dinohigh, no humans allowed!

Park told me to meet her at the mall today. It was Saturday, and we had no school. I didn't really want to waste my precious free time—time I could spend working side jobs to make extra money, shitposting on the internet, or arguing with people on forums—but Park had insisted it was for the party, so I had no choice. Obligations to her were a curse I couldn't seem to shake. Ever since the principal forced us to "play nice," it felt like my life had become her personal project.

I had a sinking suspicion that Park thought of us as more than friends now. That idea made my stomach churn. I was just pretending to be nice to her, fulfilling the bare minimum to avoid trouble. In reality, I couldn't stand her. She was loud, bossy, and always embroiled in some sort of drama. Whether it was fights with other girls over meaningless popularity contests or sparring with anyone who dared to cross her, she lived for conflict.

I told myself I hated it. I told myself I would rather remain hidden in the shadows, unnoticed and invisible. But, in a way, being her "underling" was a relief. For once, I didn't have to overthink or scheme; I just had to follow her lead. It was… refreshing.

Still, I couldn't help but chalk up her constant fights to her dinosaur nature. Large herbivores like her species, the Hadrosaurs, were known for their social hierarchies and battles for dominance within their herds. Park was no different. And since her kind mixed with other herbivore species in social groups, it wasn't surprising that she always seemed to be proving herself against someone.

Of course, Park's social power wasn't just about her species. She had it all: she came from a prominent Hadrosaur family, her parents were wealthy and well-connected, and she was considered stunningly beautiful—even by human standards.

I hated to admit it, but there was something about her that could catch my eye, no matter how much I despised dinosaurs. Even when I forced myself not to look, I couldn't entirely ignore the way her presence dominated a room.

The mall came into view. It was a sprawling building with a glossy, modern facade, its glass-fronted walls reflecting the late-morning sun. A garish, oversized sign displayed the name of the complex in flashing neon letters, advertising every shop inside like a beacon.

I wouldn't normally step foot in a place like this. Crowds made me nervous, especially crowds of dinosaurs. Most non-dino students stuck to the school campus or the relative safety of their apartments. Even the walk to school was dangerous, with frequent stories of muggings—or worse. This trip was well outside my comfort zone, but Park had a way of dragging me to places I'd never willingly go.

And, oddly enough, I felt safer with her around. Park might have been infuriating, but she wasn't stupid. Letting someone attack me in public would damage her image, make her look weak and incompetent. At least, that's what I told myself to rationalize trusting her. Surely, she didn't actually care about me… did she?

The bus rumbled under my feet, the floor vibrating as we rolled through the city streets. I looked out the window, watching the chaotic hustle of the Saturday morning crowd. Market stalls lined the sidewalks, selling everything from street food to cheap electronics. A florist's cart was bursting with colorful blooms, their petals brushing against the metal framework of a café awning. The smell of roasted chestnuts wafted in through a crack in the window.

The driver, a burly old dino with a battered hat perched awkwardly on his horns, glanced at me in the rearview mirror.

"What's got you in a good mood all of a sudden?" he rumbled, his gravelly voice tinted with curiosity.

He didn't know I was faking my smile. It was my "Park prep" face—practice for the exhausting hours ahead.

"Oh, you know," I said with a casual shrug, holding up my phone as if it explained everything. "Just a girl."

His eyebrows lifted, his horns tilting slightly. "Just a girl?" he repeated, smirking. "Another one already? Didn't you just break up with someone?"

I matched his smirk, my lips twisting into something playful. "Hehe, I guess? But that other one wasn't a good long-term investment," I replied, deliberately phrasing it like a business deal.

I scrolled to a photo of Park on my phone and held it up. She looked stunning, of course, posing with the effortless confidence she always exuded.

The driver's eyes widened. "Wowie, look at that," he said, his tone sliding into something lewd. "Look at the size of those milk melons. And the girth of those bun-oven hips. She must drive you crazy at night!"

I grimaced, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. "Yeah, I guess," I muttered. "She drives me crazy in the morning, too."

That part wasn't a lie. Park was infuriating.

The driver chuckled, his tail tapping the side of his seat. "I can see why you ditched the other one. This one's way better. And you know what they say, pal: bigger is better!"

"Heh, yeah," I replied half-heartedly. "I guess you're right."

As the bus passed another row of shops, I caught sight of a bookstore with a faded sign and a clothing boutique displaying mannequins draped in flashy, sequined outfits. My phone buzzed in my hand, the screen lighting up with an incoming call.

Ring, ring.

The phone buzzed on the glass counter of a brightly lit boutique, the soft glow of pink and white neon signs reflecting off the polished surface. A slender, soft pink hand, the faint shimmer of her scales catching the light, reached out to answer it.

"Hi, sweetie! How have you been?" her mother's voice chirped, her tone as bright as sunlight streaming through a clean window. "How were your first few weeks of class since we last talked? Are you still having trouble with those bullies?"

Park sighed, a flicker of annoyance in her golden eyes as she leaned against the counter, her tail swaying idly behind her. "No, Mom," she replied, her voice firm but not entirely dismissive. "Actually, I've made a new friend."

Her mother's voice immediately perked up. "A boy?!" she gasped, the phone crackling slightly with her excitement. "Oh my God, my daughter has finally found a man! Hooray!"

"Mom, stop," Park groaned, rolling her eyes as the tip of her tail flicked sharply against the floor. "It's not like that… well, maybe. I guess."

Her voice softened, a hint of uncertainty creeping in as she fidgeted with a decorative keychain dangling from her bag. "You see, Mom, this guy… He was mean to me when we first met—for no reason. I didn't even know him, but he was always causing trouble for me, like he was trying to get my attention or something. Remember when I told you about that big fight I got into?"

A pause. Her mother's tone shifted, her earlier excitement cooling into wary curiosity. "Wait… is this the same one?"

"Yes, Mom," Park admitted, her voice steady but her expression tightening as her claws tapped lightly on the counter. "It's him."

Her mother's hesitation was palpable, even through the phone. "Oh my. Honey, you can't be serious. That boy was nothing but trouble! What kind of influence—"

"Mom," Park interrupted, her voice rising in defense. "He's not like that anymore! Ever since the principal scolded him and told him to stop being mean to me, he's been… different. Kind. Helpful. He listens to me and actually understands how I feel."

Her claws curled slightly, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "I don't know how I feel about him yet, but… I think I like him."

Her mother's response was immediate, her voice tinged with disbelief and a touch of anger. "Wait a minute. Are you talking about the human you fought with? You can't be serious, right? A human? A skinny? A rock-throwing monkey? What could ever be nice about one of those?"

Park's lips curled into a snarl, her chest puffing slightly as she growled into the phone. "Shut up, Mom. You don't know him like I do."

Her voice was steady but laced with frustration, her claws gripping the phone tightly. "All the other guys? All they see me for is my body. My big ass and my big boobs. That's all they care about when they look at me. But him? He's… he's different."

Her tail swished behind her, the tip flicking nervously as she continued. "He's so prudish. He doesn't even look at me when I lean forward. He's a gentleman. I bet he's saving himself for marriage. For our marriage."

Her mother's voice cracked with exasperation. "Honey, be serious—"

"No, Mom! If you don't support me, then you're not invited!" Park snapped, her voice sharp as the edge of a blade.

There was a stunned silence on the other end before her mother sighed heavily. "Sweetie, just be careful, okay? Humans are dangerous. Wild. Barely civilized—almost not even sentient. Murderous animals. How can you possibly know what goes on inside his head?"

Park shook her head, her scales shimmering faintly under the boutique's fluorescent lights. "I thought you'd finally be happy for me, Mom," she said, her voice lower now, tinged with bitterness. "All those times you called me a slut for sleeping with all those boys at once, you always complained I had too many boyfriends. And now that I've found one for myself, you're trying to throw him out?"

"Honey, it's not like that," her mother began, her voice faltering. "But he's a human. What would your father say—"

"I don't care what Dad says!" Park shouted, her voice echoing slightly in the shop. She pushed off the counter, pacing as her claws clicked softly against the tiled floor. "Dad never cared about me or my happiness. Otherwise, he would've made time for me!"

Her tail lashed behind her, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. "I'm done talking to you for the day. I'm going to the mall to buy some sexy clothes for this awesome party I'm having. And the human agreed to help me pick them out and carry my stuff. My other boyfriends never cared about shopping with me for clothes. They only cared about seeing me take them off. Boyfriends you picked for me, Mom. You picked those no-good, heart-breaking, shallow idiots. And I'm finally over them now. Goodbye."

"Wait—!" her mother called, but the line went dead.

Park groaned loudly, her claws digging lightly into her arms as she crossed them over her chest. Her tail flicked behind her in irritation as she stood at the entrance of the mall. Around her, the plaza bustled with life—dinosaurs of every size and shape moved through the wide, open space, their footsteps creating a rhythmic cacophony against the stone-paved ground. Bright banners advertising sales fluttered in the breeze, and a fountain in the center sparkled under the midday sun, its water cascading into a shallow pool lined with coins.

Her eyes darted toward the road as the rumble of an approaching bus caught her attention. The vehicle, slightly battered but still serviceable, hissed to a stop at the curb. The door folded open with a sharp mechanical squeal, and the human stepped out, his sneakers scuffing lightly against the pavement.

He was smiling, a warm, genuine expression that contrasted sharply with the sour look on her face. Despite herself, she felt her mood lighten. Her tail swayed behind her in an almost subconscious wag as her lips curled into a small smile.

"What does Mom know about boys anyway?" she thought dismissively, her golden eyes meeting his as he approached. "Old boomer."