It is highly recommended you read "True Love Is Hard To Find" before this. You don't have to, but it will make absolutely no sense if you don't.

Note that I wrote this before "Rogue", I know that kinda blew apart the whole "Chloe doesn't cry" thing, but I'm not going for canon so…

The POV is going to switch back and forth a lot; the name before a section will show who's POV it's in.

~~~~~~

~Clark~

I banged on the door as hard as I could without putting a hole through it.

"Chloe! Open the door!"

"Go away!" came the muffled voice from inside.

"Not until you tell me what's going on. I know I didn't do anything this time," I called back. "Please, open the door."

There was no answer.

"Chloe?"

Silence.

Just as I raised my fist to knock on the door again, it swung wide open, and she stepped out. My heart started pounding in my chest at the sight of her. Once I regained control, I got a closer look at her face. The world really is turning around. Chloe doesn't cry, and if she does, she would never let anybody know it. But she's standing here in front of me, red- faced and wiping her eyes. And all I can do is question her about last night. What a fool I am.

"What happened last night? I was so worried. After Lana fell, I turned around and you were gone then I couldn't find you anywhere."



~Chloe~

He's too hopelessly sweet. I was upset, sure, but I still had no good reason to leave him last night. And now here he is on my doorstep, telling me how worried he was when I left. I don't deserve him. Now I'm lying to him with isn't even a straight answer.

"I wanted to find Pete, but I didn't know where he was, so I just went home."

Tell him the truth. Tell him you were being your usual cynical and insecure self. Tell him you know you can never compare to the homecoming queen. You know exactly what he'll say, and you so desperately need him to reassure you now, because you're still being your usual cynical and insecure self. But I know I'll never tell him what I was really thinking last night.

Tell him something!



~Clark~

"I was really confused about some stuff, and I really didn't want to stick around after Lana fell."

That's the best she can come up with? This is Chloe; she can talk her way out of anything. What's going on?

"Tell me the truth, Chloe."



~Chloe~

He always could see right through me. So just tell him, before you go crazy again.

"I--When Joe showed up, I started with that whole self-doubt thing again. And then when Lana fell, it just completely took me over when you went running to her so fast. I couldn't handle it, so I just took off." I said it as fast as I could because I knew if I didn't, I wouldn't finish, chicken shit that I am.

So now he's gonna sit there for an hour before he says anything like always.



~Clark~

"........."

How could she think that after all we've been through this past week?

"Chloe, you have to know I don't care about Lana anymore. I mean, of course I care about her, but not that way."

That way? Increase your vocabulary, Clark.

"I don't think I ever really did. I just kind of.........subconsciously hid behind Lana because I didn't want to admit how I felt for you."



~Pete~

I don't know what I expected to find when I showed up at Chloe's, but it definitely wasn't those two standing on the doorstep liplocked. They don't even know I'm standing here. This'll be fun.

"Hey you guys, what's up?"



~Chloe~

"Pete!"

Why do people keep doing that to me every time I finally get the nerve to kiss him?



~Pete~

"Sorry to cut short this week's episode of Dawson's Creek, but I wanted to see how you were after last night. Must be pretty good from what I just saw. So let me in and I'll leave you alone again."

I waited for Chloe to open the door, and as I walked in, out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw her. I figured I was imagining it then. I do that a lot with her.



~Chloe~

Pete, axe, death.........grr. He had to show up just then, didn't he? But somehow I don't care so much this time. This time when Clark's holding my hand, Lana isn't going suddenly come running over and fall and ruin things.



~Lana~

I took a really bad fall last night. I shouldn't be caring so much about other people right now. But after Clark told me what happened last night, I was pretty sure I understood Chloe's reasons for leaving. I guess you could call it a girl's intuition. I just wanted to talk to her. I know we aren't exactly friends or anything, but there's one major thing we have in common, and that's Clark. We both know how hopelessly cute he is when he smiles. And how sweet and understanding he is, like no other guy can be......... But that's not the point. I have to forget that, because I know he loves Chloe. And he deserves to be happy. Besides, I'm back with Whitney now, so.........I still don't know why I ever told Clark that, but Whitney makes me feel safe. And he's always there when I need him. I think he might even know he's always going to be second best, but if he can accept that, I'm not going to run to change anything.........

"Oh my God!"

Leave it to thoughts of Clark to find me on the ground looking up at.........Clark?



~Chloe~

Can you say deja vu? I kiss Clark, some obnoxious football player interrupts, Lana comes running and falls, Clark goes running to her. Are we destined to go on like this forever? Did I commit some horrible, unforgivable sin in a past life to deserve this?



~Lana~

"Lana, are you ok?"

He's too hoplessly sweet. I hope Chloe knows what she has.........think about something other than Clark for once; it's not happening!

"I'm fine, but we really have to quit meeting like this."

He's smiling that smile. THAT smile. How did I let such an amazing guy get away? Oh, God. Stop it!



~Chloe~

I guess I should go over there and pretend I'm worried about Lana. If Pete doesn't knock me down first. Damn! I barely even saw him go by.



~Pete~

"Lana, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Pete. Thanks for asking."

"Good. I mean--God, Chloe, don't fall over."

Leave it to Chloe to provide me with the perfect cover.



~Chloe~

Again, Pete, axe, death.

"It's your fault I was falling over!"

"Sorry. What, is it that time of month or something?"

"Why is that any of your business?"

"I'll take that as a yes."

"You--you--sometimes I want to hurt you so bad."

"Whatever. Think we should focus here? You know, beautiful girl got hurt.........does that not matter?"

"I'm fine. But thanks, Pete," she says. Why is she so sweet all the time? It makes me hate her all the more and makes it hard to hate her at the same time. But I guess I don't have much of a reason to hate her anymore.

And what's up with Pete?

Why me?



~Clark~

Alright, what's going on? I usually can sense tension easily, but the air could be cut with a knife right now. And it's not coming from Chloe's insecurity. It's definitely Pete, but why? Wait a second.........he looks like I did about a week ago, when everything started going on with Chloe. He's shifting around a lot, he's got that restless look in his eyes, and I can almost see him sweating. Pete.........

"Chloe, can I talk to you for a second?"



~Chloe~

"Sure."

Clark grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Lana and Pete.

"Did you catch that, or was it just me?" he asked.

I nodded. "I saw it."

"So what are we gonna do about it?"

"I don't know, but we'll have to figure out something," I replied, glancing over at Lana and Pete. Pete was actually not talking. Something had to be done.