The Houdini Bookshop

Chapter 3: Crossing Paths With The Ex

A week and a half after Pierre met Serena, everything went well for him. He was in good terms with his parents again. He found a part-time job in an arcade shop near Fidelity Street where The Houdini shop was located and most of all he met the girl who makes him happy.

"Aye...? You two are going on a date again?" Uncle Tom said when Pierre came into the shop.

"Good Morning Uncle Tom! No. It's not a date. We're just going to meet with my mom in her boutique." Pierre greeted. "She wanted Serena to try out her newly designed dress." The muscular man laughed "I don't get it. You kids always spend time with each other, going from one place to another and doing things together. Serena even met your mother and you have met me and pops and yet you say you two are not a couple? Why is that?"

Serena came out from the back storage room wearing a pair of jeans and a thin oversized sweat shirt. "Because we're just friends!" She said and then dragged Pierre out of the shop. "Man, he never shuts up." Serena huffed. Pierre laughed and opened the car door for her. "Relax, he was just teasing. Don't take it seriously. Unless you are starting to feel attracted with me!" he teased. Serena shot him a glare "Dream on dum-dum." she said.

The travel to the mall was short, in ten minutes they were in their destination already. Pierre's mom hugged Serena as soon as she got out of the car. "Serena darling...! It's wonderful to see you again!" she said cheerfully. The raven haired girl hugged back "You too Aunt Julia." She smiled. Pierre received a hug too as soon as he walked up to them. "Do you have work today?" Julia asked. The blond boy shook his head "It's my day off." Pierre said and then followed the two into the mall. The shop was on the second floor and they rode the escalator on the right wing of the mall. While walking Serena and Julia were busy chatting, Pierre caught sight of someone very familiar to him.

"Pierre..."

A fake blonde haired tall and curvy girl walked up to Pierre and gave him a kiss on the lips "I've been calling you up for two weeks already! Where have you been love?!" she said. Pierre stood there motionless, he looked agitated when he realised what was happening. Serena saw that Pierre's fist was curled into a ball on his side. For a moment both Pierre's mom and Serena thought he was going to punch her.

"Karen. It's nice to see you." Pierre said coldly but calm.

Julia tugged Serena's hand and they walked away from the two. Julia noticed the worried and confused look on Serena's face. "That was Karen Paige, the girl who cheated on him recently." She said. Serena nodded mindlessly as she watched the two ex-lovers from a far. "Don't be jealous darling, he doesn't love her anymore and they broke up already. Though I don't understand why she acts like nothing happened." Julia said followed by a gentle pat on the girl's shoulder. "Just don't mind her okay?" Another nod was made by Serena before she answered. "I'm not jealous though, Pierre and I are only friends... and she acts like that because she doesn't know they broke up already because he still loves her and he hasn't told her that he knows she cheated on him with the school's soccer team captain." Serena blurted out. Julia stared at her then glanced at Pierre and Karen who looked like they were making up already.

"Mamma Mia... This boy is such an idiot." The blonde woman sighed.

Serena and Julia waited for Pierre in the shop. To take things off from Serena's mind Pierre's mom made her model the new set of clothes she designed. After an hour Pierre walked in with Karen. Serena immediately went into the fitting room cubicle to hide. Julia remained and stared at Karen who had a wide grin on her face. "Aunt Julia! It's nice to see you again. You look so perf today!" she said and then leaned forward to give the woman's cheeks a peck. "Oh, Karen it's you. I thought it was some celebrity who walked in." she said in rather a sarcastic manner. The blonde woman glared at Pierre who stood beside the girl with a blank expression on his face.