Eric had been busy assisting at the nursery with baby Gallimimus, playing with them which sounds like fun but they're a very energetic bunch. It took a lot to get them worn out, but the chicks needed both the exercise and interaction in a controlled environment. They had to get acclimated to people as well before they were ready to be put in the petting zoo. Now they were all tired out in their nest with just a few minutes before his shift was over. Eric took one final look before locking the door and going to the employee hall to find a soda machine.

Throughout the day he couldn't help thinking about yesterday with Zia. How she was so nice and funny, playful from the start and even remembering their encounters. He couldn't believe he had the balls to ask her to eat with him. He forgot about asking for her number but she did say she wanted to see him again right?

Eric put his quarters into the machine and waited for the thump of the Pepsi to grab from the slot.

He thought all that running around would distract him enough from his sexual feelings for Zia, but Eric's face got warm remembering her hand on his arm, and the head petting that put him in a state of pure bliss even if it lasted a few seconds. He felt his boner strain, which wasn't anything new but he felt guiltier thinking about Zia this way now that he knows her better. He was only getting more and more horny lately, so usually he would rigorously give in to his urges at home. It was a combination of guilt and being tired that he chose to not get himself off last night, which he might've regretted seeing as all the blood was rushing away from his brain that only had dirty thoughts now.

"God I suck." Eric thought it was pathetic of him to get this way just from the memory of a girl's touch.

He then startled at a voice behind him that asked, "Are you alright there?"

Eric didn't turn around, instead taking off to the elevators while trying to cover himself with his jacket so whoever just found him didn't see his embarrassing situation.

Lowery blinked in complete confusion.

In the elevator, Eric opened his soda and took a sip, he didn't want to go back there for a while. He couldn't believe he let himself get this bad at work. He was glad his boner went down by the time he exited the elevator and made it outside of the creation labs. As he walked out he took another sip from his Pepsi making his way to the front of the innovation center. He checked his phone to see a text from Dr. Grant.

Just as he was about to read it, the chirps of a Dilophosaurus made Eric instantly look up from the screen while crushing his soda, his heart starting to race. Someone activated the holoscape, and he had just about been ready to toss the now emptied can at the perceived danger. He had to calm down, remind himself that he's been doing things that should've made him lose fear. He supposed it was just an instinctual reaction to a carnivore sneaking up on him.

Taking silent deep breaths, Eric exited the innovation center as the hologram began to rattle its frill and roar, heading straight to where he'd sat before. He hated that the slightest sound was enough to send him into a panic. He didn't even want to think about anyone who noticed him spill his drink which he felt sorry about. Eric rubbed his face, he managed to embarrass himself in many ways in less than a few minutes.

"Long day today, Kirby?"

Eric wiped his eyes to look up to see Zia in a yellow shirt with a red rooster on it, short sleeved so he got to see more of her tattoos. He nodded.

"Yeah. How did you know where to find me?"

"I didn't know you'd sit here again, but Owen told me you'd be off from the nursery around this time."

"You know him?"

"Yup. He also told me you love the Café burgers." Zia pulled out a large white paper bag from her backpack.

"Thanks Zia! I'll pay you back for it."

"No it's on me. Want to get away from here? I can take us somewhere."

Minutes later they were in her truck, driving through the forested roads. Zia was worried when she witnessed Eric get out of the building looking very distressed. Before she could say anything he asked her, "How was your day?"

"Good, just treating a Parasaurolophus for some minor bites. It's mating season so the males are starting to fight each other. What tired you out?"

"Baby Gallis, eight of them. They had me running around almost the whole time."

"Haha! That's cute. They don't ever sit still, the handlers must love having you around to babysit them."

"And I love getting paid to play with baby dinosaurs."

"I know look at you, working every kid's dream job."

They drove deeper into the northern jungles, radio set to The Cure until they arrived and parked near a cliffside overlooking a glistening river where a herd of Stegosaurus was resting and drinking. The pair got out and sat on the bench against a table to face the view, but Zia still held the bag of food, telling him, "Take off your jacket man it's getting pretty warm now."

Eric did so revealing his red striped long sleeve and she handed him his burger.

"See? It's a nice day to be out and relax, be comfortable."

"Shit I didn't even realize I was hot."

"Duh, why'd you layer up?"

"I like this shirt."

Zia rolled her eyes, "It's going to be heatstroke that kills you on this island."

After they began to eat, Eric asked, "So how did you meet Owen?"

"I totally forgot to tell you I'm a vet yesterday didn't I?"

"I kind of knew from seeing you carry medical supplies before."

"Mhm. Well his girls are my top priority."

"The raptors?"

"Yup, IBRIS was in need of a new vet and InGen just so happened to know I was just that good, so they picked meee."

"That's impressive."

"Have you met the babies?"

"Yes! They're so cute and tiny, colorful too. They let me feed them and try to pet them, but only Charlie really likes being pet for long. I love her, she was like a kitten."

"Yeah she still is. Echo is so calm, but Delta is who I'm most scared will jump me now that they're almost the size of chickens."

"Oh, last time I saw them they were too small to really hurt anyone but they still made me uneasy because you can feel them watching you with their big eyes, especially Blue."

"Right? She has that intelligent gaze already. It's going to be scary when they get big. Anyway, whenever I'd go over there it was never all business. I get along pretty great with everyone there. Except Hoskins, don't get me started on him."

Eric knew the man too. "I think everyone hates him."

"Fucker is so self-unaware I bet he doesn't know he kills the mood with his presence. But whatever. Back to Owen, he would always make conversation with me and make me feel so welcome. There was never a feeling of 'alright you did your job now byeee.' I mean not everyone's a dick about it, I get some people don't have the time or, or desire to want to get to know me, but it's nice to make a human connection too."

Eric was silent before he said, "I get you."

They finished their food before Zia said, "I got the sense you and Grady are kind of close."

"We hang out sometimes but he mostly visits me, like yesterday he stopped by to give me a churro before the show. He's kind of like… an older brother to me. But I don't know, I don't see him around a lot so I'm very grateful whenever he spends time with me, I know his work is very important."

"That's nice. It's good that you're understanding about it but I'm sorry you don't see each other often."

"It's okay it's always been like this."

Zia didn't like the sound of that. She didn't want to ask anything that'd kill the mood, instead offering, "I can keep up my lunch visits with you more often."

"Really?"

"If you want, I don't know if you'd get sick of me."

"No I like being around you!"

Zia smiled back at him, ruffling his hair.

"Good, or else the burger ain't free boy!" she replied, lightly socking his arm and making Eric laugh.

"Let's go walk this off."

The pair went into the nearby hiking trail, shaded by the canopy of all the large fig trees. The sounds of sauropods echoed from afar. Eric looked around.

"I've never been here before."

"Pretty sure this is one of those trails accessible only to people that buy a premium package or whatever, and employees as always."

The sound of running water could be heard the deeper they went into the lusher green parts of the jungle, and they found a river with plenty of rocks and a log to cross it. Park rangers kept watch over the groups of people resting and taking pictures near the edge of the cliffside view of the small canyon where the river cascaded down and continued into a larger river that went hidden beneath the forests beyond the horizon, forming a perfect environment for the herd of Brachiosaurus bathing in it.

Eric and Zia took in the view, listening to the giant dinosaurs sing to each other. He felt her hand on his arm

"Beautiful, huh? On some days the rangers will bring in their favorite leaves so they'll get close enough to let you feed them."

Zia unzipped her backpack to take out a camera and get a few shots.

She noticed Eric behind her, "Want me to get your picture?"

"Yeah sure!"

And so she did, trying to get him to make goofy faces and then asking him afterward to get some of her as she did different poses.

"You make me look good. Alright hold on, let me ask somebody to get one of us together."

After finding someone, Zia returned to Eric to place an arm around his shoulder as they smiled for their photo. She then got the camera back and thanked the tourist, showing the photos to Eric.

"The Brachiosaurs still showed up. I'll print some of these out for you."

They continued to look at the view for a bit longer as clouds began to settle across the sky. A small group of Compsognathus had come out from some bushes for a drink, Zia took pictures of them before noticing Eric wasn't with her and the crowd that got as close as the rangers would allow them. Satisfied with her photos, she walked back to him.

"Alright, let's go now."

She then stopped, pointing at the log as she said, "I bet you can't cross that."

"That looks easy!"

Zia made her way over first, halfway done when Eric got on to follow. It should've been easy, except his eyes betrayed him to turn his attention to her ass for just a few seconds. Just enough to cause himself to slip on to his right leg.

Eric felt pain but held on to the log, looking back up to see Zia's extended hand, taking it and then feeling her grab his other hand to steadily walk him off the log before he sat down on a rock. She kneeled down to look at him.

"Are you okay?"

"Only scraped my knee."

"It's your shin, let me see."

As Zia touched his leg and looked it over, Eric's grew warm being flustered by the whole situation.

"I'm fine, it's not like I broke anything."

"I'm just making sure you're not bleeding too badly. We can patch it up when we get back to the truck."

Once she figured he was okay, Zia got up and smirked, "What happened back there, were you checking out a girl?

Eric's heart dropped, "No!"

"A boy?"

"I'm not, no, I don't swing that way. I wasn't staring at anyone."

Zia thought he was being pretty defensive about this. "It's perfectly normal to look dude. Has no one ever told you that?"

"I just feel like a creep if I do." He said standing up, "Ow, fucking hell."

Zia found it amusing when he cursed, but continued, "Then don't be creepy about it. Someone might even like you checking her out. Can't really blame you either I guess, you're twelve and chicks are pretty hot."

Eric wasn't sure if he was interpreting that the right way, asking "Are you into girls?"

"Yeah."

"Oh okay, that's cool."

Eric unconditionally accepted her, but inside he knew he was selfish wishing she wasn't. It still stung to have his chances astronomically decreased to nothing.

Eric realized there was silence and she wasn't looking at him. He got worried he didn't sound convincing.

"It doesn't bother me!" He told her as he tugged her arm. Zia took one look at his face, the boy had no idea the effect his puppy eyes had on her, but she instantly snapped out of it to reassure him.

"Hey I believe you! Didn't mean to worry you there."

Eric was relieved. Maybe this was for the best, he should've been solely viewing her as a friend in the first place.

"Are you going need me to carry you?"

Eric jokingly sighed, "Yes, mother."

"Kirby's got jokes huh?"

Zia was liking this side of him that bantered back with her. She felt so bad that she seriously considered carrying him at times, they had to jump the rocks and hike all the way back. By the time they made it to her truck, he slumped down in the passenger seat with the door open while she cleaned up his wound.

"We'll pick up your ATV, load it up before I take you back home, okay?"

"Oh well I have weekends off, it'd be fine if we can't."

"I've got plenty of time, and I am not letting you drive yourself home before you ask."

"Well thank you."

Zia finished up and then applied a bandage, sighing. "You know, I should've really called your guardians first."

"Wouldn't Owen know I'm with you if he told you where I'd be?"

She turned to him, "Is he your guardian?"

"Nope."

Zia got in the truck and as she drove them off told him, "Then his ass would be complicit in this too. I think at this point you should tell me who they are."

"Why? I can make my own decisions."

"Dude at your age my parents would've killed me if I said that, came home with a fuckin' bandaged shin, and told them I got into a car with some adult I met yesterday."

"But you're not some random person, I've known you for months and it's not like you're some creepy old guy. I know how to take care of myself."

"God Eric, none of this would've held up with my parents at all. And women are perfectly capable of murder too, thank you very much."

"I know you wouldn't hurt me."

"Your guardians don't know that."

"I'm emancipated."

"You're shitting me!"

"I decided to be."

Zia caught on to the lack of elaboration on this topic. Eric was being this way about his past, so this further confirmed to her that something is up.

"I'm taking your word. There is clearly something private about your life and I'm not going to make you talk about anything you don't want to."

"Sorry."

"I'm not trying to guilt you or anything, I was just saying that in my serious voice. I just hope you're looking out for yourself if what you're saying is true."

Eric was silent before he began, "I know. It makes me glad that you care about me very much. We've only talked for two days but I feel like I've known you for so long I know I can trust you. The way you're very friendly and actually care about me enough to want to spend time with me makes me feel less… alone. Like you're my best friend."

The paleo-veterinarian didn't show it but she was very touched by his words. Her heart began to ache, "That's… very sweet of you."

"Sorry I shouldn't have- I don't know if that was too soon."

"Too soon for what? You're my fucking friend, Eric. You make me happy when you say such… kind things about me."

She caressed his face, briefly glancing away from the road to see his eyes close in a cute expression.

"It's sad you think I'm so friendly though. I'm kind of a bitch."

"That's not true."

Zia joked, "See you've already got Stockholm setting in. I hurt you and you still like me."

"It's not a big deal, you didn't make me fall."

"Yes I did, I-" Zia stopped herself from saying the truth, "I made you walk on that log. I might as well have."

"It doesn't matter to me. Thanks to you I had so much fun today."

Zia swore this boy was trying to make her cry. "So did I."

What Eric had no idea was Zia knew that he was technically lying, and almost told him she caught him checking her out. Not in a malicious way of course, she just figured friends messed with each other like that, she wasn't even upset at all. Should she be surprised? She is pretty hot if she didn't say so herself, though she never thought about if her looks would attract guys as they did women. She couldn't help being flattered that he stared at her ass.

Thinking about his earlier distressed behavior is what made her decide to hold back on teasing him for his roaming eyes. She wanted this to be a relaxing time, and felt bad for kind of messing that up. Besides it more than likely was just his hormones after all. She'll leave it at that. She wasn't going to let her thoughts ruin this day she got to share with him.