Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, Smallville, the WB, the great
state of Kansas, etc. I also am not making any money off this or any story…
This chapter is rated "G." Come on in, the water's fine!
Chloe Sullivan was trying very hard not to think…to let her mind float away from all her problems and concerns… It was proving a bigger challenge than she had thought. Her mind was constantly intruding, suddenly remembering long-put-off tasks and trivial events from childhood. She had a buzzing, inquisitive nature, and it did not easily quiet itself, even at her request. She took a few deep breaths, and tried to center herself once again…floating…wandering…letting everything go…like her clothes…in front of Clark….No, wait! Chloe sighed, this was the most difficult part of class.
It had been her mother's idea to take yoga; she was always trying to stay one step ahead of the aging process. She had also managed to convince Chloe's father, Gabe, that a few hours a week of mother-daughter time wasn't really too much to ask. Despite her initial wariness and a few grumblings about getting up early on a Sunday, Chloe was beginning to enjoy herself. After spending the whole week with Clark, Pete, and her father, she welcomed a little female company. She had come to look forward to their class, and was already noticing a change in her body and outlook. Her mind always felt clearer afterward, and in the past few months, she had written some of her best editorials. Even Principal Kwan had noticed the change. He let Chloe print a timeline of strange, documented, events in the town since the meteor shower. Highly abridged, of course.
As class ended, her mother, Meredith, suggested that they get some coffee before she drove her back to Smallville. Chloe agreed, always jumping at the chance for caffeine. They changed, and drove out to a small place called Columbia. Chloe ordered a tall mocha with an extra shot of espresso, while her mother settled for a regular coffee, black. Meri started the obligatory "So, how's school?" conversation and Chloe assured her that everything was fine. As usual, all she wanted to talk about was her paper, the funny things that Clark and Pete had done, and the strange happenings of the town. Meri could tell that she had a crush on the Kent boy, but Chloe assured her that he had eyes only for Lana Lang.
"She's beautiful, and popular, and kind. He's adorable, and thoughtful, and sweet. Neither of them knew their real parents, and they have that soft-spoken, rosy-cheeked thing going on. He saves people's lives, and I'm sure she makes a wonderful banana-nut loaf or something….they're perfect." Chloe sighed.
"But she has a boyfriend, right?"
"Right. Mr. Quarterback. His name is Whitney!"
"Good Lord, what kind of soul-less freak names their son Whitney? Did they want him to get beat up in middle school?"
"Maybe that's why he's in sports, to compensate. Anyway, he and Lana have the ideal teenage relationship. So I'm afraid that Clark is doomed to pine away for another couple of years to no avail…."
"While remaining blind to what's right in front of him?"
Chloe didn't answer, but suddenly found her paper napkin very interesting.
"His loss." Meredith said, stirring her coffee.
Chloe merely shrugged, and changed the subject to The Torch. She bemoaned the strict guidelines regarding content and the tedium of attending pep rally after pep rally. The paper was her heart and soul, she thought nothing of devoting hours after school to edit and re-work stories. She was talented, and she knew it. Someday, she was going to make sure everyone else knew it, too.
Meredith was continually amazed how much her daughter resembled herself. The haircut was a different, but the spunk was the same. Chloe often resembled the stereotypical Italian "mama": gesticulating to emphasize every point, as her facial expressions whirling and changing to convey every emotion in her story. The big, easy smile and large, blue eyes of her youth looked back at her. There was so much passion behind those eyes…which could lead to trouble if not given an outlet. Meredith knew that from experience. She wished she'd been able to spend more time with Chloe when she was younger. But she had blown it. Her little girl, now practically a woman, and it had happened so fast….
This chapter is rated "G." Come on in, the water's fine!
Chloe Sullivan was trying very hard not to think…to let her mind float away from all her problems and concerns… It was proving a bigger challenge than she had thought. Her mind was constantly intruding, suddenly remembering long-put-off tasks and trivial events from childhood. She had a buzzing, inquisitive nature, and it did not easily quiet itself, even at her request. She took a few deep breaths, and tried to center herself once again…floating…wandering…letting everything go…like her clothes…in front of Clark….No, wait! Chloe sighed, this was the most difficult part of class.
It had been her mother's idea to take yoga; she was always trying to stay one step ahead of the aging process. She had also managed to convince Chloe's father, Gabe, that a few hours a week of mother-daughter time wasn't really too much to ask. Despite her initial wariness and a few grumblings about getting up early on a Sunday, Chloe was beginning to enjoy herself. After spending the whole week with Clark, Pete, and her father, she welcomed a little female company. She had come to look forward to their class, and was already noticing a change in her body and outlook. Her mind always felt clearer afterward, and in the past few months, she had written some of her best editorials. Even Principal Kwan had noticed the change. He let Chloe print a timeline of strange, documented, events in the town since the meteor shower. Highly abridged, of course.
As class ended, her mother, Meredith, suggested that they get some coffee before she drove her back to Smallville. Chloe agreed, always jumping at the chance for caffeine. They changed, and drove out to a small place called Columbia. Chloe ordered a tall mocha with an extra shot of espresso, while her mother settled for a regular coffee, black. Meri started the obligatory "So, how's school?" conversation and Chloe assured her that everything was fine. As usual, all she wanted to talk about was her paper, the funny things that Clark and Pete had done, and the strange happenings of the town. Meri could tell that she had a crush on the Kent boy, but Chloe assured her that he had eyes only for Lana Lang.
"She's beautiful, and popular, and kind. He's adorable, and thoughtful, and sweet. Neither of them knew their real parents, and they have that soft-spoken, rosy-cheeked thing going on. He saves people's lives, and I'm sure she makes a wonderful banana-nut loaf or something….they're perfect." Chloe sighed.
"But she has a boyfriend, right?"
"Right. Mr. Quarterback. His name is Whitney!"
"Good Lord, what kind of soul-less freak names their son Whitney? Did they want him to get beat up in middle school?"
"Maybe that's why he's in sports, to compensate. Anyway, he and Lana have the ideal teenage relationship. So I'm afraid that Clark is doomed to pine away for another couple of years to no avail…."
"While remaining blind to what's right in front of him?"
Chloe didn't answer, but suddenly found her paper napkin very interesting.
"His loss." Meredith said, stirring her coffee.
Chloe merely shrugged, and changed the subject to The Torch. She bemoaned the strict guidelines regarding content and the tedium of attending pep rally after pep rally. The paper was her heart and soul, she thought nothing of devoting hours after school to edit and re-work stories. She was talented, and she knew it. Someday, she was going to make sure everyone else knew it, too.
Meredith was continually amazed how much her daughter resembled herself. The haircut was a different, but the spunk was the same. Chloe often resembled the stereotypical Italian "mama": gesticulating to emphasize every point, as her facial expressions whirling and changing to convey every emotion in her story. The big, easy smile and large, blue eyes of her youth looked back at her. There was so much passion behind those eyes…which could lead to trouble if not given an outlet. Meredith knew that from experience. She wished she'd been able to spend more time with Chloe when she was younger. But she had blown it. Her little girl, now practically a woman, and it had happened so fast….
