"Liv?" I called her name despite knowing that she wasn't there. She left for work hours ago. Me? I slept in until nine o'clock.
Ugh. I have to leave for the zoo in two and a half hours. I groaned and trudged into the kitchen in search of breakfast. After devouring a burrito I'd been craving since last night (courtesy of Donnie), I had a shower and got dressed in my zoo attire, then braided my hair back.
Having some extra time, I turned on my music and pulled out my sketchbook.
"-drive it!
All, night, long.
All, night, long!
Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme, yeah!
Life is a highway!
I wanna ride it!
All, night, long.
Yeah I wanna drive it all, night, long, baby!
If you're goin my way!
You're goin my way!
I wanna drive it!
All, night, long.
All, night, long!" I smiled as the remainder of the song I'd paused days ago played out, and with it came the memory of that day and it's events. I turned past the page of Leo drawn on it and to a new sheet. I don't think I hesitated or even thought about what I was going to draw before I did so. My hand just started moving of it's own accord, seeming to know what I was doing before I did. But It didn't take me long to realize what—or really, who—I was drawing. From the first familiar shape of his jawline, to the curve of the scar on his lip, I knew.
••• 影の秘密 •••
"Liv, I'm telling you I was so tired I literally passed out at like, nine," I insisted, tearing a chunk off my muffin and tossing it into my mouth. I sat at a picnic table outside of the Dancing Crane Café at the zoo, taking advantage of my break by having a quick snack and calling my sister.
"Why are you so tired lately?" She asked.
Oh, probably cuz I spend my nights hanging out with mutant turtles in the sewer.
"I dunno," I said, shrugging helplessly even though she couldn't actually see me.
"Soooo, you don't wanna watch a movie tonight?" I snorted.
"Do you even know me? I'd never pass up an opportunity to watch a movie."
"Oh I know," she laughed, "I was just making sure. And I was thinking we should watch Alien, it looks kinda cool." I grinned.
"I think that's the best idea you've ever had, sis."
She must have no idea it's supposed to be scary.
"Raiy," she said warily, "you have that tone in your voice."
"What tone?" I asked innocently. Damn, how does she know?
"You know what tone. The one that means you know something I don't and you don't plan on telling me what it is." I paused in surprise, completely taken aback by this.
What do I say?
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Right," she didn't sound even a little convinced, "well, I have to go. I'll see you later tonight."
"Kay, bye."
"Bye."
Sighing, I pulled my phone from my ear and dropped it on the table beside my now non-existent muffin. I did not want to go back to the Tropic Zone, but I had to in a few minutes. I propped my elbow up on the table and leaned my cheek against my hand tiredly.
My fingers were tracing over the woven metal pattern of diamonds along the tabletop and my mind in a daze when somebody said something.
"Is this seat taken?" I looked up with a fake smile that immediately faltered when I saw a guy standing on the left side of my table. He was super built and tall (well, taller than me) with bright blue eyes and cropped, dark blonde hair. He wore light wash jeans and a leather jacket over a white t-shirt.
Why is this guy talking to me?
"Uhm, no," I said, a bit wary.
"Cool," he grinned and sat down, "so uh, why are you here alone?" He asked.
"Why are you?" I countered, straightening my posture. He shrugged.
"Bored."
Who the hell comes to the zoo when they're bored?
"I work here," I said, trying my best to remain polite. He nodded.
"Sounds like you really enjoy it." I managed a small smile and glanced down at my hands.
"I'm probably supposed to tell you that it's the best job in the world but that would be a lie." He chuckled.
"Where do you...?"
"In the Tropic Zone."
"Ahh, so you must know all about tropical animals?" I nodded and he raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yep. Feel free to test me."
"Alright." He took a phone from his jacket pocket and tapped away at the screen.
Who the hell is this guy?
"Okay... what's the lemurs' conservation status?"
"Critically endangered," I answered, bored.
"How long are they?" He asked slowly, sounding slightly confused with his own question.
"How long are they?" I repeated, "seriously?"
"Well, that's the second thing Wikipedia mentions."
"Like three and a half feet, I think."
"Oh, you think?" He repeated in a teasing tone.
"I know," I corrected. He smirked and checked his phone for the answer.
"Holy–! You were right!" Even though I'd guessed, it was still my turn to smirk.
"Told you." He chuckled and rubbed a hand over his face.
I inspected him closely, unable to decide how old he was. From what I could see, his entire upper body was insanely toned and I could see a bit of light stubble on his face, yet there was something about his personality that made him seem much younger than he looked.
He must've read my expression, because he answered my question without me having to ask.
"I'm twenty-three," he said with a crooked grin, "I play hockey, and my team does really intense training."
Oh, well that makes sense I guess. I nodded.
"Uhm, I'm Raiya." I extended my hand and he shook it.
"Casey Jones," he smiled sheepishly, "sorry, that should've been the first thing I said." I smiled and shrugged slightly.
"That's okay."
"So... what do you do when you're not working here?"
I run around the sewers at night and train to be a kunoichi.
"My uncle trains me to be a helicopter pilot," I said, opting for my second most interesting hobby. Casey blinked in surprise.
"Are you serious?" He asked, laughing lightly in disbelief.
"Yep."
"No way, that is sick. Have you ever been skydiving before?" His eyes lit up with excitement, leading me to believe that he has.
"Ugh no, but I really want to."
"Oh man, you have to, it's so fun," a huge grin took over his face, "you should take me out on a drive sometime, or a flight? Or what do you call it?"
"A flight," I smiled, "but I'm not sure my uncle is okay with me flying other people around yet."
Well that's lie, but the last thing I need is this guy in a confined area with me while I'm concentrating on operating an aircraft. His grin didn't falter though, meaning he probably didn't catch on to my hint.
"Oh, that's cool. Maybe another time." I nodded and decided to take advantage of the topic lull.
"Yeah, maybe. But uh, I have to go. My break ended a while ago so I need to get back to work." I stood from my seat and picked up my muffin wrapper.
"Oh, yeah," Casey quickly got to his feet as well, "it was nice meeting you." I smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, it was nice meeting you too." He hesitated before asking another question.
"When are you usually here?"
Can I lie? Ugh. No, that'd be wrong, damn it. I shrugged.
"Usually every second day from one to four-thirty, but days can change sometimes. Why?"
"I tend to be bored often." He grinned slyly.
"I guess I'll see you later then," I said, beginning to walk away. He held a hand up in farewell and I gratefully sped out of there.
Somehow it felt wrong to be talking to him. First off, he's totally weird. Second, guys never talk to me so there's definitely something up with him. And third, something about Casey reminded me of Raphael. It could've been his crooked grin, or his laugh, his fearlessness, or it was that odd feeling that overcame me and allowed me to relax and enjoy his presence. God, it was weird.
I just... I couldn't understand it.
AN: Any Casey Jones fans out there!?
So I was super sketched out writing this scene because I've never written anything regarding Casey Jones before so I have no idea what his character is like but oh well. I figured it would be kinda different and cool to throw him in before the plot of Out of the Shadows. But sadly, his role is super duper minor in TSS. So far, this is the only scene with him in it and I haven't made any plans to throw him in again, but if you guys want another scene with Casey, let me know and I'll see what I can do :)
Aaand for those of you who don't know yet, I have plans for a sequel! And possibly (probably) a third book as well! I'm super pumped, as you can tell lol.
Casey will have a major role in the sequel, since it follows the plot of Out of the Shadows. So if any of you guys are Jones fans you will not be disappointed!
EDIT: Had to fix a section because for whatever reason Casey mentions he's sixteen? Lmao idk what i was thinking but yikes it had to be fixed
