Summary: After their romantic getaway, Alise thought they'd only grow closer and everything would be better than ever, but when Owen starts acting distant, she's more worried than ever. She receives a text from Owen she wishes she never got.

Author's Note: I don't usually do authors notes, but I just wanted to let you know how much it means to me when someone favorites or follows this story! I love the feedback I've received in the comments and they help my self-esteem when writing, so if you could comment to let me know what you're thinking that'd be greatly appreciated. I'd love to know what you think is working and what's not working (in a nice way, of course). If you want to see more of something that I haven't written about in a while or something you'd like to see, I'm all open to ideas too! I hope you enjoy :)

Since we got back from Panama a week ago, Owen has been acting really weird. When I called him to ask if he wanted to do anything this week, he never answered and texted me back a few hours later saying he's "really busy". That was on Tuesday and since then I've tried to text him the past few days, but he'd either answer hours later or the next day. I tried not to read into it, reasoning that maybe it was just a really busy week for him.

Something was different, though. I could feel it. He's never taken so long to answer my texts and in the past whenever I called him, he'd call me back as soon as he possibly could (and if he couldn't, he'd text me).

He'd go out of his way to talk to me like run by my office if he didn't have his phone or he's even used Barry's phone to text me from before. I even visited him at the enclosure on Thursday to bring him and Barry some brownies because it was my day off. He acted weird, distant and distracted. That's when I really started to worry.

The missed texts and phone calls continued for another few days after that until I had enough. Something was going on and I needed to know what it was. Our time in Panama should have brought us closer together, not further apart.

After getting Lucy, Aspen, and even my mom's input; Lucy agreed with my first thought, that he was genuinely really busy; Aspen suggested that he was cheating, but that's what her mind always goes to - the worst possible scenario; my mom told me to confront him about it as soon as possible. I was nervous. What if I did confront him and it did turn out that he was seeing someone else, or I could end up looking like a total idiot because he's just been super busy with work.

Part of me couldn't help but assume the worst because of my past relationships. Maybe he was cheating. These are signs that I know all too well.

One day I woke up in the morning frustrated after texting him early in the morning the day before and not hearing anything back at all. After a long day of mulling it over and over-thinking, I decided what I was going to do. When I got home that night I was going to text him and ask him what's up. To tell me whatever has been going on because I know I'm not crazy - something's going on.

I had to think it through and do it in a way that wasn't accusatory and that wouldn't make him angry. So, I went with:

Hey, so I can tell something's been going on recently and I know you've said you're busy, but it seems like there's more to it. If there's something wrong, could you tell me so I can help understand?

I sighed and sent it at 5:39 pm. Now I had to wait anxiously for a response.

I didn't hear anything back from him last night. I was hopeful that I'd hear back from him by the time I woke up this morning, but at 9:30 am there were still no text messages from him. Now I was mad. I texted him back. Thinking my words through and being mindful was out the fucking window.

I've been trying to reach out to you and am left with nothing. Call me crazy, but there's definitely something going on. I wish you would just tell me. I'm not going to sit around here with my thumb up my ass waiting for you to tell me any more.

I groaned and threw the phone on my bed. I needed coffee. And possibly a drink. It didn't matter how early in the morning it was.

After making coffee and calming down, I went back to check my phone. There was a text from Owen.

"Finally." I mumbled under my breath as I opened it and immediately regretted it.

I don't think it's a good idea for us to see each other anymore.

My eyes widened. What the actual fuck. So many things came rushing through my mind, so many things I wanted to say and ask him. The first thing that came to mind was 'fuck you', but that wouldn't get me anywhere, so I typed the second thing that came into my mind.

Are you seriously doing this over text?

His response came a few seconds later: Yeah.

I blinked slowly, shaking my head. Was this really happening? Like this? Over a text? Things were going so good! We went away together and we even told each other we loved each other. Was that all a lie? Why did he even say it back if he didn't feel the same way?

These are things I should probably be asking Owen, but since he decided to end our nearly four-month relationship over text, the last thing I wanted to do was text him these things. We should be doing this in person. Or at least on the phone. But he was too much of a coward for that apparently.

I'm glad I didn't have work until 12 pm because it gave me just enough time to have my mental breakdown and allowed me to do 2 hours worth of crying on the phone to Lucy about how much of a complete asshole Owen was.

I would have called Aspen, but she would have done the whole "he was totally cheating on you, why else would he break up with you so abruptly" and I wasn't ready for that. My mom would have immediately told Lowery and I didn't need an "I told you so" from him just yet, so Lucy was my best option.

I've never felt this much pain from a break-up, but I knew I was going to get through it. Eventually.

A few days passed and I'm not gonna lie, it has been pretty hard. The same day I got a text from Owen I had a panic attack in the bathroom at work and I haven't had a panic attack in a long time prior. I was really overwhelmed and I just couldn't keep it in. No one knew though, so that was good. I didn't have work the day after Owen broke it off, so I was a wreck. I was sulking, crying on and off and just an absolute mess. I didn't shower, brush my hair and I was in sweats and a baggy shirt. I looked like a troll doll or a hobo. Take your pick.

The next morning (yesterday morning) I woke up and decided I really didn't want to be like that anymore. I was only hurting myself.

I've been looking forward to working more than usual so I can keep my mind off of everything. When I'm alone, that's when it really starts to sink in. I've been trying to keep myself busy as much as possible instead of being home alone.

I came into work at 8 am after meeting Lowery for coffee. We decided he'd come over later tonight so we could watch movies and he wanted to know about everything that happened with Owen. I wasn't entirely prepared for it, but I had to talk about it sometime, so I might as well start now.

"Morning Dr. Collier! I brought you coffee… large, black, two splendas?" I clarified, putting it on his desk in front of him.

"Perfect, thanks Alise," he smiled, taking a sip. "Here's your schedule for today." he handed it to me and I skimmed it over. "One more thing I didn't add, one of the Velociraptors, Blue, has an eye infection," he started to say, my cheeks flushed and I knew what he was going to say next. "I need you to go down to the enclosure and bring Gatifloxacin. Two in her left eye three times a day for two days, then once a day for five. Make sure you show Mr. Grady how to administer them."

My jaw tightened and my stomach dropped. I was glad he was looking down at papers on his desk as he spoke to me, so he didn't see my facial expression or my face flush.

Of course, I have to go down to see Owen, 3 days after he dumped me over text. Of course, it has to be me and no one else.

I wasn't the type of person to bring my personal life into my work life, so none of the doctors or assistants knew Owen and I broke up, although they were aware we were in a relationship previously, so to them, we were still together. I wasn't about to tell him 'no' and risk him finding out or being looked at as insubordinate.

Dr. Collier looked up at me and I was quick to take a sip of my coffee, hoping to calm the sudden wave of nausea and hoping he'd think that me drinking coffee was the reason why I hadn't answered yet.

"You want me to go now?" I asked after swallowing. Dr. Collier nodded.

"If it's not a problem."

I smiled through gritted teeth, "No, not at all. I'll run over right now."

The whole drive to the enclosure I fought the urge to pull over and vomit. Or breaking down into tears. I couldn't help it, I hadn't seen or spoken to Owen. How was I going to be able to speak to him now? Without punching him, that is. (Because he totally deserves it)

I pushed my worries in the back of my mind as I stepped out of the car. Owen was standing outside the holding area, holding the door open and talking to Barry, who was on the stairs.

I walked over and Barry nodded his head towards me, causing Owen to turn around.

"This is for Blue. Dr. Collier told me to show you how to give it to her." I avoided looking him in the eye as I held up the small bottle of Gatifloxacin.

Owen looked a little caught off guard. Maybe he wasn't expecting to see me, or that to be the first thing to come out of my mouth. There was no way I was going to mention or talk about the break-up. I was here to do my job, it wasn't the time for that. But hell, it hard to keep myself from telling him off.

"Yeah, let me get her." his voice was soft and hesitant, he almost looked upset or sad.

While he was getting Blue, Barry came down and I greeted him, then he continued on his way. I stared down at my phone, scrolling mindlessly through Instagram, avoiding any kind of eye contact or conversation with Owen. I knew he could tell that I was avoiding him because he didn't try anything. I no doubt also looked pretty annoyed too, so maybe he was scared to say anything.

"She's ready…" Owen finally said softly, catching my attention. I looked up and shoved my phone in my back pocket as he opened the door for me, the buzzer going off.

I changed my demeanor the second I stepped foot in the holding area. I didn't want Blue to sense any sort of anger from me.

"Hey girl… I know you're not going to like this very much, but it'll make you feel better, I promise." I said, starting off with petting her head until her breathing slowed.

I got a look at her watery, red eye that she's no doubt been scratching at. She had the equivalent to a human form of pink eye, it was probably so uncomfortable and itchy. And it's not like I can tell an animal what's wrong and they'll understand, so she had no idea what was wrong with her. That's how it is with every animal, it's hard not to feel bad.

I opened the bottle and put one hand on her head, stretching her eyelid open even though she was fighting against it. Owen hovered his hands over Blue's head for a moment, expecting her to get scared or angry. She started to growl for a moment, but I let out a soft "shhh" as I stroked her head, causing her to relax. Owen's hands fell when he realized I was calming her down myself.

I put two drops in and she blinked, getting used to the feeling in her eye. The medication also soothed it and has a numbing effect to it, so it usually started to feel better right away. She let out another noise that I considered to me almost like a 'thank you' because she purred after that.

"Good girl," I smiled, stroking her head before looking at Owen. "Do that three times a day for two days, then once a day for five. It should clear up by the end of the week. If it doesn't, let Dr. Collier or Dr. Sanchez know." I said, handing him the bottle as I walked towards the door, not waiting for an answer back. I just wanted to get out of there.

"Okay." he cleared his throat. "Uh, how are you doing?" He asked. I pivoted on my foot, turning to face him as I raised my brows.

"Really? You're going to ask me that now?" I asked, clearly a little hostile. He could have called, texted, something, if he really wanted to know, but of course, he wasn't going to go too far out of his way for me.

"Well, yeah. I want to see how you're doing." he explained.

"I've been better." I said honestly. I heard Blue growl and chirp. I figured it was because I didn't say goodbye, because she's done that a couple of times before when I went to leave without saying goodbye. "Bye girl." I pet her head again and she soon started purring. I smiled, then my face fell as I looked at Owen, shooting him a look before letting myself out the door.

I couldn't help the tears that fell down my cheeks as I walked to the car with my head down. This wasn't going to be easy to get over. I feel like my heart is shattered into a million pieces and he's stepping on all of them, causing them to crack even more.

Later that night, I was sitting on the couch with Lowery, telling him just about everything that happened with Owen. From saying "I love you" in Panama to him breaking it off over text 3 days ago. I don't think I'll ever get over the text thing either.

"Shit. I can't believe he did that! I knew he was bad news." Lowery said, shaking his head.

I sighed, "Yeah, turns out you were right. Who would have thought?" I said rhetorically, looking down at my hands as I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes.

"I didn't want to be right. I don't want to see you upset. I'm here for you, Lise, you know that." he said, putting his arm around my shoulder and pulling me into a side hug.

"I do. Thanks, Low, but I've done enough sulking. Let's talk about something else," I said, thinking of a topic. "Oh! How are things going with Vivian?" I asked with a small smirk.

"I think it's going pretty well. We talk a lot." he was a little shy about it, but he's been talking about Vivian since she started there a little over two months ago.

"Well, you work right next to each other, so that makes sense," I laughed. "You gonna ask her out yet?" I asked.

"I don't know… I just, I don't want to complicate things or make it awkward in case she says no…" he trailed off.

"Well, you never know if you don't ask and that's all I'm gonna say about that," I said, holding my hands up. I knew he wouldn't want to hear what I had to say because he knew I was right. I heard a knock at the door. "You get the popcorn and I'll grab the door." I said, standing up.

I wondered who it could be. My first thought was Lachlan. He likes to come by and say 'hi' on his way home from work sometimes. I opened the door and was met with someone I didn't expect to see.

Owen.

To be continued...