Alright then, let's go everyone!" Instinctively, I wanted to trail behind them, but Gray decided to stay right by my side. And even though I felt foreign, the closer we got to the control center and labs, the more excited I got.

Yet, I still could not tell what else made me so excited ….

A/N: heeeeeeeey guys :))))))) what's up? :))))))) ... please don't bludgeon me for being away for, what, TWO whole months :)))))) and I know this chapter ain't the best BUT ... I'M FREE :D Finals and the semester is done and here I am, ready to continue this literary trainwreck right off the rails!

That's a fun mental image hehe

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it and don't hate me completely! I'll be updating much more regularly, I promise. The next chapter will have some ... surprises and revelations!

Thank you all so much for the comments! I love you guys 3 pinksugarrush yours are the best thanks girl! AHhhh! My heart is so full when I read them, thank you :')