Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. I'm Just messing with them. I'll give them back eventually, promise.
Fates Gifts
Chapter 1: A Break From Reality
I tough my chapped lips, the dream from the night before ever-present in my mind. The gentle pressure of his lips on mine, his arms around me, protecting me from all the bad in the world, haunts me even now. What I wouldn't give to have him hold me right now, take me up in his arms and never let me go.
Alas, I love him enough to let him go, to let him move on and accept that he would never be mine. Our friendship means too much for me just to jeopardize it with my selfish desires. All the want, dreams or desire in the world could not change my boys' heart… and I love him more for that.
My dream was a enticing break from reality, an excuse for me to fantasize about the one I love. For a girl cannot control that which she dreams, nor can a man. He is alone in this world and is destined to do great things. For the safety of this world and for his safety, I hope he can recover from the terrible hand that fate has dealt him.
The phone rings and I stare at it, my mind get back on track and I take the call. Wrong number. I sit back in my chair and take a sip of my coffee, the caffeine cleansing my senses and lifting my heart. My coffee is finished and I turn back to my work desk, back to my life, determined to finish this article before deadline. I'm almost finished and halfway through my conclusion when a short wind blows past. Very unusual for a badly vented basement. It's Clark, I know the second his hand lands on my shoulder.
"Hey Chloe" is all he says, is all that need to be said. It has been months and the dark cloud of misery had not yet passed. Yet this is the first time he has come to me with such urgency. The last letter is typed and I shut down my computer and stand up. Facing him I can feel this solemn mood. I meet his eyes and the sadness visibly softens.
"Chloe, could we talk? Somewhere private, please." His tone wavered slightly but still let no room for argument. "Clark? Haven't you noticed recently that this whole town is full of reports, there's no such thing as a private word." The small smile was worth insulting my profession, besides it's true, Metropolis is gossip central.
"How about my house? My moms off talking business with Lionel Luthor and I know no sneaky reporters have bugged my house. Oh and there's some of my mom's apple pie in it for you." I smirked at the man in front of me.
"Clark, I was already going to say yes but I will hold you to the promise of dessert. Wait… it'd take me hours to drive to your house." Clark truly smiled for once. A rare pleasure these days.
"We could always run?" the mischievous look on his face told me we wouldn't be driving."Well I'm sure you cold but I cant run that fast." Clark smirked. "Piggy back?"
I was zipping cross-country so fast I gave up trying o figure out where I was at any particular second. The heat of his back against my front made it difficult for me to hold on, so I wrapped my legs tighter around his waist. Oh how I wish I could do this from a very different angle.
We zoomed past his house and into the barn before I could object, not that I would seriously object to anything my boy wonder did. He stopped and I quickly hopped off, so as not to seem too desperate to have him near me. Inside I wanted nothing more than to have him arms around me, just like they were in my dream. His velvet smooth voice brought my mind back from its musings.
"Chloe come…" Clark zoomed to the top of the loft. "…Up here." I smiled up at him, enjoying the good mood he was in. I climbed the stairs two at a time and by the time I got up there he had already zipped down to the house and back with the famous Martha Kent apple pie.
The pie was still hot, yet it did not burn his fingers. The idea itself that he was invulnerable was amazing but to see it in practice, even in such an innocent way, was breathtaking.
I think I might have been staring because when he spoke he sounded a little alarmed. "Did I do something wrong?" I was so shocked at his words that I stupidly forgot to reply. I felt as if all of existence was in slow motion as I watched his shoulders drop. He slowly placed his moms pie on the table as his mood deteriorated.
"You don't have to stay around a freak like me. I know think I'm a freak… and you're right…" with his back to me it took me a while to process it all but when it finally clicked, I moved as if struck by lightning.
"Clark, I would never think of you as a freak. You're my friend. I'd like to hope we'll always be friends." I stood next to him, but I didn't want him to get the wrong idea, even if I do lo-like him in that way.
"I've seen you stare at me as if I were abnormal, you can't deny that." I sigh and take a step closer to the sullen 'Kryptonian'. "Clark… look at me dammit! Clark I cannot deny that I stare. I thought you wouldn't notice." Clark turned away from me refusing to me my eyes. At least that would make this easier to say. "It's not what you think Clark. When I look at you, distaste is the last thing on my mind. Clark… you are abnormal. There is no-one on this earth that is kinder, sweeter or thinks so selflessly. There is no-one on earth that I could ever love more."
The tears were hot and wet on my cheeks. 'What have I done?' was all I could think before I fled. Down the stairs, out the Kents' barn, welcoming the double doors and out into the woods. My thoughts all blurred into one and all I could think was 'Run'.
To be continued…
Please R+R, I would enjoy it ever so much.
Press the little button, I know you want too.
Jez