Taking Those Steps Again
By Ryoko Kashino and Kitana Blade Studios
Hey all! Whoa I love the show Smallville. I have been watching since the premiere episode and I have been in love with it since! So I was really bored and I'm kinda stuck with writer's block for my Cowboy Bebop tale "Life will be what it was," damn chapter 16 of that story totally has me at a serious stand still. I love reading Chloe and Clark tales. I am still routing for her I hate Lana! Clark, forget Lana she's a @($&#*! Chloe is the girl for you!!!!!!!! Anyway please read and review! I hope all you guys like my first stab at a Smallville fan fiction! Remember Karma works very well for those who believe!!!!! Oh yeah here's the legal mumbo jumbo, I don't own Smallville (but if I did seriously Chloe and Clark would be soooo together) so please don't sue! I'm only playing with the characters for my own twisted mind!
Chp. 1 Encounters of the broken hearted
Clark stood in the loft overlooking the Kent farm. The early evening sunset made the sky look picturesque. All the warm colors; hues of red, orange, and yellow filled the sky, and the few clouds floating about looking like cotton candy. He sighed and walked away from the sight and plopped himself on the couch. It had been two weeks since Lana, told him she needed to stay away from him. He didn't understand; he knew he needed to find a way to comprehend it, the finality of it all.
It was really over this time, no more repeats, no more do-overs, nothing. Her voice and the sadness in it at the hospital told him how true she really felt. To him, that night his dream world had shattered, falling to the floor. His picture of everything to come was now, a broken picture frame, glass scattered about and the picture gone missing. He raised his hands to his head, he covered his eyes and for the first time he felt a tear fall. He wiped it away then looked at his hand.
The weight of the world on his shoulders and now the blame of Lana's injuries and Lex's breakdown began to chip away at him. He could scream and thrash this place to bits but it would do no good. Instead, he sat there and just let the tears fall from his eyes. He let a few good sobs escape him as he was about to use the sleeve his flannel shirt to wipe away the tears. Just then he heard and few light foot steps in the direction of the stairs, he glanced over and saw the top of Chloe's blonde hair.
"Clark, are you there? Your mom said you'd be in here."
As her eyes caught a view of Clark, she saw him use his hands to wipe his face quickly.
"Yeah, I'm here Chlo." His voice was a little shaky and he just sniffled.
"Clark, are you okay?"
He smiled nervously and then said, "Yeah why?" as stood and closed the gap between him and the stairs.
"I dunno, you sounded upset, that and you sniffled, you have never been sick for as long as I've known you."
"Oh, you forgot about my freak flu or whatever it was last year."
"You know what I mean, Clark," Chloe stood on the top step and looked at his face his eyes were red and he missed a few tear trails. Chloe reached out her hand and with her thumb wiped away a rogue trail. Clark for a moment leaned into her hand but then grabbed her wrist lightly and said, "Sorry, Chlo. I wasn't expecting to see anyone."
"So, what you decided to have a Clark pity party? Y'know you're not supposed to have those alone. It's required to have at least one friend over to help get you through it."
"Oh, really, where'd you read that?"
"It something all girls know."
"That explains that." Clark had sarcastic tone in his voice with a mock smile pulling at his lips. He walked back over to the couch and sat down; he looked at Chloe and patted the couch cushion next to him, "So you wanna join me? Or are you gonna stand there all night preaching the pity party rules?"
Chloe tossed her purse on the floor and then sat on the trunk he used as a table. She sat there hunched over and staring him right in the eye. Her legs spread eagle clad in jeans and a funky Chinese looking top. She was trying to do a sad and sorry impression of a guy. She cracked her knuckles and then said, "C'mon lets throw a few hoops."
Clark raised an eye brow and shook his head, "What are you doing Chlo?"
"Chlo? Who the hell is that?" she said in a funky boyish tone.
"Chloe," Agitation was clear in his voice but his face seemed amused.
"Clark, c'mon, you just can't hole yourself up in here it's not healthy, you need to get out, do something, anything. Don't torture yourself. Nothing that happened was your fault!"
"What happened to Lana was my fault!"
"No! Lex is the one that threw her in there with that horse! Not you!"
"But I left her there with him."
"You warned her! You can't be everywhere at once Clark, it's just not feasible!" she threw her arms into the air then brought them to cross her chest
"No, I should've just given him to his father…"
"What so Lionel could throw him into the Looney bin even quicker? If you had done that; then that wouldn't have been the Clark Kent, I know."
Clark looked at Chloe, her face was lightly pink, as it always got when they had a yelling match. He took a few deep breaths and looked at the floor boards then back to Chloe's face. She was upset but not angry; she looked like she understood his pain. For that Clark was a bit relieved, but still his being wouldn't let him go that quickly. The guilt was returning fast and there he was faced with a sympathetic soul.
"Clark, believe it or not, I know what it's like to lose the one thing you love more than anything. It's hard but you have to go on."
Chloe reached out her hand to his, she gently squeezed his hand. Clark's eyes rested on their two hands. He could feel the tears swelling in his eyes, he gulped hard and then looked at Chloe. Clark's vision became skewed by the hot tears and his face weakened then started to crack. The tears began to stream down from his eyes. Clark tried to speak but instead stuttered, "I…I…I don't, I can't fix it this time."
A sob escaped him and his head fell parallel to the floor. Chloe took him in her arms and held on to him as stronger sobs came. She quietly shushed him and whispered into his ear, "It'll be okay, I promise."
Chloe knew it wouldn't be alright though. Lana was serious this time. The whole last week she'd been home her school work was delivered via Chloe, and the Talon was being supervised by Beth. Any way she could Lana was trying to avoid contact with Clark. Chloe even tried to talk to her about it, but instead caused a fight. Lana was going to stick it out this time. Clark had tried to go see her but was met with Mr. Sullivan turning him away.
"Chloe…" Clark's voice was just above a whisper.
"Yeah?" Chloe was looking into his eyes, swollen and pink from crying, but somehow still a magnificent shade of hazel.
"Don't let this happen to us."
"What?" Chloe's face was confused. She brushed back a few strands of his hair behind his ear and gently touched his face.
"Don't let me hurt you so much that you never want to see me again."
"Clark," she interrupted.
"No, let me finish. It's different with you and me. There is so much more at stake. We have something more than what I had with Lana."
"Clark, don't say that."
Clark looked at her and his face was a serious please just shut up; Chloe took the hint and stopped talking.
"I've known you so long, and we have so much more time on the board. The first day you met me you kissed me. You have always been there for me even though; I know I don't always deserve it. You've been more than I could've ever expected in a friend. I just can't lose you."
Clark looked at Chloe, his eyes moved around searching for more to say but how could he expect so much from her without being absolutely honest with her. He really wanted, no needed to tell her so much, but for some reason his mind and mouth were fighting him and he became speechless.
"Clark,"
Before Chloe could say anything else Clark pulled her closer, slowly he raised his right hand to cup her chin then gently he brushed his thumb along her lower lip. Chloe caught in the suddenness of the moment froze as she did, Clark kissed her sweetly. Stunned, Chloe let herself fall and the kiss deepened. This is what she had always wanted from him, but it was on the heels of an insanely emotional outburst. This couldn't be good.
It felt wonderful and her mind raced as the simple kiss was becoming a full on make out session. Clark had held her to him and now he was shifting them so he was on the bottom and Chloe's small frame was on top.
Reality came to Chloe and she pushed herself up and away. Clark lay there confused and then he sprang up apologetic.
"Chloe, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I mean... I was… I couldn't get out what…"
Chloe raised her hand and looked at him her face sad but forgiving him instantly.
"Look," she began," I know you're having a hard time. I know your hurting so let's say it was just a few comforting moments between friends."
Clark nodded and let Chloe get up. She stood there trying to regain some of her composure. Clark sat still on the couch stealing glances at her. His cheeks a little pink at the realization of what he did. His hands came together nervously. Clark then stood up and said, "I better walk you to your car."
Clark woke early Saturday morning, before the sun fully permeated the sky, the stars still shone and he replayed the moment he kissed Chloe. He didn't know what he was thinking and that was the thing, he realized he wasn't thinking, that time he just reacted to his feelings. Feelings not words had propelled him to kiss her. With Lana, it was never feelings, it was always words. Orders more or less, he was his mind's toy. It had always been that way with her, but with Chloe it just happened.
Clark's head was beginning to hurt, he messaged his temples. Clark sat on his bed and looked at the picture frame filled with Chloe, Pete, and himself. He smiled and remembered the day they took that picture. It had been at the Grandville Fair, Chloe had gotten tired after hours of running about and he ended up carrying her piggy back the last two and half hours. He dressed and then headed out to the barn to feed the cows and other yard animals.
About an hour later he smelled breakfast and he walked into the house and saw his mom cooking. He walked over giving her a hug from behind and said, "Mom, how did you know you loved dad?"
Martha let go of a surprised, "Clark?!?"
"What, it's a simple question. I just wanna know."
"Is this about Lana?"
The sound of that name felt like a knife to the heart for Clark, he looked at his mom and frowned, "No, it's not about her. I just wanna know, did your mind tell you that you loved dad?"
"Sweetie, no, I felt it. I fell in love with your dad the first day I met him. Instantly, honey, not everyone has a love like that."
"What are you talking about a love like what?"
Both Clark and his mom turned to see Jonathan standing in the door way. Clark looked away, trying to picture his parents twenty years younger and just being struck with cupid's arrow.
"Like ours honey." Martha smiled as Jonathan walked over to her gently touching her hair then kissing her.
"She's right, son, not everyone can have what we do. I knew the moment I walked in that class late and saw your mom. Why, Clark?"
Clark looked at his parents, "I dunno, I was just curious."