Another Cliche Cinderella Story

9

Cleo's POV

I repeated his name to get his attention. He was acting weird now, it's as if he didn't want me knowing anything about him. He was distant when talking about his dad, I'm glad he trusts me to tell me.

"She left when I was three," was Jake on about his mum?

"Do you mean your mum?" I whispered, hoping he wouldn't get mad at me.

"Don't call her that!" He snapped, I flinched and pulled my head off his shoulder. I think I pushed too far.

"Sorry I didn't mean to snap at you. I just don't like talking about it," Jake said slowly. I could tell he was struggling to talk about it, I would if I was in his shoes. Except I'm not, I'm in mine and my mum died.

"Not that this will make you feel any better but my mum died when I was little," I said softly. I wanted Jake to understand that he could trust me.

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it wasn't your fault. You know whatever it is that's worrying you, you can tell me. I'm not going to judge you. But if you don't want to talk about it then I'll drop the matter," I said kindly as I placed my hand on his lap.

Jake sat in silence for a moment, I think he was debating whether to tell me or not.

"She ditched me when I was three. She cheated on my dad and just got up and left. She didn't even want me. How could a mother do that to her own child? Just abandon me, what did I ever do to her? I was three," Jake said quietly.

 I think he was getting emotional and this was something I've never seen before, guys always act tough and don't like to show emotion but Jake was letting it all out to me.

"Now all my dad does is work or play around with women. He is very hard working but wants me to do the stupid scholarship, which isn't my dream. It's his dream from when he was a child. I barely see him at home and when I do it's always scholarship talk." Jake sighed as he got up and grabbed something from, I'm assuming his bag.

He passed me a bottle of water, I take a small swig before putting it gently on the ground. Luckily I had my coat and bag on me, it was getting cold and we were going to be here all night.

"I'm sorry Jake. No one should have to go through something like that. No child should be outcasted, that's not what you're childhood should have looked like." I tried comforting him the best I could, but I barely know the guy and at this moment in time, I'm just walking on eggshells around him.

"How do you do it?" He asked out of nowhere. What was he even on about? I get that he is changing the subject but I haven't got a clue what he is on about.

"Do what?" I chuckled out of confusion.

"Be so kind, I was rude earlier and you just shrugged it off, how?" What Jake had said surprised me, I don't even know why I was kind all of the time when all I do is get treated like crap. I need to learn how to stick up for myself.

"I don't know. I guess I think of it as how I'd like to be treated, so I treat people kindly because that's the way I want to be treated. I'm not going to be horrible to someone because then they will be horrible back. Basically, I just keep my mouth shut," I giggle before I yawn rather loudly. It was probably around six thirty now and I'm exhausted. 

"I suppose that makes sense. There should be more people like you in the world. Everyone at this college is arrogant and stuck up. They say things without thinking of the consequences." Jake sat back down next to me and tucked his bag behind his back.

I shuffled my feet and rested my head on his chest. What? It was cold and we were going to be here for a while, the best I could do was keep myself warm. I think I shocked him by doing this because he sat silently for a few minutes before placing his hand gently on my head.

My eyes were slowly dropping, I didn't get a lot of sleep because my head was banging all night. I needed some sleep and if falling asleep next to Jake was an option, so be it.

•••

I slowly opened my eyes to be greeted by darkness. It took me a few moments to figure out where I was. The red lights weren't on so it was pitch black. I put my hands out to lift myself up when my hands collide with a body. Oh yeah, Jakes here too, he starts to groan. Crap, I woke him up. I pulled myself up to be pulled back by Jake, he had his arm around me.

"Jake," I whisper as I gently tug on his shirt. When Jake didn't budge I pulled on him a little harder, the next thing I know I'm being brought in for a hug and rolled over.

"Can't I sleep for just five more minutes?" He grumbled next to my ear. We were in a very awkward position right now and I don't think he even realized it. As Jake got up I tumbled to the side. I groaned as I quickly stretched my arms and legs. Laying on the hard floor was painful, at least I had Jake to snuggle up to.

"What's the time?" I asked as Jake rummaged through his bag. I could just make out that Jake had his phone in his hand. He cursed under his breath when his screen didn't turn on. I'm assuming it was dead.

"I don't know, phones dead," Jake scoffed. He certainly isn't a morning person.

Jake and I sat patiently, talking about random things whilst we waited for the door to be unlocked. Hold on, if someone unlocks it he's going to see who I am. He wouldn't want to hang around with me because I'm a so-called freak. I don't even know why I like hanging around with Jake, as soon as I've helped him with his portfolio for Dales art academy we will go our separate ways.

I like hanging out with someone. Someone who trusts me to tell me something they wouldn't have told anyone else. It's like we have this connection but... never mind.

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So..............they were locked in the darkroom overnight. What do you think of the book so far? Please vote, comment! If you'd like to stay updated on future books etc then go and hit that follow button :p

Hope you are having a great day!

MG :)