She was lost in thought as she neared the Capuchin exhibit. The screaming of the lilliputian monkeys broke through to her senses. What are those little bastards raising hell about? Some of the Capuchins were throwing excrement at each other, a few others were masturbating furiously. She rounded the corner of the largest cage, startled by a manic Capuchin who came galloping up to her and screamed at her through the bars, bony beggar arms outsretched, grabbing at her. She disliked the curled back coconut-shaped mouth of the raucous little creature, his rotten yellow teeth exposed to her. She thought about screaming back, but decided against it and kept walking. The monkey followed her, continuing his harassment. She lengthened her stride, shoving her fists deep in the pockets of her parka.

SMACK! Skulls cracked together and blood-heat rushed to Zoe's sinus cavities, her vision darkened and a hundred spinning points of light surrounded her. Her mouth filled with a noxious metallic taste. Oh, Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. She felt her legs buckling in beneath her.

"Oh, excuse me..." a male voice said pathetically. Zoe felt a strong hand on her arm and she squinted to make out the figure in front of her.

"Jesus Christ, man." Zoe's voice spat at the man, her mouth still filled with the awful silver taste of metal and heat. She put her palm against her forehead, squeezing her eyes, her lips tightened, wincing from the pain.

Zoe looked up, her head throbbing, blood pulsing hot through her temples.

"Oh, my God...you..." she stared agape at the man in disbelief.

Staring back at her was the red-haired guy who caused her to wreck her Ducati. She couldn't believe it. Good god, what are the chances?

"Shit, you're bleeding--"
The red-head brought his hand up to his face and wiped at the warm blood flowing out of his nose and over his lips.
"Yeah, just a little," he said softly, eyes cast downward.
"God, we have to stop crashing into each other like this." Zoe smiled broadly. She wanted to giggle, but stopped herself. She looked at the attractive red-head and had a thought -- Why don't you come over, I'll make it all better.

"Hey, you should probably put some ice on that."
"Mmm, yeah...I guess so..."
"Come on, I don't live far away. The least I could do is take you back to my place and we can check out the damage."
"Sounds good," he said, his face lighting up.
"By the way, I don't even know your name." Zoe said, lowering her eyes at him and lifting her chin a little.
"Patrick. Patrick McDonald."
"Zoe. Nice to meet you," she teased.

They quickly found their way to the zoo exit. At the gate they were stopped by a young blonde haired woman.
"Excuse me," the young blonde said, coming up to them.
"Yes?" Zoe gave the blonde a puzzled look.
"Are you O.K., sir?" the blonde asked.
"Yeah, just a little accident."
"How did this happen, sir?"
"Oh, um, we, uh," he looked at Zoe and then back at the blonde. "We sorta ran into each other, I guess."
"Where was this, sir?"
"Oh, uh, over at the monkey exhibits...we were rounding the corner of the capuchin cage when we kinda collided..."
"I hope there's not an insurance problem, sir."
"Oh, uh..." he stammered, looking somewhat perplexed.
"I hope the zoo you are not holding the zoo in any way responsible for this incident, sir."
"Good lord, no, what are you talking about?"
"I'm Miss Flint, the public relations director for the zoo. Do you need some help with this incident?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Zoe asked, becoming agitated with the nosy woman.
"I mean, this was an entirely personal accident, cause in no way by the grounds, am I correct?" the woman cocked her head at Zoe, looking very serious about the matter.
"Look, lady, we're not going to sue the goddamned zoo, O.K.? Don't worry your little head about a thing. We're fine." Zoe was growing impatient and grabbed the red-head by the arm and starting walking away.

"Wait!" The blonde came trotting after them. "Wait! Here's my card! Take it -- and if there are any complications, don't hesitate to give me a call."
She thrust a business card at Zoe. Zoe took it and shoved it in her pocket without looking at it, continuing to walk away.
"Have a nice day -- and take care of your nose, sir." The blonde smiled at them, but the two were already on their way...

FOLLOW ZOE