title: A Caffeine Addict's Manifesto
author: rain51
summary: chloe's transition between the "man of steel" and the "man of lilac numbers"; chlex
rating: pg (for now)
Chapter One: Pies and Keanu
He was staring at her again. You know that stare...the stare. The stare that says: "I'm so madly in love with you but I can't have you because you're with the quarterback who needs you and I'm being noble" without actually saying it. I'm his best friend, maybe I should let him know he's being pathetic without giving away the real reason I want him to stop staring at her.
"Hey Clark." I take the seat across from him, but he doesn't say anything...doesn't even blink.
Why am I so incredibly attracted to him? Oh, yeah...the height that makes a girl feel safe and secure, those damn gorgeous blue eyes, the smile...did I mention the smile?
"Kent." Still nothing.
"So, I heard Lana's lost her virginity to Whitney last night," I say casually; my voice chipper and I take a sip of coffee.
"What?!" His head snaps toward me and his eyes finally meet mine.
"What? No 'hello' for your dear, and might I add, very exhausted best friend?" I smile, then let him off the hook. "I'm just kidding, Clark. I thought you'd want to wipe that puddle of drool before she has to come over here and wipe it for you."
"Well, now there's an idea." He tears his gaze away from Ms. Lang and decides to finally grace me with is attention. "So, how'd last night go at the Torch, Chlo?"
I shrug my shoulders and take my laptop out of my bag and turn it so it faces him, "Why don't you see for yourself?"
Clark looks at it and I wait for his opinion.
His eyes scrutinize over the screen, eyebrows moving in an appreciative matter- hell, that's how he ogles me- through my layouts. I smirk in spite of myself.
"So, what do you think?" I take another sip of coffee and watch as he hands the laptop back to me.
"I think it's great, Chloe- a little on the Jeckal side of things, but brilliant, none-the-less."
I give him a huge smile, "Praises will get you everywhere, Clark."
He laughs lightly and tries to subtly change the direction of his head, just in time to get a view of Lana making her way towards the table. Great.
"Hey guys." She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and rolls her eyes, "I'm exhausted."
"Longday?" Clark pulls out a chair for her. Where the hell was my chair when I came in?
She nods gratefully at him and scoots closer.
"You've got no idea" she sighs.
"You might be surprised." I mumble it quietly, but both of them look my way.
"What did you say, Chlo?" Lana's eyebrow arches in curiosity. Clark looks embarrassed as he watches me try not to let his "secret" out.
"Oh, just that they have terrific pies." The sentence escapes my mouth before I realize how stupid that was. She smiles more as I explain myself. "Well, you know, everyone loves the pies...that's why the Talon's so busy now, right, Clark?" I kick him under the table, but he doesn't wince at the harsh impact.
"Right. People like pies."
As they ramble about other types of pastries people like, I gather my things and stand up, ready to leave this thing that I envy most; she's nice, she really is, but how can I sit here and watch them flirt when I see him follow and anticipate her every whim?
"Okay. Biscottis rule, but I got to go...it's Saturday night and I got a date with Keanu Reeves. See ya!" I wave my hand behind my back as I push open the cafe doors and welcome the cool autumn air.