Five

(one month later) -Alina's POV-

"Happy birthday!" my sister jumped on my bed, waking me up.

"Thanks." I replied.

"You're 22!" she said excitedly.

I got up to get dressed and eat breakfast. Esmeralda bought me an individual sized cake- probably chocolate with white icing. In purple letters was written, 'Happy 22nd Alina!.'

"Don't you think I'm a little too old for cake?" I smiled playfully.

"What?! Of course not!"

The shop was closed today, we always close it for our birthday's and for certain holidays. Then, we heard someone whistle. I saw my sister smile and I automatically knew who it was. I got up and ran out to the main room, with Esmeralda following.

"Happy Birthday." Zack was leaning up against the door with his arms crossed. He smiled at me and winked.

I started blushing. Esmeralda elbowed me in the side. "Th-thank you very much Zack."

"That's all?" he asked tilting his head to the side.

"What more do you want?" I asked, confused.

He winked again. "Hm..."

"Uh, Zack!" I blurted, embarrassed. I covered my face with my hands.

He started laughing. "Esmeralda, do you mind if I steal your sister today? I have a present for her. I'm afraid it's too big to fit into my pocket."

I gasped, partly because I was afraid, and because I didn't expect him to get me a present. Having him tell me happy birthday was enough, but I was to nervous to say so.

"Nah, I don't mind. Take care of her okay?" Esmeralda winked at him. It was like they had a secret... like they were speaking in code.

Before I could say anything, Zack grabbed my hand and ran out of the store. We got into his slick, black sports car and rode off.

"Zack, what are you doing? Where are we going?" I asked.

"Hey, c'mon. Trust me. Just relax Alina." he smiled.

I felt myself drifting to sleep. Long car rides always made me sleepy. Then, I was aware of someone touching me. I opened my eyes to see Zack scooping me up into his strong arms.

"W-what? Zack-" he put his index finger over my lips. My entire body felt like it was on fire.

"Just close your eyes and keep blushing, alright?" he laughed.

"Meanie!" I did as he said. I heard the sound of the wind blowing, birds- seagulls squawking. The smell of salt mixed with the fresh air. Then the sound of gentle waves crashing. He set me down on- what felt like cool sand.

"Happy Birthday Alina. And, Happy Valentine's Day." he whispered as I opened my eyes.

"The beach!" I jumped. 'Happy Valentine's Day' he was the first person to ever tell me that. I instinctively turned around, throwing my arms around his neck. I squeezed him tightly into one big bear hug. "Zack, oh, thank you so much!" I kissed his cheek. "Happy Valentine's Day to you too. Thank you." I let go of him. His cheeks were pink and he looked shocked. I couldn't help but smile. I giggled, then took off to the edge of the water.

I called after him, "hey! Why are you standing there like a lost puppy?"

He flew his eyes up toward me, and came to stand beside me. "Not you too." he pushed me.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Angeal. He calls me a puppy all the time."

I laughed tilting my head to the side, "Zack, the puppy?"

"Ah, Alina!" he looked down at the ground. He was adorable. No wonder Angeal came up with that one.

"I like puppies." I looked out at the ocean.

He chuckled. "I told you about some of my friends, but you never told me about any of yours."

"Okay. I'll tell you, but first. Esmeralda told you about that night... didn't she?"

"Yes."

"Hm." I nodded. If he knew about all of that, then, why was he wasting his time with me still? Did that mean he still wants to be my friend?

We sat down on the sand. "Well, I have Kian, the one you do know about, then I have Kanako. I haven't seen Kana in about a year."

"Kanako?"

"Yeah. She moved and I haven't talked to her."

"Kanako... what's her last name?" Zack asked.

"Morikai."

"I know her!" he declared.

"Really?! How?"

"She knows a friend of mine. You want to see her? We have plenty of time." he asked, springing to his feet.

"That would be great!"

We pulled in front of a huge house I'd never seen before. It only took us about 10 minutes to get here from the beach, so from the shop it would be about an hour and a half, to 2 hour drive. The house was absolutely beautiful and I was only talking about the outside, I bet the inside was twice as beautiful. Zack and I walked up to the door and rang the musical doorbell. It was loud, but pretty. Like a lullaby. I couldn't believe I was about to see Kana. I was excited, but It was weird. I felt like this day couldn't get any better, but at the same time, I felt like I was dreaming, like all of this was too good to be true. Regardless of whether this was all a dream, it was the best birthday ever.

"I'm a little nervous." I mumbled, mainly to myself, but Zack could hear it too.

"It'll be okay." he looked down at me.

I fiddled with the bottom of my lavender tube top. "What if she doesn't remember me?"

The door opened before Zack could answer me.

"Vincent. Hiya!" Zack greeted the tall, mysterious man in front of us. He was gorgeous. Orange-red eyes, long black hair, and a hard, concentrated expression. It was bad enough to feel jealous of Zack's flawlessness, but his friend was just as flawless. I had to admit, beside feeling jealous of his marble silk skin and he pretty black hair, I was intimidated.

"Zack." he nodded once.

"Alina, this is Vincent. Vincent, this is Alina." Zack introduced us.

"Alina. Alina Delmazio?" Vincent asked.

"Yes. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you. Come in." he gestured.

We walked in, seeing the blue walls, shiny hardwood floors, and floor length black curtains.

"Hold on just a moment." Vincent walked up the black spiral staircase.

"Alina! Is it really you?" running down the stairs in front of Vincent was in fact my old friend Kanako. Her dark blue hair had gotten longer, touching to about the middle of her back.

"Kana!" I ran up to her. She hugged me.

"So, I can come visit you in your shop, right?" Kanako asked me, with pleading eyes.

"Yes! Anytime."

Zack and Vincent were in the living room talking while Kanako and I fixed some drinks in the kitchen.

"So, is Zack your boyfriend?" she asked.

"Uh, n-no..." I was bending down to pick up a straw that I had dropped. When I stood up- too fast- I hit my head on the corner of the opened cabinet door. "Ow..."

"Oh no, Alina! I'm so sorry!" Kanako apologized looking at the cut.

I put my hand on my forehead, "it's fine."

Zack rushed in, and Vincent was at Kanako's side. I started blushing, thinking of what Kana had asked me. His big, blue eyes were reading my face. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm fine." I answered him softly. Kanako handed me a wet paper towel while Vincent went to get a band-aid. He came back and handed Zack. I stared at him while he placed it over the cut on my head.

"Thanks." I mumbled.

I could hear Vincent grunt, "humph." Kanako giggled, and of course Zack laughed, making me blush again. I hit him in the chest with my palm.

"Come see me Kana!" I told her as we were about to leave.

"I will!" she promised.

We got back into the car. I was still playing those words over again and again in my head. 'Is Zack your boyfriend?' especially the last one. 'Boyfriend.'

"So, did you have fun today?" Zack asked.

"Yes! Thank you so much! You've done so much for me today." I recited.

"I'm glad that you and Kanako got to see each other again, after so long."

"Me too. You know, I was really scared, being around Vincent."

"Why?"

"He's so... quiet, and he made me a little uncomfortable. I just didn't know what to say to him, but Kana seems happy, so I'm glad."

"Yeah. I see where you're coming from. He's cool, he opens up and talks more once you get to know him and if you hang around him long enough. Vincent's a pretty tough guy, he doesn't show much emotion, but he seemed happy too."

"Really?!" I said, surprised. "How could you tell?"

He let out a long pleasing laugh. "He was smiling, every time he looked at her, or every time she looked at him. It may have been hard for you to notice, but I did."

"Kana's amazing, isn't she?" I smiled. "I missed her."

It was quiet for a while, until Zack grinned asking, "how in the world did you hit your head?"

*gulp* It was hard to swallow. "Well, she, um... she asked me a question, it caught me off guard."

"Oh. What did she ask you? I mean, if you feel like talking about it." he raised an eyebrow, obviously curious.

"You can't laugh." I demanded.

"He nodded once. "Okay."

"I'm serious Zack." I snorted.

"Okay." he waited for me to answer.

I thought about it for a while. I didn't want to tell him what Kanako had really asked, so I tried to make something up. Something believable.

"She asked me if I had a boyfriend." at least it wasn't a total lie.

"Oh. The boyfriend thing again. Ha, well... what did you say?" he kept his eyes on the road.

"I told her 'no' of course. I don't have a boyfriend, so I told the truth."

"Right." he said.

I looked over at him, and tried to change the subject. "Vincent laughed at me."

His smile came back. "Really?"

"Well, he probably didn't laugh, but it sounded like it. He probably doesn't understand how I could hurt myself like that. I faintly heard Kana giggle, but I was too distracted."

"Distracted?" Zack said. Oops.

"Uh... yeah. The cut, you know?" I could feel the blush coming.

"Yeah. You should be more careful."

I sank into the seat. I was too embarrassed to talk.