One-shot for Valentine’s Day (Jake/Cleo, PG)
Feb 14, 2022 4:37:11 GMT -5
it's OLLIE NOT BALLIE likes this
Post by R. on Feb 14, 2022 4:37:11 GMT -5
Jake Hix gazed wistfully out of the window of the diner, waiting for the familiar sound of Cleo’s smart shoes tapping rhythmically against the pavement, for the ringing of the bell as she came in through the door, and the little smile she would always give him that made his heart almost burst with joy. Today was the day, he thought with a nervous smile. Today, he was going to tell her just how much he loved her, despite knowing she would probably never love him back. It was only fitting he did it now, on Valentines Day, and he knew that if he didn’t do it now he probably never would.
Cleo Knight glanced behind her to check that nobody had seen her sneaking out, and began walking through the bustling streets to Hungry’s. She was looking forward to breakfast, having not been able to sneak out to get any proper food for the last week, and having only the delicious smells wafting up from the kitchen as her parents sat down to heaping plates of lamb chops and baked salmon, while she was left with nothing but plain green salads to “keep her figure” as her mother said. But even more so, she was looking forward to seeing a certain young man again, one with scruffy ginger hair and kind eyes who she loved with all her heart, despite knowing that her parents would never let them be together.
The bell above the door gave it’s familiar ding! as Cleo glided into the room, and Jake’s face lit up as she sat down at her usual place by the counter, brushing a lock of platinum blonde hair away from her eyes as she allowed herself a small smile.
They talked for a while as Jake flipped the pancakes on the stove, a recipe that he had invented himself. But the goat’s cheese he had added to the batter was not the only secret ingredient. He waited patiently for Cleo to turn away from him and write something in the black-and-white notebook full of diagrams and equations she carried everywhere with her, and added the finishing touch.
Cleo looked up from her writing as the aroma of steaming hot pancakes wafted through the room. They were soft and buttery and melted in her mouth with each bite, and she had to fight back the urge to eat them all at once.
“These are delicious,” she said brightly. “Did you come up with the recipe?”
“I did, actually,” Jake replied, turning away to hide the blush creeping up his cheeks.
They chatted for a while longer, until suddenly Cleo gave a startled gasp. She was gazing at the small box buried at the bottom of the pile of fresh raspberries on her plate. She opened it up, and unfolded the love letter inside.
Jake’s heart pounded in anticipation as her eyes darted across the page, dreading the moment she put the letter down and walked away, shaking her head at how he had ever thought he had a chance with her, but instead she gazed up at him, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks flushed bright red, and whispered, “I love you too.”
She stood up and ran towards him, and then her lips were on his and their hearts were pounding together in rhythm, the scents of the kitchen mingling with her perfume, and all they could think about was one another, and the future they would build.
Author’s note: Goat’s cheese pancakes are delicious and one of the best breakfasts ever, and so I wanted to pay homage to them.