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A week had passed since Bomber had turned up at work and threatened me. That's what I liked to call it because I couldn't think of another word for the confusing interaction. All I knew was that I couldn't stand him. Walking around like he wasn't ruining lives and the nerve to make jokes about me as if I'd known him my whole life. It was infuriating.

Thankfully it'd been pretty quiet since he left that day.

He'd sent me one text on the phone he gave me asking to keep him informed but I'd had nothing to tell him over the course of the week. I was beginning to worry that the next time he texted me it would be his way or the high way. It wasn't until the following Thursday that anything remotely interesting happened regarding my so called mission.

I almost missed him because I was about to start closing up since it going on 10:30. Bobby had still yet to hire someone to replace Randy and I wanted to get a head start on cleaning. He said he was giving him two weeks to turn up and then he was giving up on the kid. I felt sick every time he mentioned it. The guilt continued to gnaw at me like decomposing fungi.

Bobby had no idea that Randy was never coming back. Well, he came back every night in my nightmares.

My lack of sleep had also really been catching up to me. Yesterday I didn't even get my lunch break because I fell asleep on the couch in the staff room. I'd just sat down for a minute to catch my breath and the next thing I knew Bobby was shaking me awake.

It was clear I needed sleep, I just didn't know how to get it anymore.

I was wiping up the counter when I heard a group of kids around my age enter. The sound of their rambunctious chatter drowned out the bell and as I turned around I was ready to tell them we were closed. Until I saw him.

He kind of blended in with his group of friends, Collin Monturi. His group consisted of two girls and three guys, including himself. I recognised most of their faces from high school, except for one guy who I was pretty positive I'd never seen before. I'd have remembered his flaming red hair, for sure.

Collin was laughing at something a pretty, short blonde was saying, I think her name was Riley, or Alex. I remembered it was unisex name.

He approached the register and my heart leapt. This was it. The moment I'd been waiting for. I'd told Bomber I didn't need to go looking for Collin because it was only a matter of time before he found me. I'd started to doubt my own words for a while, until he actually walked in.

It worked. My plan actually worked.

"Oh shit, are you cleaning up?" He asked as he eyed the dishrag that I'd been using to wipe down the counters.

"I thought you guys were open till 11?" The blonde girl asked, her face looking confused for a second.

I haphazardly collected my thoughts and smiled at them, or rather at Collin and shook my head, "We're open don't worry. I was just getting started with the clean up since no one had come in for a while."

I moved over to the register, trying to think of something to say that would make an impression on him. Trying to get him see me as more than just an ice cream girl. The rest of his friends gathered around him rather than forming a line.

"What can I get for you guys?"

Collin smiled back before turning to the little blonde next to him and dropping an arm around her shoulders, "You go first, Sam."

Sam. That was it, I couldn't put my finger on it earlier.

"I'll have a small vanilla soft serve in a cup with chocolate sprinkles please."

Dear god that has to be the most boring order ever.

Collin shook his head as though he thought the same thing and let his whole friend group order before him. I couldn't tell if he was being polite or he just didn't know what he wanted yet. Either way I kept one eye on him the whole time. I caught his eye once and I blushed slightly in embarrassment at being caught staring. Damn it, I didn't want to labeled a creep. He smiled at me sweetly though as I helped his friend Jason. Maybe he thought I was staring because I thought he was attractive.

I mean he was, but I had bigger worries.

He had a great smile. It was perfect. Perfect in the sense that you'd see it on a toothpaste box, just like in the picture Lethal had shown me in his file.

I had waited all week for this moment, so many people relied on my ability to connect with this guy and I was drawing an absolute blank. I mean it's not like I'd never gotten a guys attention before. I wasn't some medieval nun. But suddenly I felt rusty. Like when you sit down for a math test and you can feel everything you learnt leaving your brain as though it were a leaky pipe.

Everything I knew about guys was draining out of my ears.

"I know you right?" Jason's voice dragged me from the eye contact with Collin.

I laughed slightly, "We graduated together. Jason right?" I asked though I knew it was him. He'd been in a few of my classes.

"Yes! I knew I knew you! Annie isn't it?"

I tired not to take it too personally that I knew his name but he didn't know mine. I had an exceptional  memory with names, even if I drew a blank on Sam's. On the other hand,  everyone always got my name wrong, which I thought was odd considering it wasn't exactly very common. Shouldn't unusual names be memorable?

"Close." I teased and Jason snapped his fingers in 'dang it' motion, "Ainsley actually."

"Ack! I knew it. That was gonna be my next guess."

"Sure it was, Columbo." The third guy, the one I didn't know quipped and I laughed lightly as Jason handed over his card so I could ring up his order.

"See that would hurt, if I knew who the fuck Columbo was."

"He's a detective, from a show in the seventies."

Jason looked at Red Head as if he were actually on fire, "And you know this why, dip shit?" the other girl who was with them, Maya pinched him under the arm and he winced.

"I like old stuff." The boy defended lightly, like he was completely unbothered that Jason was making fun of him.

"Don't be a dick, Jace." she scolded and then turned to me, she had gorgeous big brown eyes as she smiled, "He's just showing off in front of you."

"Shut up, Maya." Jason snapped and the two of them started bickering. Red Head rolled his eyes and turned to me.

"I'm Ren by the way. I go to college with Jason, unfortunately. I'm just visiting for a few weeks."

I nodded with a smile, "Oh that's great, welcome to town then. I'm Ainsley. Can I get you anything?"

"Thanks! And uh, yeah I'll have two scoops of strawberry."

I smiled because his ice cream would match his hair, "Cup or cone?"

"Cone, of course." he said as if it was obvious and I grinned, "Waffle cone."

"One strawberry waffle cone coming right up. You guys can go sit down at a booth or something once you've ordered. It's just me tonight, so I'll make your ice creams and then bring them all over at once if you like."

They all agreed and thanked me before heading off the big rounded booth in the corner of the room. It was the most popular spot in the parlor when we were busy. Usually occupied by a large group of high schoolers during the day.

I watched their retreating backs before turning to the last person left.
Collin. This was it, it was now or never. I didn't know when I'd get another chance like this. Clearly Lethal and Bomber were not playing the long game. They wanted this wrapped up quickly.

My eyes drifted over him while he wasn't paying attention.

He was actually pretty cute, he'd had some form of glow up since the end of high school. I mean he'd always been cute, but I also remembered that he'd been kind of nerdy. Those teeth hadn't always been perfect, he'd had braces when I knew him too. I took a moment to appreciate his new look. His soft brown hair cut close on the sides and longer on the top. Full lips and honey brown eyes that glowed even behind his glasses. Glasses that only added to his boy next door vibe.

He seemed like the type of boy who'd get you corsage for home coming and would make sure it matched your dress too. The type of guy who would hold open the car door for you before you got in and after he aced his organic chemistry test in class that day.

If I took away the pressure to save lives he might have been easy to flirt with. My type, if I believed in that type of thing.

I couldn't image what Bomber and Lethal could want from his father. His father was probably a freaking cardiologist or something insanely smart and charming if his son was anything to go by.

"Sorry about them," he started, tucking his hands into the pocket of his salmon colored shorts. I had a flashback to when Bomber was stood in his exact spot in almost the exact same pose, "They can be kind of a lot, you know?"

I shrugged and gave him a playful little wave, "Hey, I have friends. You don't gotta apologise to me. My friend Lindsey is always making trouble when we go out."

He smiled and I knew he was gonna make a joke, "Yeah they're great really. You just never know who doesn't have the right palette for them."

I giggled, "Well you don't have to worry about me. I have to be ready for just about anything working here."

"Oh I'm sure. I bet you get a lot of crazy people in this town taking their shit out on you."

"Yeah, well you face that in any service job. Plus the tips are amazing."

"Oh yeah?" He asked, his eyes bright and even though he seemed to have a quiet personality, his expression warmed me.

He seemed so innocent, like a puppy that I wanted to take home.

I nodded, "Totally makes up for the craziness."

Collin removed his hand from his pocket and pushed his dark glasses up his nose, "It must be hard working alone though. Do you do that all day, or just for closing?"

This was good. He was asking me questions, making conversation, even if I'd rather he ask me about anything but my work. All the joy had been stolen from this place. I had night terrors about an ice cream parlor.

"Well actually my partner is kinda..." I trailed off, I hated lying about Randy, "missing."

His eyebrows shot up, "Missing? The playing hooky kinda missing?"

I laughed awkwardly, "No, the file a missing persons report type of missing."

"Shit," he frowned slightly, and he seemed to be completing a puzzle, "you work with Randy Walker?"

"You know him?" I glanced away from Collin because I felt the familiar cold hand of guilt begin to walk up my spine.

"Well, Sam's little sister is in his grade. I heard her talking about how no one knows where he is."

"Yeah," I replied lamely.

It felt like a grey cloud had floated over my head and was about to burst any moment.

"I'm sorry, if you were friends with him." He said, his voice soft and gentle but I couldn't stop the slightly harsh laugh that escaped me.

I cut myself off the moment I realized and cleared my throat, I still refused to meet his eye, "Sorry, I just. I don't like talking about-"

"No, no it's okay you don't have to explain. I totally understand. How about that ice cream?"

I smiled softly and glanced up at him through my lashes, "Sure,"

Just as he went to open his mouth someone shouted his name causing us both to jump slightly. It broke the moment, or more like shattered it.

"Collin, come on I saved you a seat." Sam called out, her eyes flickering between Collin and I.

I was grateful that he turned away for a moment so I could collect myself. He told her he'd be right there and when he looked back I smiled.

"She's a little impatient." He joked lightly and rolled his eyes playfully. I was grateful for the reprieve and the change in the mood of the conversation. Except after that he just ordered and headed over to sit with his friends and suddenly my relief was short lived.

Disappointment settled in my gut as I began to fix the group's orders. I did so quickly, so that none of them would melt before I finished and then brought them over on a nifty little tray that had holes in it to fit cones.

Everyone paused their conversation and smiled at me as handed them all out. I felt my opportunity passing with each moment. I needed this, I needed to do something and yet my mind was completely blank.

Shit.

I was just about turn around and walk away when Collin's voice stopped me, "Ainsley wait, you should sit with us."

I bit my lip to stop the crazy smile that threatened to break me and slowly turned around. Five pairs of eyes were on, most of them friendly.

"Oh no, I shouldn't-"

"You should, there is plenty of room." Maya chipped in enthusiastically, she turned to Sam who was to her left, "Sam move in more so Ainsley can sit on the end."

Sam, who had been pressed pretty close to Collin's side, frowned slightly but did as she was told; she was no match for Maya's bubbly personality. I felt bad a little, it was clear to me that Sam liked Collin. She'd had one eye on us the whole time we'd been talking at the register and I knew she absolutely didn't want me to sit next to him. If she didn't feel threatened by me she'd probably be a really nice girl, despite her boring taste in ice cream. I remember she'd been nice in high school.

Collin mimicked Sam and scooted further into the red booth so that there was room for me to sit next to him. I rested my tray against the side of the booth and slid in slowly.

He grinned that perfect smile at me as he rested his arm along the back of the booth behind my head and my stomach fluttered.

Collin was soft, sweet.

The exact opposite of the spikes and wire wrapped around the barbed boys who put me up to this.

Maybe being friends with Collin was actually a good thing. I found myself wondering why we weren't friends before.

When the conversation picked up again we started talking about high school. Memories, drama, and gossip about what the people from our graduating class were up to now. Ren tried to to top our stories with some of his own home town.

Under the table I pulled out a little gray phone from my apron pocket

to The Bomb

Me: I'm in.

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A/N: We met Collin!

What do we think of him? Did Ainsley make an a big enough impact on him to be his friend or was he just being polite?

I really wanted this chapter to be more interesting but I just found it kinda hard to write, the dialogue specifically.

Anyway tell me what you think! I love hearing from you guys. Thanks for all the reads, votes, and comments so far :)