Serena

"No."

"Yes."

"But I don't want to."

"Would you stop being a child?" I asked the man-child, who was my head baker at the cake shop.

Elias looked at me with a pout, like the small child he was behaving as, with arms crossed against his chest.

"I don't like people," he said, and when I raised a brow at him, knowing that was an utter lie, he sighed. "Okay fine, I don't want to work with anyone."

I rolled my eyes.

Between Arya and Elias, I felt like I had just hired children. Arya wasn't a fan of people, Elias wasn't a fan of working with people.

"Not good enough," I told him. "Everyone needs help."

The Frenchman just gasped at me, as if I had insulted him outright.

"I'm not saying you're not good, you're great, but I don't want to on the verge of collapsing whilst trying to do everything," I told him.

Elias had been working with me for a while. He was really great and knew what he was doing. Anything he made was divine, and at the start it all worked out, but when we started getting more orders and customers, I knew he needed some extra help.

I knew that I couldn't just handle the wedding store on my own, I needed Arya and I did rely on her a lot. Elias needed someone like that too, he just refused to accept that.

"But-"

"Elias."

"Fine," he sulked.

I really didn't understand this issue he had working with someone.

He'd remain the head baker, since I knew I could trust him to run things and I wouldn't easily just pass that onto someone else. I had reassured him his job was there to stay, he'd basically be the boss of someone, yet the numerous times I've told him this, it never seemed to get through.

He remained stood on the other side of the counter where all the baked goods were displayed and I stood opposite him, the glass case in between us.

When he leaned onto it with a sad expression, I closed my eyes momentarily and shook my head. This was more dramatic than it needed to be.

"I'm not going to hire someone without your consent," I told him.

He looked at me and smiled. "So if I don't like them, no hire?"

"If you don't like them for a real reason, then no hire," I corrected.

He frowned but nodded anyway. "Okay," he relented - even if there wasn't that much of a choice.

I smiled. "Interviews have been set up for next week," I told him.

He looked at me in shock. "So this was always happening?"

"Exactly," I said, and placed some papers on the counter, in front of him. "Here are the cvs, look through them."

He grumbled something under his breath, but picked up the small pile of papers nonetheless.

"They could suck," he said, probably hoping that they would.

"The last person we hired moved jobs after a month. The other, she lasted 3 weeks," I reminded him. "It doesn't look good for us if people want to leave."

I didn't want people to think we were horrible and making people leave. If they thought that, it would affect business and I planned on keeping both my shops running for a long while.

"You're bossy," Elias said, his accent thinking on the last word.

"I know," I replied.

Before either of us could say anything, the store phone rang and Elias went to go pick it up.

He spoke for a few seconds, before he turned to me and held out the phone.

"Arya wants you," he said.

I sighed and shook my head, before manoeuvring around to take the call.

"What happened?" I immediately asked, worrying it was a crying customer - or more accurately - one that Arya had made cry.

"There's a customer," she told me.

I knew it would be about a customer.

"And you can't handle them because...?" I asked, trailing off.

"Because I think you're going to want to," she said.

"Is it someone you think is overly happy?" I questioned, because this wouldn't be the first time.

We once had a future bride come in, with a very positive attitude and an abundance of energy - not that there was anything wrong with that. But it was something that I'm pretty sure freaked Arya out and made me laugh.

"Just come over," Arya said, I then agreed and put the phone down, curious as to who was in the store.

I looked over to Elias. "Take a look at the applications, properly," I stressed the last word.

He grumbled something in french, knowing I had no knowledge of the language.

Before I left the shop, I ruffled his chefs' hat, knowing it would get to him, causing Elias to utter some more french words which I don't think were very nice, judging by the tone.

I left the cake shop and walked into the wedding store, ready to deal with the customer.

"Okay, so who is..." my words stopped halfway when I spotted the little human in the middle of the store.

She had immediately turned my way, probably from the sound of the bell when the door had opened, and then grinned.

"Bea?"

"Serena!" She said my name so happily, it sounded like a cheer.

Bea immediately ran towards me, her arms wide open, and I didn't waste a second to catch her and pick her up into a tight embrace.

"I've missed you," she mumbled into my shoulder, hugging me as tight as she could.

"Me too, sweetheart," I smiled.

When I leaned back she was smiling from ear to ear and I kissed the tip of her nose.

She scrunched it up adorably.

"Buzz buzz," Bea made the little sound and my heart melted.

"My little bumblebee," I cooed and swung her gently in my arms, kissing her cheek again.

It was only when I leaned back to look at Arya, did I notice that it wasn't just us in the room.

Liam stood not too far from us. One hand was in his pocket, the other was holding onto a red backpack, which I could tell belonged to Bea.

I felt awkward.

I hadn't actually seen or spoken to him since my breakdown. I spend the last hours of my birthday crying my heart out, with Liam holding onto me, preventing me from completing breaking.

After that, Liam, very reluctantly, left the apartment. It was clear he didn't want to, not after witnessing the mess I was, but he had to go get Bea - and in all honesty I just wanted to be alone anyway.

I'm not comfortable with crying and even worse, letting someone see me cry.

Things that I hadn't mentioned to anyone, and had really kept within, I was telling Liam. It was all just pouring out and I couldn't help myself.

He had called and messaged a few times to check up on me afterwards, and I would give him a short reply, but nothing more. I didn't want to remind myself of that weak moment and I didn't want to see a look of pity in his eyes either.

So, like a mature adult, I avoided him.

But I guess he found me.

"Hi," he nodded.

"Hey," I smiled back.

We both seemed like we didn't know how to act anymore.

"How are you?" He asked.

"Good," I nodded. "You?"

"Good," he replied.

Okay, this could not be more awkward. What is wrong with us?

"Well, this feels uncomfortable," Arya chimed in - not helping the situation at all.

When I glared at her, backed away and got back to work.

"So what brings the two of you by?" I asked, my eyes focused on Bea, unable to shake away this weird feeling when I looked at Liam.

"I made you something," Bea grinned, her green eyes shining brighter than ever. "It's for your birthday."

Her words immediately tugged at my heart and made me smile.

"You didn't have to," I told her, finding it adorable that she'd want to make me something.

"But it's a birthday present. You have to have a birthday present," she said, it was spoken so seriously as if she were actually explaining how birthdays work.

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

"Can you let me down, please?" She asked and I immediately set her down on her feet.

Bea quickly went over to Liam and the backpack he was holding.

Her pack was toward me and I was so curious as to what she was about to bring out. I tried to tilt my head to the side and find out, but couldn't see anything.

When my eyes briefly landed on Liam, I noticed he was already looking at me, only holding the bag open for Bea.

Feeling unnerved, I quickly looked away.

"Close your eyes, Serena," Bea said.

I smiled at her antics but obliged anyway and closed my eyes.

A few seconds later I felt her take my hand and place something onto it.

"Open now, please," she said.

When I opened my eyes and looked at my hand, I noticed an envelope and a little pouch placed onto it.

I looked down at Bea, who beamed at me. She seemed so excited, practically jumping on her feet.

Holding the pouch carefully, I chose to open the envelope first.

Bea had made me a card.

On the cover of the folded card, there was a drawing of a bumblebee with a smile on its face. Underneath, it said "Hap-Bee Birthday!"

It was the most adorable thing ever, including her loopy handwriting.

When I opened the card, inside was a drawing covering both halves. It was of two figures, which I assumed was Bea and I, hand in hand. The sun in the blue sky, flowers around us, and what I think was fairies.

There was a small message written on it, the spelling was off but it was still the best thing I had read.

"Bea, this is so cute! I love it. Thank you so much," I said, crouching down and hugging her.

She giggled when I shook her gently in my hold.

"Open the bag now," she said, excitedly.

I leaned away from her, placing the card back into the envelope so it doesn't get damaged. Then I opened the pouch.

"A candy bracelet," I grinned, taking it out the little bag. My smile only grew wider when I noticed there was a little heart shaped candy in the middle with a 'S' engraved into it.

"This is the cutest," I said and Bea clapped her hands.

"Yay! You like it!" She said.

I kissed her cheek. "I love it."

"Could you put it on for me?" I asked her, and she grinned and nodded, immediately taking the bracelet from me and gently putting it on, as if not to break it.

I held her close, before lifting her up in my arms, standing up straight now.

"What do you think of the store, Bea?" I asked, realising this was the first time she had actually come to the store.

"Is it really is a princess dress store?" She asked instantly. Before I could even nod, she carried on. "It's so pretty. Do they all come here? Even Cinderella? And Elsa?"

I smiled at the innocent question.

"Of course," I replied and she let out a little squeal in excitement, her eyes looked around the store.

"Do you want to see the cake shop too?" I asked.

"Cake?" She looked at me with those widened green eyes.

I nodded. "Yup."

Just as I turned around with Bea in my arms, I looked back at Liam, who had literally stood there the entire time and just watched us.

"Are you coming?" I asked.

He smiled and nodded.

Bea then leaned forward.

"Can we take the lady with the pretty hair?" She asked and I understood she meant Arya, with those red streaks in her hair.

"Arya?" I called out, and she looked towards us, stepping forward. "You're being summoned to the cake shop too."

"But the store?" She questioned.

"Could you grab the 'be right back' sign and hang it up?" I asked.

She nodded and walked to the back room to grab it.

I began to walk with Bea, out this store and to the one next door.

"This is 'A piece of Cake'" I told her, smiling at name of my store and I could hear Liam chuckle at the name.

I've always liked puns and a play on words.

"There's so much cake!" Bea exclaimed, looking at all the various ones on display.

I stepped forward towards the counter and in that time, Elias had come out to greet us too.

"Elias, this is Bea and Liam," I introduced them. "This is Elias, my head baker."

"And it stays that way," he mumbled and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Bonjour, princesse," he greeted Bea, tipping his chefs hat for her.

Bea giggled at his actions. "He's funny."

"Do you want to choose a cupcake for yourself?" I asked her.

She looked at me in what seemed like disbelief. "Can I really?"

I smiled and placed her down onto her feet.

"Choose as many as you want," I told her.

Bea immediately began to talk to Elias about all the different cakes she liked and wanted, wasting no time at all, as if this offer had an expiry date.

"All of us?" Arya then asked and I looked her, shaking my head at first before gesturing towards the counter and she immediately joined Bea.

"She'll love this. Thank you." Liam spoke up and I looked towards him. "I would've brought her sooner but she had school, I had work, and we weren't able to make it. Bea also didn't want to see you until she had decided on your gift."

She was so adorable.

"It's not a problem," I replied, before gesturing towards my candy bead bracelet. "Thank you for this."

He feigned ignorance. "What?"

"Liam," I raised a brow at him.

The expression on his face lasted a few seconds before he sighed.

"How did you know?" He asked.

I smiled at him, tracing over the little candy pieces.

"I remember when we were little, not long after we first met, and I wanted this candy bracelet but my Mum didn't let me get it. So, for my birthday, you did," I told him.

My Mum knew I that I would be eating a lot of cake for my birthday anyway and so she didn't want to also get me more candy on top of that, but I really wanted the bracelet.

Liam and Emma had also come with us, I guess he'd seen how much I wanted it at the time.

"I didn't think you'd remember," he said.

"I always remember my birthday presents," I smiled. "I also remember the one you gave me had an R on the heart."

He chuckled. "You've always been Rena to me, even then. I didn't think of getting the S one.

"I don't think you even knew my name began with an S," I said and he chuckled.

"Speaking of presents," Liam then said.

Instantly, I shook my head in refusal. "No, you already got me this," I gestured towards the bracelet.

"This was from Bea," he argued.

"No."

"It's nothing expensive."

"Is this an actual present you had planned? Or is it a 'sorry you had a meltdown and I witnessed it' kind of a gift?" I asked.

I didn't want some kind of pity gift because he saw me at my lowest point.

He frowned. "Do people even give those?"

I smacked him on the arm lightly for being annoying, but that only caused him to laugh.

"It's something I had planned from before," he said and I waited for him to continue. "It's a trip."

"A trip?" I questioned.

"You, Me and Bea," he stated.

"Just the three of us?"

"Yeah."

"I don't think-"

"Please? You'll love it," Liam said.

"I can't take a trip right now," I told him. "I'm so busy right now. I have interviews lined up for this store. Meetings with my accountant, business manager and real estate agent. I also-"

"It'll be for the weekend," he added.

"I work weekends," I told him.

Liam smiled. "Don't work this one."

"I have to," I told him.

I assumed he'd just nod in understanding, tell me it was alright, but it seemed as if my refusal to make it on this trip didn't really affect him or it didn't register.

"It'll be two weeks from now," he said.

The way he looked at me, it's as if he was certain I would be there. I don't understand why he thought that.

"Don't look at me like that, I can't go," I told him.

I looked away, since that all-knowing expression on his face bothered me.

That didn't last long, since curiosity got the better of me.

"Where are you both planning to go?" I asked.

"That I won't tell you until you come with us," he said.

"Seriously?" I groaned.

"Yes," he stated.

"Well, I can't," I huffed in annoyance. "But send me pictures."

Liam didn't say anything in response again but before I could argue anymore, Bea skipped towards us.

"I chose this one," she said, holding up a bright blue cupcake.

"It's so pretty. Good choice, sweetheart," I said her, and then frowned. "You only picked one?"

"Nope," she said.

A second later, Elias stepped towards us with a bag and held it out for Liam to take.

"This is for you," he said.

Liam took the bag and thanked Elias, but then looked at Bea.

"It's only four," she said immediately. "Two for me, two for you."

"What about the one in your hand?" Liam asked her.

"That's for me," she stated, as if it were a known fact and that didn't factor into the earlier equation.

We couldn't help but laugh a little at her antics.

"We have to get going now," Liam said, after looking at his watch.

"Alright," I nodded, before crouching down in front of Bea.

"Take care, my little bumblebee. And thank you for my present," I told her.

She smiled. "You're welcome."

I kissed her cheek. "Don't let him eat any of the cupcakes," I whispered.

Bea giggled and nodded.

I stood up and then looked at Liam.

"Bye, Liam," I smiled.

"I'll see you in two weeks," he said, before taking Bea's hand in his.

The two of them said their goodbyes to Arya and Elias before walking out the store.

I couldn't help but think, what had Liam planned?