Old Friends

We had arrived at the dock. The morning sun had risen over the horizon, giving a cool, happy feel. But the tension between myself, Darius and Kenji seemed to weigh on everyone. Whether they knew or not. I go to walk down the ramp but I stop myself. I have to do something before I leave. "Ryan, what's wrong?" Yaz asks as everyone turns back to me. "I can't leave yet." I say to her which makes her go wide eyed. "Why, there's nothing left to do." She reasons. "I want to pay my respects to my father's grave before I go. You guys don't have to come with me but this is something that I need to do." I say which brings everyone closer. "If you need it than we'll wait for you." Darius says to me which I smile. "Go on. We'll stay here and man the boat." Sammy says excitedly. "We won't go anywhere with the captain." Brooklynn says jokingly which makes me look at Kenji. He still has a scowl on his face but he nods in agreement with the others. "Thanks guys, I really appreciate this." I say which brings them all even Kenji into a group hug. "I'll be back." I say as we break and I head back into he jungle.

I walk amongst the trees. Bright sunlight passes through which gives an almost heavenly look of the jungle. I see Gallimimus run through the shrubbery. I look to my left and see a Sinoceratops gazing on a patch of grass. As I pass through, I think about everything that has passed over the last several months. When Sammy told us that six months had passed since the fall of Jurassic World, I was shocked at how quick the time had gone. Anyway back to what I was saying. Everything had changed from how I looked at life, too how I see other people and too how to connect with people that I thought I would never like let alone tolerate. But they have surprised me, all of them. They have showed strong will, resilience and a drive to survive. They are some of the most brave and wise people that I've ever had the honour of knowing and I'm glad to see them as family.

I arrive at camp and I look more deeply at the damage. The Scorpios really did tear this place up. I see the makeshift grave to the right. I walk up and kneel down. "Hey Dad, how's it going." I say as I place my hand on the tombstone. "I'm going home today. Yeah, after all this time, it's finally time. The gang let me come here so I could pay my respects one last time." I say as I chuckle. "I wish you could have met them. They are a spectacular group of people. You would have liked Darius, that kid can talk your ear off about dinosaurs but he has a heart of gold and a loyalty so deep, he would risk his own life for those he cares about. Brooklynn...she's pretty much like Darius only to a more extreme level. She's a loyal and caring friend but she can get on my nerves at times. She's like the sister I never had. Sammy, Sammy is the person that would have your back through thick and thin. The strength of her resilience is something that surprised me. Even after the Mantah Corp debacle, she still look out for us even if everyone slightly didn't trust her. She's very brave and I couldn't imagine anytime here that wasn't filled with joy with her presence. Now Ben, that kid had an identity crisis of the highest order. But he showed true bravery and courage to overcome adversity. He still doesn't listen but his strength comes from not listening, so I can't really fault him there, doesn't mean that I don't want to throttle him but anyone that can take an Anklyosaur will have my respect to the day I die." I take a breath after all that. The emotions of thinking about my friends and taking to my dad, it's getting to me. "Kenji...he has grown and matured during his time here. I think that Brooklynns influence has cracked that rich boy facade that he carries. We are at odds due to my decision making when it came to rescuing Brooklynn. And...after thinking about, he's right. I did take risks with Brooklynn's life and I see how my decisions could have put her at greater risk. I see my mistake and I need to make amends. Kenji deserves at least that."

I sit down and take a deep breath. "Yaz...what can I say about her? She's the most spectacular woman I've ever met. Her heart, her will, her strength. Everything about her makes my stomach flutter like butterflies. Being with her always makes my day brighter. I wish you could have met her, her sarcasm could almost match yours. I really like her and I don't now how to approach her about it. If you we're here, you would have told me to go for it already. I don't know what to do." I sit there in silence as I think. "Just go for it and hope for the best? Sounds like something you would say. I might just do it. Only live once, I suppose." I say as I get up and stand in front of the grave. "I love you dad, and I'll miss you." I say as I silently leave a prayer to God. I go to leave but I hear a thudding coming from my left. A loud growl alerts me to the uninvited arrival.

Her large frame broke through the trees and her burnt face is shown. Allison. "I don't have time for this Allison." I say with a frustrated grunt. She roars at me and just stands there. She is shuffling from one foot to the other. "You want me to run, don't you?" I sigh in realisation at what she wants. I see her burnt lip curl like a smile. Her fingers are twitching and her muscles tense. "Fine...you want me, come and get me...old friend." I say as I gesture a 'bring it' sign to her. Allison roars as she charges. I turn and bolt into the jungle, away from the angry Allosaur. I bob and weave through the trees and under logs as Allison crashes through the trees. "I don't need this today!" I shout out as I move out of the way of her jaws. She slips and loses her footing, giving me a good chance to get some distance.

P.O.V Change: Yasmina

I stand on the back of the boat as I worriedly gaze out to the jungle. Ryan has been gone for awhile. I don't know if he's taking his time with his father's grave or if something got him. It's freaking me out. "He'll be back, I know it." Brooklynn says as she walks up beside me. "You can't be sure." I say as I brush a tear away, hoping Brooklynn doesn't see. "You like him." She tells me as I look at her. She said it like its a matter of fact. I go to say something back Brooklynns look stops me. I sigh in defeat. "Yes...yes, I do." I say, finally admitting to what my stomach has been telling me for the past six months. "Then, I know for a fact that he will come back because he likes you too." She says to me. "Like I know that he is attracted to me but how can you be sure that he likes me like I do to him." I state my worst fear to Brooklynn who just laughs. "Yaz, if you haven't noticed that Ryan likes you than you need to get your eyes checked out when you get home." She say as she walks tot he front, leaving me to my thoughts. I start to think about all the times that me and Ryan have been together. He has always looked out for me, even when I didn't want help. He made sure that my ankle was at least able to heal after the Mosasaurus incident. He's made me laugh and...he's trusted me with his darkest secrets about his vengeance against Allison and the grief that he felt for his father. He has kissed me, on the head but it's something. The yacht party is still one of my fondest memories and being in Ryans arms, I felt safe and...loved. I gaze at the jungle. "Come back, Ryan...com back to me."

P.O.V Change: Ryan

This is not good. Very, very not good. The jungle itself is a fucking minefield and this vengeful lizard is breathing down my neck. Allison lunges at me but I dodge to the side and start to climb a tree. Allison had to slow her momentum to sharply turn and snap at me. Luckily, I had climbed high enough that her teeth couldn't reach me but she had turned her attention to he tree itself. She headbutts it, trying to bring it down. I had moved across the branches and jumped to another tree. Allison had followed me but I kept going, jumping from tree to tree avoiding her teeth and any tree that was too small that Allison could uproot. She didn't see where she was going and had charged headfirst into a particularly large tree, dazing her. Seeing my chance, I had climbed down and bolted. Her angry roar alerting me that she had come too and had resumed the chase. "Can I not get a fucking break!" I shout out as I run through a pack of compy's that jump out of my way and scatter at Allison's approach. I break through the treeline to see the boat. "Kenji!

P.O.V Change: Yasmina

Its been too long since he had left. "I'm going to look for him." I say as I move to the back of the boat. "Whoa, whoa. Ryan said he'll be back, just have faith." Ben tries to reason. I go to say something but I hear Ryan's voice in the distance. "Kenji!" We all run to the back, Kenji on the upper deck. We see Ryan running from...Allison. "Ryan!" Kenji shouts from above.

P.O.V Change: Ryan

"Kenji! Start the boat! I yell out as I run across the courtyard of the dock. Allison gaining onto me. I run down the ramp as Allison lunges, she slips but catches herself. "Whoa." I say as I see the boat moving down the dock. I run as fast as I can, narrowly missing Allisons nips and bites. She growls at me as the boat gets closer to the end. I run faster as Allison tries to grab me but I move out of the way. I notice that the yacht had gone past the end and I get to the end of the dock and jump with all my strength. Allison tries to grab one more time but... narrowly misses me as I land just on the end of the boat.

RRRRRROOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!

Allison gives one final roar as she watches us leave the island. I stand up and rejoin the others, I notice Kenji up above, holding his thumb up. I salute back to him in thanks. "That was too close for my liking." Yaz says as she barrels into me. I hug her back. "Just an old friend saying goodbye." I say as a joke which she laughs at. Soon the rest of the group join in on the hug. "Allison wouldn't let you off so easy, would she?" Ben asks sarcastically. "No, no she did not." I reply which makes everyone laugh. "Glad your ok and that's all that matters." Darius says as he pats me on the back and heads up to the front deck. Brooklynn follows him while giving me a double thumbs up. Sammy also goes, snickering as she leaves. Ben also leaves, which leaves me and Yaz.

I notice that she is staring intently back at the island. I walk up behind her and rest my forehead on the back of her head. She turns as she looks into my eyes. I place my hand on her hip and the other one on her check. She puts her hands up on my shoulder and neck. As we look into each other's eyes, all the emotions and feelings are projected across. "I really like you." I just blurt out to her. She chuckles. "Just shut up." She says...as she kisses me. All thought just abandons ship as I close my eyes and return the kiss. I pull her closer to me as I deepen it. I project all my feelings for her across to her. She softly moans as we break to catch our breath. "I've been waiting to do that since the yacht party." I can't help but quip to her but she just laughs. "Me too." We rest our foreheads on each other as we stare lovingly into each other's eyes. "I know that this is going to sound cheesy but...Yasmina, will you be my girlfriend?" I ask, it's polite to ask. She just smiles and replies. "Only if you be my boyfriend." She asks. I playfully think about it. "I can work with that." I say which gets me a punch in the arm. I look at her again, this time, initiating the kiss. Life couldn't be better than now. We are going home. I have a girlfriend. And the greatest group of people to count as friends, if not, family. They are family and when we get home. Celebration fiesta!