Set in season 6-ish, with a few distinct differences. This is my first multi-chapter Chlollie story, and I'm kind of excited. And nervous, of course. It's based on the movie TiMER, but with a Smallville twist. So I really do own nothing. Movie trailer for TiMER on YouTube: .com/watch?v=bYRYyvjKL7E It's a really cute movie, actually. But nearly impossible to find.
Set in an Alternate Reality. Similar to ours, except for one basic thing: The Timer.
For an imprinting fee and a monthly surcharge, you can find your One. It counts down to the day you're supposed to meet the special person. Then, as soon as you both meet eyes, it'll beep. And that's it. The love of your life, right there. Take the guesswork out of love.
The Timer is 100% accurate, but if you don't like your One, well, give it some time. The Timer doesn't lie. There are no refunds, but then again, you won't need one.
Chloe Sullivan was madly in love with Clark Kent. He was her best friend-and in the stereotypical rom com way-he was utterly oblivious.
It didn't bother her too much.
There had been a time when it had been really tough, especially when he'd been sickeningly infatuated with Lana Lang. Chloe liked Lana-they'd been friends. In fact, she supposed, they were still friends, if long-distance ones at that.
Now, she was fine. Mostly.
She still didn't want a timer.
But Clark-because of his non-human existence-couldn't use a timer. He didn't want to take the chance that something would be off, that it would show his alien heritage in some shape or form. Plus, chances were the implantation mechanism wouldn't be able to break his skin anyway. It would be potentially devastating. And outing himself as an 'alien' just for the possibility of finding love? Not really worth it. Especially since he was ridiculously sure he was still in love with Lana-who had left town. She wasn't coming back, but he hadn't accepted that yet.
So Chloe-who generally considered herself a pretty courageous person-was afraid to get her own timer. Because what if-what if it weren't him? What if it were? And she was technically still dating Jimmy-who didn't have a timer either, thankfully.
It was all very complicated, so Chloe was pretending it didn't matter, that she didn't want to know. After all, knowing when you're meant to meet the person of your dreams was rather complicated anyway, right? What if she wasn't supposed to meet him until her forties or fifties? She'd spend her entire life without knowing. That was depressing to consider.
The fun, anyway, was in the detours in life. The timer was probably a terrible thing to have existing in the world anyway. Taking out the guesswork may have saved people on alimony payments and divorce attorneys . . . but it wasn't quite right. Was it?
Ugh.
Chloe Sullivan wasn't a coward, she merely had strong ethical reasons for opposing the timer. That sounded much better.
"I don't understand why you won't come with me."
"I didn't say I wouldn't come with you, Lois, I said I wouldn't get one too." Chloe said to her striking, gorgeous brunette of a cousin.
"Are you afraid because of Jimmy? Because I'm sure you'll timer will be blank anyway. And then, you can convince Jimmy to get one, and they'll go off like crazy."
"What?"
"You know, if your soulmate doesn't clock in, it'll just be blank. Apparently you guys both have to be in the system for it to work. You also have to fill out a questionaire, yada yada. That's why it's so accurate. And they make money because no one wants to take the chance that they won't know that they've met the right person when they set eyes of him."
"Um, Lo? I really didn't need the whole business spiel, I just meant . . . why do you think Jimmy's the One for me?"
Lois sighed, bit into a cookie. Thought for a moment. "I don't, actually. I think you're better off without him. It feels like you're never being quite honest with him about all of that meteor and superhero business. Speaking of which, how do you manage to get the exclusives with them? The Blur, the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg? You could help me out with some of that, you know. Anyway, there's also the whole Clark thing."
"What about Clark? There's nothing with Clark. There's not a Clark thing."
"I just mean you guys are so close. And I'm sure that makes Jimmy uncomfortable. And as much as I'm glad you're not hanging around waiting for him to suddenly realize how amazing you are . . . he's not going to do so anytime soon."
"I know that."
"Do you, really?" Lois asked bluntly. "Because I think you're just waiting for him to wake up and see the sexy, brilliant Chloe no one else seems able to see."
"You know I don't feel that way, Lo. I have Jimmy."
"Does he make you happy?"
"He makes me feel . . . normal."
"You're so much more than normal, Chlo."
"I'm surrounded by people and things so extraordinary, it probably just rubbed off on me. Maybe I need to keep better company." Chloe quipped.
Lois, dissatisfied with that answer, wasn't sure what to say. "But-"
"No buts. It's fine." She said it without regrets or resentment.
"Anyway, are you going to go with me or not?"
"No. Why don't you take that new guy you're dating. What's his name?"
"Oliver. We've only been dating for a few weeks. You haven't even met him yet."
"Nope. Timer?"
"No, says he doesn't believe in them."
"I like him already."
Lois immaturely stuck her tongue out at Chloe. "I'll get him to change his mind. I don't want to keep living my life like this. The not knowing is killing me."
"Then just do it."
"Go with me."
Chloe sighed, knew she couldn't say no. "Fine. But I'm only going for moral support. I'm not getting one."
"Okay." Lois had only dropped the subject for the time being. Chloe knew that, but she was going along with it anyway.
First chapter! Review?