Steel: The Transformation

Chapter 30

Chapter 30 

Cleo POV

"Breakfast muffins," Jake greeted the waitress with a huge smile as she walked over to our table with a tray of muffins and coffee. As she placed them on the table I couldn't help but to tease him.

"You always get so excited about muffins!" I smiled at him.

"They're delicious," his answer came out muffled from a mouth already filled with two huge bites.

"Where are your manners?" I punched him lightly on the arm. 

He rolled his eyes at me before swallowing.

"So how's things with you? It feels like forever since we've been out for breakfast."

"That's because it's been forever," I replied. 

The street around us was busy, but there always seemed to be a table available at our favourite café for a morning catch up. I poured some coffee into my cup and looked back at him.

"So how is newly single Cleo doing?" he asked in a light voice trying to take the seriousness out of his question.

"I'm doing okay," I started. He looked back at me clearly unconvinced by this answer.

I sighed and continue, "It feels like a life time ago since me and Jackson were a couple. I almost feel like I don't know him anymore."

"Can it really be that bad?" Jake asked.

I nodded back at him, I still hadn't told him any of the details of why we broke up and he had been too nice to ask, clearly realising very quickly that it was a sensitive subject.

"So what actually happened?" his question was undemanding and his eyes shone with concern.

"When you were away, it was like Jackson and I both grew and changed into completely different people. Things sort of became clear. It's like we've both changed and we're not as compatible anymore," I looked back at him, hoping that he would accept that explanation.

"If you say so," he smiled warmly at me. "He seems to still be able to make you upset so for now, maybe it's the right thing for you. But I know what the two of you had and feelings like that doesn't disappear easily."

I shrugged my shoulders slightly at his comment, racking my brain for something else to talk about.

"Are you staying here over Easter break?" I asked.

"I think so. I have some things to do with my research but it's mostly lab work that I can do from home," Jake's eyes gleamed at the words 'lab work'. 

I smiled at how excited he was about something that would kill me of boredom.

"What about you? Are you planning on going to the big bonfire?"

I looked back at him in surprise, I had completely forgotten that the big annual university bonfire was coming up. Normally, I would have been excited for the party and the bonfire but I hadn't even given it one thought.

"I don't think so," I admitted.

"Is it because of Jackson?" Jake asked, as we both knew that he and his friends certainly would be there.

"No, I just think I need a bit of a break from everything."

"So you're not even going to go to the Manson's party?" Jake teased.

The thought of the formal ball in the Manson's mansion made me smile. Last year I had really looked forward to dressing up and going there. I wasn't sure about this year, everything was so different.