Chapter 5: A First Time For Everything!

I drove back to the compound, a strange pang of guilt and a feeling of emptiness washed over me to the point of turning my stomach into knots. I chalked it up to feeling like I was betraying the boys at the raptor paddock by working for InGen, but it felt like there was more. I shrugged it off as best I could as I stopped at the small gas station on the security compound and filled up my Jeep. I swiped my gas card they'd given us for the company to track the money and budget and got back into my vehicle and parked it in its space.

Once I'd parked it I grabbed all my stuff and shoved it into my pockets and met Don at his booth, but he wasn't there. Instead it was some kid with burgundy hair swept over his face hiding his left eye. He wore the usual uniform of a plain white button up tee and cargo shorts, he barely looked over 18 with his sorry excuse for a mustache that looked like patches of pubes glued haphazardly above his upper lip. I mentally gagged at that thought before knocking on his door, pulling him away from his magazine, which made the situation worse. Playboy. Gross. I flashed him my ID badge and he grabbed the clipboard from his counter and handed it to me, along with a pen.

"Uh, I'm good got one of my own thanks" He merely shrugged his bony shoulders at me in response. He tossed his pen back on the counter behind him as I looked for my name and signed beside it for returning the Jeep. I handed him the clipboard back before putting my hands on my hips and looking at him quizzically.

"Where's Don?"

"Who?"

"Don, y'know, bald older guy, devilishly handsome"

"Oh him, yeah he got a call, something about a family emergency or whatever"

"Jeez. Ok thanks" I said as I waved goodbye and headed to the punch machine. Hoskins was there waiting for me.

"How was raptor paddock, everything go ok?"

"I have all my body parts so yeah"

"Did you um…get a chance to talk to Owen?"

"Who?"

"The guy that trains the raptors"

"Oh no, I was a little busy"

"With?"

"A little old thing called my job" I snapped back as I grabbed my card from my pocket, but Hoskins grabbed my wrist.

"Let go of me Hoskins" I growled bearing my teeth at him.

"I just want to make sure you follow through with the other part of your job"

"Funny, I didn't see anything in my contract about coercing people into projects that benefit your immediate boss, and I even checked the fine print" I spat, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Listen here Riley, I need everyone on board for this or I'll make sure you lose your job"

"If you're threatening me, then I'd watch your fucking back Hoskins, because twice now you've laid your hands on me in the span of one fucking day, so if you want a fight, I'll give one right back with a guaranteed win. Come back to me when you lose your kiddie gloves" I snarled as I ripped my hand from his grasp and swiped my card.

"Have a nice day sir" I growled out before storming off to my locker and dumping my work gear off where I had to. As soon as that was done I walked over to my car only to see Lou leaning against it arms folded, he did not look happy.

"What'd I do Lou?"

"Not you Riley, Hoskins"

"As if that's news"

"Riley he's threatened me now if I don't try to convince you to be on board"

"You won't"

"You're right I won't, but, we have to put a plan into action and fast"

"I'm on it Lou, but we may need Eliza"

"No way"

"Lou she's the closest person we know to Masrani, and he trusts her"

"This will come off as nothing more than gossip and you know that"

"Which is why I'm glad I have a friend who monitors the compound security cameras" I smiled devilishly.

"Oh?"

"Yep, and all I have to do is make one phone call to collect the vids from the days I've written down and we can make a nice little home video for our actually great boss Masrani"

"Sounds good to me"

"Now if you don't mind, I have a date to get ready for"

"Oh? Who with?!"

"Terry from the raptor paddock, I had no choice, either that or he sits by himself and I end up looking like an ass"

"So what's wrong with this Terry Guy?"

"For starters he's only mid-twenties at most, and secondly he's not my type"

"Good luck" He said as he got off of my car and into his.

"Thanks" I replied before getting into my own and driving off. I sync'd my phone to the Bluetooth in my car and put on Face Down by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and started to sing along. When I got home I tossed my shit onto my bed and began stripping as soon as I'd got in the door and locked it behind me. I walked into the bathroom and turned the shower on before grabbing my towel and a change of clothes. I decided on just a pair of shorts and a plain white Henley shirt. After about 10 minutes in the shower I dried my hair and brushed my teeth before getting changed.

I drove to the Tim Horton's and when I got there I saw Terry sitting down outside with two coffees already on the table. I locked my car and walked over feeling awkward as hell, as he beamed brightly at me.

"Hey Riley!"

"Hey Terry" I said as I sat down and peered at my coffee, triple triple, my usual. I looked back up at him and smiled as I opened it up and took a sip.

"Thanks"

"No worries, I asked the lady on the off chance she knew what you drink"

"Oh cool, haha guess I hadn't really noticed that she knew"

"Yeah, anyway sorry about earlier with the whole raptor thing but thanks for trying"

"No worries, probably a bad idea anyway, introducing them to everyone might confuse them"

"You seem to know a lot about raptors"

"Na, they're animals and behavior tends to carry across species, seeing as raptors are ancestors of birds and some birds are extremely intelligent and any animal is territorial, basically it's common sense"

"Ah, something I apparently don't have much of"

"Not what I meant, sorry, just think of it as not a general thing people tend to think of right away unless they're experienced with animals, even just pets"

"Well then, thanks for the compliment, so do you have any pets?"

"Yeah two dogs, Buck and Chevy"

"Oh really? I'm more of a cat person myself but, do you have them here?"

"Nope, trying to get a place so I can have them here but it's hard if you're not a scientist"

"Ah, I love the apartments though, we have some pretty great parties you should come sometime"

"No thanks, not much of a party person, more of a bonfire or BBQ"

"Aw c'mon never know unless you try it right?"

"I've served 11 years in the military, I've been to more than my fair share of shack parties, so I'm good thanks"

"Aw ok…so uh, what do you like to do aside from bonfires and BBQ's?"

"Video games and Netflix, fix things yadda yadda"

"Cool! I'm a COD fan myself"

"Look uh, Terry, I think I should get going"

"But you just got here!"

"I know but, this was enough for me, I can already tell it's not going to work, you're too young for me, and I'm gunna be honest, you're not my type, sorry if that's harsh but I'm a direct and honest person so thanks for the coffee and have a good night"

"Give me the coffee then"

"Um, ok?" I said as I placed it back on the table and got into my car. I drove off with the weirdest feeling of life and decided to text Barry.

'Hey, you busy? It's Riley btw'

'No, why?'

'Do you think you can meet me?'

'Sure, I'm just at the raptor paddock, come stop by I'm just cleaning up'

'K thanks'

I drove off to the paddock, the entire time in silence, no music. I couldn't shake the feeling of fear off as I made it to the paddock, I stopped the car and shut it off before getting out and lighting a smoke. I waited and soon enough Owen came out, I was floored why was Owen still here? Where was Barry?

"Hey what's up everything ok? You're text sounded kinda bad"

"Wait what?"

"Your text asking to meet up, by the way how'd you get my number? Oh never mind he mentioned something about texting me to do your check thing, I remember now"

"Sonnuva bitch"

"What?"

"I asked for his number"

"Why would he give you mine then?"

"I have no idea" I lied. Barry gave me Owen's number, well played Barry, well played.

"So what's up?"

"Nothing um, it was meant for Barry soo…"

"Oh…I see"

"Buuuuuut you're probably a better listener anyway" I tried saving it as I patted him on the back. His gorgeously muscular back. Shit. He beamed a genuine smile at me as we leaned against the car.

"So what happened, you look a little shaken up"

"Not stirred though, so there's that I guess, but as I'm sure you saw, Terry asked me out"

"Sure did"

"Well, I was kinda backed into that with no way out first of all"

"How so?"

"The kid guilt tripped the living shit outta me by saying he'd wait until I showed, and I didn't want to seem like an asshole so I went"

"Fair enough, so what happened after?"

"Well I got there, and he'd already had my coffee, he said something about asking my regular lady what my order was, which is weird because she finishes work way before I do, and he got off work only minutes before I did"

"Oo wow, that is strange, so continue"

"I let it go we start talking, from what he tells me of himself I decided that I'd given him his time and like I'd already thought he wasn't my type, so I thanked him for the coffee then his voice got weird, like creepy weird and he made me leave it with him. I'm tellin' ya Owen it was straight out of a horror movie weird"

"That's weird as fuck alright, I don't like the sounds of that I'll let Barry know and we'll keep an eye on him. In the meantime do you want to help me close up and I can take you home?"

"Yeah but how will you get home?"

"Well I'm gunna follow your car with my bike then drive myself home"

"Oh, do you live in the shacks?" He chuckled at that.

"Nice nickname but no, I live over in the boonies, got myself a nice little place out there, don't argue I'm coming with you" I sighed before saying a quick ok and helping him finish closing up. Once we were done we got into/on our respective vehicles and I drove out first, him closely behind me. It was about a 10-15 minute drive from the paddock but it felt like forever by the time we got there and I felt bad for him coming out so far.

Once we got parked he insisted on walking me to my door, we just walked and talked a little bit, me more so to drag out the time before we had to say goodbye. I liked talking to Owen, he was very calming and easy to get along with, and we had more in common than I ever thought possible with anybody. It was like having a twin. I couldn't stop smiling so much that my face was charlie horsing, and I didn't even care. Unfortunately we got to my room so I looked up at him.

"Thanks for everything Owen, one could say I OWE-N you one"

He laughed so hard he let out a snort which caused me to do the same as he covered his mouth in embarrassment.

"You snort too?"

"Yeah, but it's cuter when you do it" Woops. Did that just slip out? Shit, yep it slipped out and I quickly clasped a hand over my mouth. He looked at me seriously for a moment, so I cleared my throat.

"In other news I should get to bed, another early day and all so um, text me when you get home yeah? So I know that you're safe"

"Um yeah, yeah, sure of course"

"Thanks again for everything"

"Yeah no problem, seriously, anytime" I went to open my door, disappointed with not getting a kiss but, he's probably not attracted to me.

"Riley, um, are you going to the BBQ Saturday?"

"Uh, yeah why?"

"Oh good, um…I'll be there too, do you know where it is?"

"Oh shit, no I don't but I'll ask Barry tomorrow if I can remember"

"It's at Barry's place, kinda near mine on the west side…are you familiar with that area?"

"Um, no I don't actually but—"

"Great, I'll pick you up then"

"Uh, yeah sure, I'd um…I'd like that"

"Ok well…see you tomorrow morning then?"

"You sure will" I said with probably the dorkiest smile of life, he returned the smile with a genuine one of his own before looking a bit nervous.

"Sleep well Owen" I panicked and held out my hand, to which he hesitantly took.

"You too Riley" And with that he walked off, I watched him walk away and just before he left he looked over his shoulder I went wide eyed and ran into my room quickly as I could and slammed it shut. Great, now he'll probably never talk to me. I mean seriously, a handshake? Fuck my life. And for the first time since my bad experience, I didn't invite him in.

What in the living hell was going on with me?

*A/N: WOO! *flexes arms* Well folks that's not just one chapter, not just two chapters, but 3 busted out in one day! I feel accomplished. Already starting Chapter 6 now, hope you liked Chapter 5! Poor Riley being so badly hurt though, I wonder what happened to her…stay tuned to find out!*