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I slipped my dress on, I looked at myself in the mirror. Maybe I was a little over dressed. I knew Owen said formal nice but I didn’t know what that meant exactly. I twirled in the mirror making sure I looked good once again.
I faced myself in the mirror. I stared at myself for a bit, I hadn’t dressed up nicely in years. I had been so busy working with animals and Dr Grant that I didn’t have time to go out and be a person.
I had dressed up nicely to impress Owen otherwise I would have worn something a little more toned down. I had to admit that the raptor trainer was good looking and I enjoyed his company.
A knock came at my door making me jump. I looked over at the clock, it was only five thirty. He was early. A small blush came to my cheeks as I answered the door.
“Good evening, Mr Grady.” I said with a smile.
“Good evening miss, I’m looking for (Y/N) have you seen her around.” Owen said looking into the caravan.
I lightly punched him in the arm as I closed the door behind me as I stepped out. “You know that was rude.” I commented.
He looked a little taken a back. “Really? I didn’t mean to offend you.” Owen apologised. He took my hand and led me over to his motorbike.
“I was kidding, I don’t mind. I haven’t dressed up this well in years. Thank you Owen.” I looked at the motorbike and then back at Owen who was wearing a nice shirt and pants. “You know by the time we arrive anywhere, we are going to look like we came out of a tornado.”
Owen laughed. “I’m sure we will but that’s the fun of it.” He got onto the bike and I pulled myself up behind him.
“So where is this place?” I asked as I wrapped my arms around his waist.
He looked over his shoulder as he started the engine. “I’m not telling, it’s a surprise but I know you will love it.”
The wind whipped my hair behind me and the cold air whistled passed my ears. My arms were wrapped tightly around Owen’s waist and I hugged myself close to him.
We finally came to a stop. Everything was dark and I couldn’t see anything. “I can’t see anything Owen. Where are we?” I asked trying to get my eyes to focus in the dark.
He took a hold of my hand. “Just trust me and hold on tight.”
We walked for what felt like a good five minutes. A light in the distance caught my eye. I squinted into the dark, I could see the flickering of candles.
“What is this place called?” I asked as we got closer.
“Picnic near the paddock.” Owen answered.
We walked through some gates and Owen helped me sit down on a blanket he had spread out. I looked around, the candles had illuminated the safety cage for the raptor paddock. I looked to myside to find the girls sticking their noses through the bars.
I gently patted each of their noses and they snorted in happiness. Owen pulled my hand away from them, he held it softly.
“Is this what you were expecting?” He asked.
I shook my head. “Not even close. I thought you said you knew a place that serves really great food.” I questioned him with a raised eyebrow.
“You obviously never had what the girls eat.” He laughed as he got up. He looked around the safety area. He started to look a little concerned.
“Everything okay Owen?”
He gave off a nervous laugh and picked up a basket. “I think the girls didn’t have enough dinner because they got into ours.” The basket fell apart.
I look over at the girls, I can see serval bones scattered on the ground. They all run off calling at the top of their lungs. “They know they’ve been caught.” I laugh standing up. “What else have you planned for the evening?”
“Maybe some dancing and then stargazing. Does that sound alright?”
“You dance?” I question with a raised eyebrow.
Owen wiggled awkwardly on the spot which turned out to be a bad attempt at dancing. “As you can see.”
I moved closer to him and took his hands. “Why don’t we try something a little simpler and something that won’t end you up in the hospital?”
“Good idea,” He leant down and pressed the start button on his phone before placing a hand on my waist. The Scientist by Coldplay started playing quietly. “Plus, I don’t want to embarrass you with my dance moves.”
I leant my head against his chest as we began to sway. “I’m sure that’s it.”
“I was a little worried that we wouldn’t get along when I first met you.” Owen admitted.
I looked up at him. “Why is that?”
“You were the scientist who was watching my girls as though they were an experiment. I don’t like people like that around my girls. And then after you fell in and bonded with Blue, I knew you were much more than a scientist wanting answers.”
“I can understand where you are coming from. I did a lot of research on raptors before I came here and I had an idea in mind of how they were. I can see that they are different from what I first imagined.”
“That’s good because I don’t want you thinking badly of them.” Owen laughed.
I stared up into his eyes as we swayed and he stared back. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my toes were at their highest point. Owen pressed his lips against mine. The girls started chirping as they ran up to the gates. Owen and I pulled apart and watched them as they tried to stick their heads through the bars.
“So, what about that stargazing?” I asked smiling at Owen.
“This sounds stupid and super dangerous but I thought we could stargaze in the cage.” Owen suggested.
My face fell. “Are you crazy? Blue snaps at you when you’re outside the cage imagine what would happen when you’re inside with them.” I let my arms drop to my side.
“They will be fine.” He walked passed me.
I grabbed him by his shirt and stopped him. “You’re not going in there. They are dangerous and will not hesitate to attack you.” I snap at him.
He narrows his eyes at me. “Those are my raptors, I know them better than you do. You only see them as animals, I see them as more than that.” He snaps back. “I thought you would think of them differently but I can see now that I was wrong.”
I let his shirt go. “By all means step into their paddock and see what happens but I won’t be here to watch you get torn limb from limb.” I slammed the gate door behind me as I stormed off into the night.
I shivered and hugged my arms around myself. It took me an hour to walk back to my place and by then I was frozen. Owen hadn’t passed me on the way back and his bike wasn’t outside his bungalow. I shook my head and disappeared inside my caravan.
I wiped the makeup from my face, well what was left after the tears had washed most of it away. I pulled my dress off and stuck an oversized shirt on. The best thing to do was sleep.
I heard Owen’s bike pull up and then his bungalow door slam. I guess we weren’t speaking to each other.