Chapter 1: Chloe's date and Clark's mistake.

Chloe Sullivan walked into the Torch. Her aura was simply buzzing. She couldn't believe how happy she was. Just after lunch, the hottest guy, besides Clark in her opinion, had asked her to be his girlfriend. Granted she'd only known him for a couple months now, but all through, he seemed like a pretty decent guy. It also didn't hurt that he was incredibly hot. Chase Withers had this way about him, his longish cut blond locks lightly dipped over his eyes, and yet you could see the vibrant green of them sticking through. He was on the football team, which meant he was well built under that letter jacket and Chloe got goose bumps just thinking about it. She was glad she was excited over someone different. After Clark left her high and dry at the Spring Formal, she thought she wouldn't be interested in anyone else.

"Hello gorgeous."

The fact that Chloe didn't fall down from hearing that was incredible. She turned to look at Chase, his Australian accent nearly made her weak in the knees.

"H-hi." Great. She was barely audible.

He walked towards her and flipped his hair away from his eyes. "So I was thinking…that we should get together tonight…"

He twisted his strong arms around her waist and she almost knocked the coffee on her desk over. She took a sharp intake of air when she realized he bent just enough towards her to kiss her but didn't, he just moved slowly to whisper in her ear.

"Eight o'clock" I'll pick you up."

She nodded and he kissed her on the check, leaving her feel like she had been branded. After he left she felt like she couldn't breathe. She plopped down into her desk chair and groaned. Boy. That guy was hot…and she had him all to herself…

0o0o0o0

Clark Kent went to visit Chloe in the Torch and realized she wasn't there. He felt kind of disappointed. She was always there; he just wanted to see how she was. He heard one of the football players had intended on asking her out, but he didn't know why he cared so much. He thought he was jealous, but then dismissed it. He had Chloe, once upon a time, but he didn't feel love like that for her. So why was he so angry that he didn't find her in the Torch? He was so fuming with himself, or Chloe –he wasn't even sure who anymore--he turned to walk out and collided with Lana Lang, knocking papers out of her hands.

"Whoa there Clark, everything ok?

And there she was, the love of his life. He realized that Lana would always be seen that way to him. But she was unattainable and he knew it, maybe that why he wanted her so bad.

He nodded and bent down to help her pick up papers. "Have you seen Chloe?"

She shook her head. "Last I heard, she went home to prepare for her date…Clark are you jealous?"

Crap. Were his facial expressions that obvious? "What? No…I'm just looking out for her that's all."

"Clark there's no need to lie to me. " Clark handed her the papers and followed her into the Torch.

"I'm not lying."

She set the papers down on Chloe's desk and turned to look at him. He avoided looking, just for embarrassment sake. In all facts he was lying, but not just to her. He was trying to lie to himself. He still loved Chloe, he knew it. But it's her that said she just wanted to be friends, not him.

"Look Clark…just because you break up with someone, doesn't mean you don't still love them."

He finally looked up at her and she had a glassy tint over her eyes. He knew she was thinking about Whitney, and he wanted more than anything to take her into his arms and never let go. But he couldn't. So he just stood there and watched the pain come and go over her face.

He quickly avoided that subject. "She just wanted to be a friend…that's what she told me."

"Well what else was she supposed to say Clark? You left her without a word at the Formal."

He looked to the floor, guilt seizing his heart and stabbing it repeatedly. He never thought of it that way. After all he did forget Chloe liked to built walls around how she truly felt, the only reason Clark had known she had a crush on him was because Pete had said something. Now Lana was the one who had to tell him that she might have said that to cover up her true feelings. Clark sighed, exhausted. He would just never understand how girls thought.

Lana smiled at him sadly and turned to walk out. "You should tell her how you feel Clark."

He barley nodded at her, he was too deep in thought. The truth of the matter was he was still deeply in love with Lana that any other relationship seemed pointless. But in the back of his mind, he felt something starting to grow stronger as well. And Chloe just happened to suddenly be on his mind.

0o0o0o0o

Clark turned out of school and started to his truck, when a conversation behind the basketball court caught his attention.

'…and you should have seen Chloe's face…it was completely priceless."

Clark watched as Chase stood above all the other football players, embellishing his story. It reminded Clark of a bunch of vultures circling around road kill. He slowly crouched behind one of the cars and continued listening to the conversation.

"All right boys, who wants to make bets on how far she'll go." He smiled a wicked smile as the guys cheered, hollered and threw money at him, placing their bets. Someone called out, "All the way." While others said, "She wouldn't make it past the car."

Angel boiled in Clark's chest and threatened to wipe that smirk on Chase's face. He realized he must have been gripping the side of the pickup truck he was hiding behind, because when he moved his hand, a definite imprint had been left there. He turned into the direction of his truck and stared the engine. He had to see Chloe. Now.

0o0o0o0o

Chloe ran the brush through her gold locks once more as the butterfly's continued to flutter in her stomach. She circled her bad to look at herself in the mirror. She wore a short length skirt with a teal tank top; it had silver sparkles caressing the sides, emphasizing her bosom. She tightened on of the straps on her black heels and smiled. She hoped this would leave Chase breathless. She jumped a little when the doorbell rang, the butterflies turned to sour droplets when she realized it was Clark behind her door and not Chase. She felt awkward. She hadn't talked to Clark since the day they were looking for Mr. Kent among the hurricane ruble…and that was two days ago.

"Oh...hey Clark."

Clark would have replied if he knew where his breath had gone…let alone his voice. He didn't expect to open the door and have her look so beautiful. He cleared his throat and pressed on.

"H-hey Chloe. I need to talk to you. Can I come in?"

She nodded and backed up, letting him in. She smiled to herself, knowing that she had surprised him. It felt good knowing she could still do that. Still make Clark Kent think she was beautiful. It wasn't the fact that she hadn't thought it, it was just that coming from Clark made it feel more important, since she still in fact loved him.

She closed the door and followed him into the kitchen. She was glad her dad was away on business, it was easier talking to guys when your father isn't looming over your shoulder. He turned to her and his eyes were filled with concern. "Look Chloe…I know you might not want to hear this…but I just heard Chase over talking with some guys in the basketball court and they were placing bets…on you."

Chloe's look was dumbfounded. Had she not heard him? She stood and walked over to the island, absently scrubbing her hand under eyes. She would NOT cry in front o f Clark Kent…not now. Not after everything he had put her threw, not after the makeup on her face took 3 hours.

"Chloe…"

She slammed her fists into the island, making him cringe. She turned at him, eyes blazing. "You can't honestly believe someone would be interested in me over Lana can you Clark?"

He could tell she wasn't even that angry, actually she just looked incredibly sad. It made him break inside.

"What? That's not it…this has nothing to do with Lana."

She nodded. "That's right. It has to do with you and your inability to mind your own business…just go away Clark."

She turned away again and continued to rub under eyes. He stepped towards her to touch her but then heard her add quietly. "Haven't you hurt me enough already?"

He backed away from her and headed towards the front door. He briefly pauses and turns to look back at her. She's taking slow breaths in and out to stop the tears. There's nothing he can do to make it better, so he turns to leave…and Chloe can't help but let her tears fall on the counter.

0o0o0o0o

An hour later, Chase ringed the doorbell to Chloe's house and she opened it with a smile plastered on her face.

"Hey sorry I'm late."

She sniffles. "It's ok."

He lifts her chin and sees tear trails on her face. "Are you alright?"

She shook her head no and Chase pulls her inside and sits her on the couch. He instantly envelopes her in his arms and she hesitantly starts to sob again, all her feelings staining his letter jacket.

"What's the matter Chloe?"

She shakes her head, embarrassed she's crying in a man's arms over another guy. "It's nothing."

"Really you do this for fun then, yeah?"

That earned a smile from her and she looked up at his green eyes. He moved hair from her face and tears from her cheeks. She tilted her head away from his but he had his hand around her neck and he pulled her unwillingly into a kiss. His mouth was hot and heated on hers; pushing his tongue in places she didn't want. She turned away form him, but he held her arms tight, pulling her onto his lap. She tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but he kept clasping down on her making her gasp in shock. What was he trying to do? Then a sickening feeling crossed in her mind and gut. Clark was right.

"Chase, come on…get off."

He didn't reply, just continued his assault on her. Didn't try to remove any clothing though, that wasn't part of the bet. She had to do it on her own. He stuck his mouth on hers again, trying to maneuver his tongue down her throat, he had her in a laying position now and her chance was better than ever.

"Chase! Stop!" She tried again.

She rammed her knee into his groin. He howled in pain and instantly jerked off her. She began to run towards the front door when he instantly recovered and grabbed her neck, slamming her head into the nearby door frame. Chloe went down, shocked at the bruise now forming on her head. Chase stood up straight and smoothed out his shirt, he curled his lips into a light smile.

"Miss. Sullivan. I'm rich blood…I practically live next to Mr. Luthor." He bent down and whispered in her ear, his voice was getting cloudy as she was on the brink unconscious. "And let me reassure you, that if you tell anyone about this. Everyone you love…will die."

Chloe let out a gasp of pain and despair and she slowly drifted asleep, the darkness calling her.