HOUSE OF FIRE

Chapter 5

Author Note - It's Rae Carter, everyone!

A bell jingles when I walk into a book store called "Jinx's Magic Shop" and my nose is immediately assaulted by the smell of stale books mixed in with a lemon-scented air freshener. Moving away when someone tries to exit the store, I look around and admire the place. It looks pretty causal, with lines of shelves surrounding every corner of the left side of the room and comfortable sofas in the other. The crowd in the store is pretty small, with only a few settled down as they quietly read, and situated in the middle is a large desk occupied by a young brunette with glasses. There's a computer on the desk and its surrounded by a lot of books heaped upon one another, she raises her head and smiles in greeting when I drew closer and shuts the novel she was reading.

"can I help you?"

"hmm, I just wanted to look around. Hope that's okay."

"Yeah, of course, you can." she nods, motioning for me to go ahead.

Saying a quick thanks, I make my way through the shelves and run my hands down the lines of books. I searched around for any book that could be related to elemental's and found a few, just when I was about to trace my way back to the storefront and settle down on one of the sofa's to read, the sound of something being hit made me pause. Frowning, I step closer to the shelf behind me and stare at the couple on the other side over the rim of books. A female blonde is standing impossibly close as she whispers to a guy, her hand raised on the shelf behind his head and the other settled on the guy's bicep to stop him from leaving.

The male has his hair dyed platinum blonde with his dark roots showing. He's in a fitted green t-shirt, the name Jinx's bookshop written in bold letters in the middle and his back is practically plastered to the shelf behind him as he unsuccessfully tries to lean away from her touch. He's glaring down at the blonde with barely concealed annoyance, and I raise a brow in interest, sneakily moving closer so I can hear what they're talking about. "look, Lia, I already helped you locate your book so if that's all you need from me then I need to go."

He quickly steps away from her and looks about ready to bolt but she grabs onto his arm and pulls him back with force, almost knocking down some books from the shelves. Wow, she's strong. "wait a minute, aren't you forgetting something."

"oh, that's right," holding back the anger blazing in his eyes, he brushed her hand off his body in annoyance. "make sure to actually purchase the book before you leave."

"that isn't what I meant and you know it," she narrows her eyes, taking a step closer so she's crowding his personal space. Both hands raised on the bookshelf to cage him in. I wasn't the only one to notice the way her generous breasts threatened to spill out of her top when she pressed her body very close to his, but the guy looked unaffected by the sight. Or at least he's trying to look unaffected, either that or he's constipated. "you still haven't replied to my messages?"

"I thought my blatant show of ignoring you was enough of an answer but it seems I just need to be direct." he smiles tightly. "No thanks Lia, I'm not interested in being your boy toy. Now if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do."

Well ouch!

He used her shock to push her aside and slip from out of her hold as he hurries away, pretending to be looking at the books on the shelf I duck a little when he walks past where I'm standing. Releasing a sigh of relief when he didn't notice me, I straighten and turn my attention back to the girl named Lia, watching as she let out an irritated huff and threw the book in her hand in anger. Childishly, she stomps on it with her heeled boot to appease her rage before letting out a small scream of frustration.