Chapter 12 – part 1:

I rub my eyes and stretch out. I remember last night. I remember Claire crying. I look down and see her lying on her stomach, her face towards me. Sound asleep. I stand up, careful not to wake her and head to the bathroom. I wash my face and brush my teeth. I decide to go to the ice dispenser down the hall and get some ice, just in case Claire feels her eyes are too swollen.

I close the door quietly and go get some ice. I start thinking of all the things Claire told me last night. How none of the families blamed her for what had happened, which I'm glad because she had nothing to do with them. But having to hear who these people were, putting a story to the names she read in the list with all the dead; it was too much for her. Especially since we haven't really stopped since we left the island. The dam had to burst at some point. I'm just glad she felt comfortable enough to do it with me there.

I fill the small bucket with ice and head back to the room. Claire is still fast asleep. I put the ice bucket on the nightstand and take advantage of the time and go take a shower. When I come out of the bathroom, Claire is starting to wake up. I grab a t-shirt, put it on and lie down next to her. I look at her for a little bit and see how she inhales deeply and scrunches up her eyes. I lean forward and kiss her on the corner of her mouth. She hums and opens her beautiful green eyes.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty. You get a good night sleep?"

She gives me a soft smile and stretches. "Mmh." She moves, so she's now lying on her side, her hands tucked under her cheek. "I'm sorry." Her voice still hoarse from sleep.

I look at her confused. "Sorry for what?"

"For last night. I just couldn't keep in any longer. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. There's no need for that. You don't need to apologize for feeling, Claire. Ever. Okay?"

She bites down on her lower lip and smiles. "Okay."

I lean forward to kiss her, but she stops me when her hand shoot out from under her cheek and covers my mouth. "We're not in a movie, Owen. There's a little thing called morning breath."

I laugh. "I don't care." I lean forward again, but I end up kissing the pillow Claire was using. I sit up straight and see her laughing going into the bathroom. How can anyone be this agile this early in the morning? I get up from bed, sit on the couch and turn on the TV. Let's see what's up in NYC this beautiful Thursday morning. I decide on Good Morning America since I've met all of them for the interview Claire and I had with them a couple of weeks ago.

I am entranced watching the story of a dog that helps elderly people, when I hear Claire come out of the bathroom. She sits next to me with her legs bent under her. I'm not looking at her; the dog has my complete attention right now. I feel Claire's hand on my cheek pushing my face gently towards her.

"Good morning." She says and starts kissing me and I forget about the dog. She is kissing the hell out of me! I sit up straighter and put my hand on her lower back to pull her closer to me. Her arms go around my neck and she pulls herself closer to me. The kiss deepens, just when I think things might be going somewhere else, she pulls out of the kiss. We look at each other and smile, both breathing hard. She gives me a peck and sits back down on the couch.

"What was that for?"

"That was a thank you. For last night."

Really? "If you're going to kiss me like that after, then you should cry more often."

She turns her head towards me. "Funny."

She lays her head on my shoulder and we both watch TV. After a while I ask. "Are you feeling better? Are all of those feelings that were bothering you out? Or is there something else you want to talk about?"

She raises her head and sits up, facing me. I turn off the TV, so she knows she has my complete attention.

"In a way, I do feel better. But, I still can't help but feel somewhat guilty. I know the families don't blame me. But, I was in charge of the park. My arrogance played a part in their deaths. If I had listened to you in the control room, then probably a lot more lives would've been saved. I am partly to blame and they just don't know it."

"I don't think so. At the end of the day, it wasn't really your decision. It was Simon Masrani's. You told me, that as soon as the Indominus escaped, Vivian was calling for a park wide alert and Mr. Masrani stopped her. You took your cue from him. Your boss. It's not your fault, Claire."

"Maybe. But, I still feel guilty. I can't help it."

I try to think of something. I understand how she must be feeling. She had a say in it and she feels guilty. It's natural. What can I say or do to help her?

"Maybe we could do something for the families."

"Like what?"

"Well, what if we help them out financially? We could create a foundation with the support of Masrani Global. Obviously, the money in no way replaces their losses, but I think it's a step in the right direction. They'll at least have one less thing to worry about."

She smiles and nods. "I like it. I'll pitch the idea to the heads and see what they think. I hope they accept. "

"Even if they don't, we could do it. I know some people who can help us out."

"Thank you." She leans forward and kisses me again. This time she takes her time with it.

She rests her forehead against mine. "There's something else."

I pull back a little. "What?"

"Other than talking to the families, I was also in a meeting discussing my future in Masrani Global."

"Oh. What they'd say?"

"I was told I was considered a valuable asset in the company and as a thank you for all that I've done for the park, I could choose whichever job there was an opening for in Masrani Global or any of their subsidiaries."

"Claire, that's amazing!" She looks at me for a little too long. "Or not? It's a great opportunity. Who wouldn't love having that choice? What's bothering you?"

She stands up and starts pacing back and forth in front of me, while I remain sat on the couch.

"I'll tell you the reason why I'm torn, but promise me you won't make a big deal out of it. Okay?"

"Okay."

She stops pacing and stands in front of me. "You. I- we just started something here. I don't want to leave and never find out if it could've been something more. But at the same time, we just started this. I cannot ask you to disregard your plans and come wherever with me, that's a huge step! I don't know if we're ready for it. That's why I'm torn."

I look at her, thinking. She doesn't want any big reactions from me. Which is ridiculous, since she just basically told me she wants to see if we have a future together. I mean, this was her window of opportunity. It was the perfect excuse. Masrani Global sends her away, not leaving her a choice, but to break up with me. And yet, the idea never crossed her mind. Which tells me, she wants a future with me.

It takes everything I have to not jump up and down.

I stand up from the couch and walk to the nightstand to grab my cell phone. I scroll down my contacts until I find the number I'm looking for. I press the call bottom.

"Owen, what are you doing?" Claire looks at me very confused.

I don't say anything. The only thing I do is raise my index finger signalling her to give me a minute. She sighs exasperated and sits on the couch facing me with her arms crossed.

"Hello? Yes, good morning. Could you please connect me with human resources, please? Thank you."

"Human resources? Owen, who are you talking to?"

"Patience is a virtue, Claire."

"Jesus."

"Good morning. My name is Owen Grady and you hired me as a Velociraptor trainer and, as I'm sure you know, the park is no longer functioning. So I want to know where do I stand with you guys."

I have actually been delaying this call. Calling InGen wasn't in my top priorities these days. But I need to know where I stand with them, in order to see how I can proceed with Claire.

"Oh, really? Good thing I called, then. Yes. Clause 11.8.4. It was smart of me, wasn't it? Okay, so that makes the contract invalid, then? No, that won't be necessary. Thank you, Sheila for your help. Bye."

I hang up and put the cell phone back on the nightstand.

"Now will you tell me why you called InGen out of nowhere?"

"Well, Claire. I have a master's degree in Wildlife Biology and all that studying taught me one thing. Mother nature is a powerful force. So, if she decided that dinosaurs and humans shouldn't interact, then she must've had her reasons for it. Therefore, when InGen contacted me to train raptors, I agreed to accept the job only if they added a clause to my contract. A clause that specified that if my raptors harmed anyone, my contract would be made null. Unless, of course, it was my fault. And seeing as the guy who hired me was Hoskins and a raptor killed him and it wasn't my fault, because I didn't set them loose, then…"

"You are no longer working for InGen." She finishes for me.

"Exactly. Which means Claire, I can follow you wherever you go. And before you say anything, this is my decision. I'm not going to let something as a job take away our chance."

"Owen. Are you completely sure about this? I don't want you to, one day, look at your life and feel like you didn't have a choice. You're being impulsive again. Please, really think about it."

I walk over to Claire and sit down next to her. "You don't get it do you? You don't want me to make a big deal out of this, but the truth is Claire, I already can't imagine my life without you. A life where you're not in it? It's not conceivable anymore. I know this is a huge step, we just officially begun dating, but there is something here that just feels right. I've never felt for anyone, the way I feel about you. I want us to have a shot and if that means following you to the ends of the Earth, then I will. That is, if you let me. So what do you say? Do we take this step or not?"

She shakes her head slightly.

"I've been here before, Owen. I took a leap of faith once and it didn't work. The only thing I was left with, was a broken heart. I don't want to make the same mistake with you. You're... too important to me. I don't want to lose you. 'Cause I can see a future with you too and that scares me."

"I'm scared too. I've never done this before. I've never done this with anyone. I never wanted to do this with anyone. You are different, and you know me. Remember what you told me at the pizzeria? You've yet to see me fail. I promise you, I won't fail with us. I won't fail you."

She's crying and I'm on the verge of it too. I never thought that I would find someone like her. I always thought that I would jump from relationship to relationship until the day that I died. Curious what meeting the perfect person for you can do to you. You change in a way that you could've never imagined. It surprises you. But at the same time, when the change comes, it feels right. I don't ever want to go back to the person I was before Claire and I were running through that jungle. I like this version of myself a lot better.

So, when Claire wipes the tears from her eyes and that steely determination I've come to know so well settles on her face, I know.

"For us. Let's give it a shot."

"Yeah?" I ask.

"Yeah." She confirms. That's all I need. I grab her face and kiss her. I pour all that I'm feeling into that kiss. All the happiness, all the elation and most importantly, all the love.

When we break apart, we laugh. She wipes with her thumb the tear from my cheek that managed to escape. I kiss her one more time. "This will work, Claire. We'll make it work."

"I know we will."

And, as it is typical with myself, I destroy the moment with sarcasm.

"I felt like I was in a telenovela. Didn't you? Is this the moment when you tell me you're in love with my evil twin brother?"

"Can't help yourself, can you?" she laughs and shakes her head.

"Nope. Get used to it." I laugh. "So, how about we get some breakfast? Cause a lot just happened here and I haven't even eaten. I need my macros."

"I think for the first time since I've met you, I completely share your desire for food right now."

"See? That's a sign right there! Come on, if I wait any longer I might eat the table."

"Well, you'll have to wait a little longer. You forget I slept in these clothes? I have to go change."

"Man! You better change like the wind, sweetheart."

"Okay, okay. I'll do it fast."

She sticks to her words. She changes into a pair of jeans and a nice sweater and we go down to the dining room to have breakfast.

I don't think I've ever seen Claire eat so much. I mean, it makes sense since last night she didn't eat anything, but still. She's eating as much as I am. Which is impressive. But, I'll be damn if I tell her that. I value my life.

On our way back, I remember something.

"It's Thursday."

"Yeah, it is."

"You know what that means, right?"

"Um. Not really, no."

I push the button to call the elevator.

"It means tomorrow is Friday, which means, you and I have a date tomorrow."

Her eyes widen. "It's already been two weeks?! God, time flies." The door to the elevator open and we step in. "So, where are we going?"

"Well, it's a surprise. But know, we are going to have dinner and it's going to be super fancy. I even bought some nice clothes."

"Really? Okay. Now I have to find something fancy and pretty to wear. At what time will you be knocking on my door, sir?"

"At 8pm on the dot, madame."

"Can't wait."

"Me neither."

We exit the elevator and I walk with Claire to her room.

We get in and decide to spend the day together. At some point after lunch, Claire tells me that she was given a folder with all of the openings Masrani Global has. Claire, ever the organizer, decides to organize everything on pros and cons, salaries, cities, companies, etc. She decides right off the bat, she doesn't want to leave the country. Especially now that she has re-established a bond with her family.

I don't interfere. This is her decision. The only thing I do is put the files in their corresponding column, as she tells me to. At the end of the day, she ends up with 4 jobs she likes and sees herself doing. Before we know it, we're both yawning and ready to go to sleep.

We agree on deciding which job she should pick after our date.

Tomorrow is the day I've been waiting for, for two weeks. Fingers crossed that everything will turn out fine.