Steel: The Transformation

Chapter 18

Chapter 18 

Cleo POV

An empty feeling spread across my stomach as I opened my eyes. Everything around me looked utterly the same, but everything was different. I pulled myself up to a sitting position, pushing my back against the headboard of my bed and wrapped my arms around my legs. I pushed my cheek against the top of my knees and allowed myself to sigh loudly. I don't like pouting or feeling bad, but I would allow myself to wallow for a moment. 

My life had changed again, not because of some supernatural reason even though that seemed to be the general rule of changes around here lately. I had trusted Jackson and he had betrayed me. I felt a small tear roll down my cheek. I hadn't really reflected about how if effected me as his girlfriend, I had only thought about how it effected me as a Basati. But for this moment I was just a girl, not a Basati. The person I trusted most in the world had lied to me, repetitively. I let the feeling of pain shatter me like glass. I felt the tears steadily stream down my face when a jolt passed through me. I could feel all of Alec's concern and care for me. It was as if his emotions drowned out the pain of my own.

"Don't cry," his plea echoed through my head. I crawled out of bed and took a deep breath, the connection with Alec helped stabilise me. I could feel him taking on my emotions making the burden easier for me to carry. I felt our connection slowly pass and even though I was not connected to him in this moment I felt lighter knowing that I wasn't alone.

I walked down to the kitchen, the scent of pancakes had convinced me that breakfast was not a meal to be missed today. I sat down on one of the tall chairs, leaning my arms over the breakfast bar and grabbed a blueberry. Alec turned around, spatula in hand and gave me a light smile. He had used the fact that he wasn't fully healed as his excuse for staying another night on my couch. But I suspect that he may have stayed over to keep an eye on me. I had tried to control my emotions last night, but after the confrontation with Jackson that hadn't been easy.

"Are you hungry?" his voice was carefree but not overly cheerful. It was almost as if he was doing everything he could to put me at ease.

"I didn't think I was, but it smells delicious. So I might have to say yes to that," I grabbed a plate and started shovelling pancakes on it. 

We ate in silence for a moment.

"So... What do you want to do today?" his tone was slightly cautious, as if he felt like he was intruding. 

That carefulness about him tugged at me, he had been so good about everything that had happened. He shouldn't feel like he was intruding on my space, when I much rather have him around than be on my own. If I was on my own it would only give me time to think about everything that had happened.

"I don't really feel like going to classes," I started.

"That's okay. I can tell our professor that you don't feel well," his voice told me that he felt like he was intruding.

I cut him off before he could continue, "If you're up for it. I think it would be more fun if we both skipped classes. I don't know what we would do, but I would rather spend time with you than be alone."

Alec smiled back at me, reassured by the fact that I wanted his company, "Since you seem to get into fights lately, maybe it would be good for us to practice a little bit?"

I nodded at his suggestion, my mouth full of pancakes. Come to think of it, with everything that had been happening I had barely had any time to learn new shills.