There were so many things that I wanted to tell you but I was so mesmerized by your eyes.

-unknown

———

"Toby! Bring the cupcakes"

"Yes mom" Toby brought them over to the table, it was Saturday morning and the Jone's house was a big mess. It was Alina's dad, Damien, 45th birthday so Martha wanted to make a surprise party they had made a foolproof plan.

Thomas would take Damien early in the morning for some shopping, they needed to buy things for fishing, it was their hobby. The rest of the Perk's would arrive once they leave, helping the Jonesto prepare the surprise party for Damien.

"Wait I'll help you" Callie said to Alina

"Thanks darling"

They were a little busy and excited with all that but they were also worried, the guests were late and the place wasn't all decorated yet.

"Where's Col, Aunt?" Aaron questioned

"He said that he needed to do some things early in the morning but he told me he would get on time to help"

"Classic" Alina whispered to herself but then the door opened revealing a crowd of happy people

"The guests" Martha smiled, they created each other and happily helped, things were almost done.

"Hello family" Colten said

"Oh Colten! How did you find the guests?"

"I was about to came here when I saw a group of people a few blocks away..."

"Yeah we were in the wrong place" One of them says

"Oh but now you're here! All thanks to Colten! Thanks love" Martha filled him with kisses, he gladly received them and then also helped

"I wonder what he does to have that luck" Aaron said to himself and Alina overheard "and to top it all he also as love... Damn I'm his fan"

"You're pathetic" Alina commented

"He is awesome..."Aaron said again

Once the place was ready everyone hide, they turned down the lights and waited.

After some moments they heard a knock on the door and it slowly opened revealing Damien, they quickly stood up and cheering "Happy Birthday" and Thomas turned on the lights.

Damien smiled and his wife quickly hugged him.

"Dad don't cry" Aaron said giving him a hug

"Me? Crying? As if"

" Happy Birthday Pa" Alina said next giving him a kiss and a tight hug

"Happy Birthday old man" Tobias said laughing

"Old man?" Damien laughed, he picked Toby up "I'm not old I'm wise"

"Old" Toby laughed again

Everyone greeted and congratulated Damien, it was an happy and calm environment well... not for everyone

Alina was finishing some details on the cake when Colten arrives the kitchen to get more wine. He overthinks in whether should he say something or not.

She was super concentrated in the cake she didn't wanted to mess it up but aas soon as she felt some eyes upon her "Shit"

"You ok?" he asked her once he heard her curse... No answer... He let the wine on the counter and checked what she was doing

"What happened?"

"I messed it up" She said, she took another look at the cake and then gave up, her head bowed down, her arms on the counter holding the height of her upper body.

"Fix it"

"Great help" she said with her head still lowered

"What do you wanted to do?" he said analyzing the cake

"Write his name in gold which is useless now because I ruined it"

"Well work something out of what you have"

"I can't do that" she said looking at him

"Yes you can " he giggled "you can literally make a masterpiece out of one stretch"

"No I can't that's just whatever you think I can do"

"Alina." He said now more serious which caught her off guard " You can literally do everything you want to, you just have to believe in yourself and that's really missing out on you. You need to hear that YOU CAN not that Ugh I cannot do that I'm so weak and useless"

She looked at him with and annoyed face due to his scolding " FYI I was just imitating you"

"Oh thanks for the in lighting" She gave a sarcastic smile and looked at the cake

"No welcome" he saw her getting close of that cake and making her concentrated face making him smile. She stuck her tongue out while she was doing new decorations around the cake, now and then she would bite her lip while he was completely focused on studying her facial expressions.

"I thought you weren't able to make it" she said still concentrated on the cake

"Were you already missing me?" He let a slight smirk while he leaned himself against the kitchen counter but still watching her work

"Tought you'd be in some cute lovely date or something" she mentioned caught him by surprise, he looked at her even tough her eyes were on the cake

"Yes, I actually had to cancel my date today"

"You saying that is weird" she chuckled getting up and going to the counter in front of him to wash her utensils while he was facing her back.

"Why?"

"Please Colten, you and the word date never got along that well"

"Not in the past yes that's why I'm doing things different... changing " he said

"Wow"she spoke loudly and turned her head to him " you really are serious with this girl"

"It's that so unbelievable?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow

She turned herself to him leaning back on the counter to crossing her arms "yes, it is "

"Is unbelievable that I'm actually taking a different path trying to be... better?!"

"Better? Well yes, it's unbelievable when last year you were with half of your checklist of juniors done by now"

"That's Maximo, not me and It's clearly impossible to talk to you" he rolled his eyes annoyed with the conversation course

"You just can't accept the truth that this actually is weird and out of the regular. All these lovely dates, a drive-in movie date, a rich ass restaurant date, a picnic date, its getting ridiculous"

He took some steps close to her while she was still leaning in the kitchen counter he placed his hands on both sides of the counter which she was leaned on. His lips were inches of her ear when he whispered seductively "Are you, Alina Jones..."
He moved his head so he could gaze her in the eyes, he licked his lips "jealous?"

She paralysed, trying to process the situation they were on, trying to understand why was he having such a weird effect on her when-

" Hey you finished the cake Al?"Aaron's voice interrupted, they got themselves together. She grabbed the cake and Colten the wine and in harmony they answered " yes" leaving Aaron confused by their weird behaviour

"Hey honey you did it" Martha smiled at Alina

"Yeah I think it's not bad"

"Oh it's great baby! You surely can do everything " her mom said taking her the cake and giving her a kiss on the head

She quickly took a look at Colten and he diverted his eyes from her.

"So... what's with you and Colt?" Aaron asked once he got near his sister

"Nothing"

"Really? You seem weird!? More than usual"

"Doubt it. It's probably your imagination again. Studying too much brother"

"Hmm yeah, maybe"

"Let's sing Happy Birthday to Dad"

———-