It has two weeks now since I met Zack. He is a great guy and nothing like his cousin. The kids love him and even Ian,who has always been protective of me when it comes to guys. He asked me out and though I didn't want to go at first he ended up convincing me. He took me to a carnival and we had a lot of fun. We got to know each other better. He drove me home.

"I had fun today." he said when we were parked in front of my apartment building.

"Me too." I said looking over at him.

"I guess I'll see you later then." he smiled and I smiled back.

"Yeah." I said. It was getting kind of awkward. Zack looked like he wanted to say something but decided against it but rather he started leaning in till I could feel his breath on my face. I thought he was actually going to kiss me on the lips but rather he kissed my cheeks and drew back.

"Good night." he said an I just nodded and got out of the car. I was speechless . I don't really know what I feel for Zack. Its kind of confusing. I walked to my apartment while still thinking of the little kiss. I had a smile on my face till I remembered I will be see Collins tomorrow and the smile fell off and I groaned out. All this time and I still cant stand him.

I was very happy when Maria called me the next day and told me Collins said I could come in the afternoon instead since he would be going golfing with his father. I barely saw him interact with his father. He pays more attention to his mother whenever she was around. Their whole family is strange. Its like everyone avoids each other. I took the kids to school and went to the café to help Ian out. I realized just how much I missed this place and all the workers.

"No work today?" Ian asked when  arrived at the café.

"I'll go later. Collins gave me the morning off." I answered. I pulled out one of the stool and sat by him while he brewed the coffee and baked some  pastries.

"That's shocking. I bet he's had all his fun." I commented and handed me one of the cupcakes. It was an ice cream sundae cupcake, my  favorite.

"Like that's ever going to happen." I scoffed.

"So how was the date?"

"It was great. He is an amazing guy."

"Maybe. He likes you though. I don't know if I trust him. He seems too nice."

Trust Ian to say this. He would be making a big deal if he wasn't nice too.

"He's fine. And I think I kinda like him too."

"You don't, at least not yet, but you're getting there."

I guess he was right. Ian hasn't had many girlfriends and I kind of feel guilty since all his previous ones left him because me. Between him managing the café and helping me take care of my little siblings there is a zero time for romance. The others all thought he and I had a romantic affair. Just thinking about that makes me shudders. Ian is like a brother to me and I love him for that. I really hope he meets someone who would understand that. I helped out at the café till it was almost time for me to go to work. Ian told me he would go for the kids so I went straight to the Belkin residence. I saw Mr. Bekins car which probably meant Collins was back too.

"Hello Maria." I greeted her. She was cooking as usual.

"Hello dear. Where are the little angels?" she asked. She doesn't really stay with the kids or she wouldn't be referring to them as angels.

"Ian offered to pick them up." I picked an apple from the fruit basket and bit into it. I looked at Maria and I could guess something was bothering her.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"Yeah. Its just Collins isn't home yet."

"So?" I didn't really get what the problem is.

"He went golfing with his father today and Mr. Belkins came back hours ago."

"I still don't get what the problem is. He is an adult. He just went golfing plus his dad was with him." I pointed out.

"That is the problem. No one knows where he is." She said. I was so confused. She seemed to be in thought. She stopped then looked around and turned to me.

"I want you to go buy me a bottle of vinegar." she said to me suddenly.

"But there is a cabinet full of them." I pointed.

"I need a fresh one. I want you to go to the stores by the beach."

"That's like half an hour away."

"Get going then. Take George with you." She said and literally pushed me out of the kitchen. That was so weird but I decided to do as she said. George drove me to the store and I got down. I went in and got the vinegar. When I came out I saw that George had drove the car farther away and we close to the beach now.

"Why'd you move the car?" I asked him. As I was looking around I saw someone sitting by the beach and he looked so familiar. "Is that Collins?"

"Maria said to tell you not to hurry back." George said and then he took the bottle of vinegar from me. I now knew why Maria sent me here. I could see that Collins was not alright. George drove away and I walked towards Collins and sat beside him on the sand. He turned to look at me for some time and then turned back to the waters in front of us.

"What happened during golfing?" I asked going straight to the point. He was silent. I thought he was going to ignore me but he didn't.

"I've never seen my parents act as a couple. When I was younger I used to think it was my fault." he chuckled with no sign of humor. He lost disturbed.

"They always acted like room mates instead of as married couples. I know they only tolerated me so I wasn't surprised when one day they just shipped me off to a boarding school. They never came to visit. It was either Maria or my aunt, Zack's mother. I spent most of my vacations with my aunt or at my best friend's house because my parents were always so busy."  He wasn't looking at me but I could feel his pain. "So when he asked me to go golfing wit him today," he continued." part of me knew he wanted me to do something but part of me really hoped it was because he wanted to spend time  me. Turns out he just wants to have me prepared so I could take over the family company. It kinda made me realize that he never saw me as a son but just an heir to the family business."

I have met Mr. Belkins a few times. Its kind of hard to picture him as the man Collins is describing now. He was always nice to me and he treated me like I was his daughter.

"Have you maybe tried talking to them?"

"Like that's going help" he scoffed. "They are too self absorbed to care. My mum has been trying to make it up to me some how but who knows how that will last. How did you find me?"

"Maria."

"Of course. I am glad you are here though. You always seem to cheer me up."

"I didn't even say anything."

"But you listened." he said whiles looking at me with a smile. A real one not his annoying smirk.

"Glad I could help." I said with a smile too.

"What about your family? I've never heard you talk about them." He asked.

"My parents died two years ago in a car accident. So its just me and the twins."

"Didn't you have any family members to take you guys in?"

"No. My dad was an orphan and an only child. My mum was an only child too. All I know is my grand dad disowned my mum for marrying my dad. I don't really know the full story because my mum didn't want to talk about it. I don't even know if my grand dad is even alive." 

We stayed there for about two hours just talking. It looked as if it was possible for us to be friends. who would have thought. In those few hours I got to know more about Collins Belkins than I have come to know these last few months andas much as I hated to admit, he wasn't all bad.