in the way Martha, Dear rated g clark/lana; AU; angsty-comedy summary: She doesn't want to be in the way anymore.

author note: this is my fist clark/lana, but I guess its ok since chloe is the main figure!
You don't know it, but for a long time, I've loved you. I'll be at the Talon at closing time.

You'd never have guessed it, but I've been in love with you a long time. Meet me at the Talon at closing time.

Chloe grinned as she printed out her messages, not wanting her handwriting to be distinguished, and sealed it in an envelope marked Lana. Giggling softly, she grabbed the other envelope marked Clark, slipped the paper in, and set out on her mission.

*

"Clark?" Chloe called out as she walked up the steps to his loft. Chloe smiled when she noticed he wasn't there, but his biology book was wide open. Chloe set the envelope in the crevice of the book and hurried out of the loft, lest she be caught by Clark.

*

"Hey, Lana---" Chloe called as she stepped into Lana's room, hoping she had left for the Talon since Chloe had been at Clark's. Chloe sighed in relief when she found the room empty. Chloe stuck the letter on Lana's keyboard, knowing Lana always came home on her lunch break and usually ate as she checked her email.

*

At 9:00, Lana ushered the last people out of the Talon and turned off the front lights, but didn't lock the door.

So far, mystery boy hadn't shown up, but Lana wasn't going hoe any time soon, so she figured she might as well give the guy a fighting chance and at least give him a way in, punctual or not. Clark was never punctual, anyways.

Lana smiled to herself as she began lifting chairs onto the tables.

*

Clark paused in front of the Talon, noticing all the outside lights were off, but seeing the overheads laminating someone inside.

Someone Clark hoped was Lana.

*

"Lana?" Clark said softly as he twisted the doorknob and entered the Talon.

"Clark?" Lana said as she turned around to meet him.

"I got this." Clark said, holding up the envelope with his name printed on it.

"But---I got this one." Lana said, holding up an almost-identical envelope.

"I sent them." A voice said as it inched down the stairs.

"Chloe?" The brunettes asked in unison.

"Yes, it was me. Don't act so surprised!" Chloe grinned. "I've been up there for about half an hour, trying to make sure you didn't see me." Chloe addressed Lana.

"Mission accomplished." Lana said, slightly ashamed she hadn't checked the Talon well enough, but a little more preoccupied with the situation staring her in the face.

"You two know you love each other, and I'm the only thing that's been standing in your way."

"Chloe---" Clark tried to protest as Lana shook her head.

"Shut up, both of you. Let's be a little mature here. I've got myself covered. I happen to have rekindled an old flame when I went to Metropolis last weekend, thus leading to my great idea of letting you two know that I'm not going to stand in your way anymore."

Both Lana and Clark began to speak again, but Chloe spoke over them.

"I've done the best that I can to help two of my best friends. I'm leaving now, and it's all in your hands." Chloe said, grabbing her purse.

"And Lana?" Chloe tossed over her shoulder as she made her way to the door.
"Chloe?" Lana replied, still staring after the girl.

"Take as long as you like. I can cover for you with my Dad." Chloe grinned and walked out into the chilly night air. Chloe smiled at the two figures she saw in the Talon's window, then began walking towards her car. Her cell phone rang right as she grabbed her keys.

"Hello? Hey, Bryan! Remember Lana and Clark? I told you about them last weekend---" Chloe said as she slid into her car.

-end