I am J.A.K. and I have a very IMPORTANT author's note that you should read before continuing with this story: First of all, this story isn't mine. I am merely- with the consent of the author- posting this so that everyone can understand what I'm talking about when I write the sequel (which is already in progress). All reviews for this story should be done with the mind set that I DID NOT WRITE THIS. So please make all your feedback directed towards the wonderfully talented DEBI. I would give you her e-mail address so that you could give it to her yourself, but she never told me specifically that it was okay to do that, so I won't. If anyone still is concerned and thinks that I have plagiarized and that I want to take credit for this beautiful story, please feel free to find a way to contact Debi and tell this to her.

Warning: This story has adult themes- so for all the kiddies and for all the people who are not mature enough to handle this stuff, DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT write to Debi and complain about this; and definitely don't complain to me. If you do, then it with my saddest regret that the meaness will be forced to come out and I will blast you (cause I gave you a warning).

Everything after this, where the author is referring to "I", is not ME it is DEBI.

Disclaimer: Smallville and all related elements, characters and indicia © Tollin-Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television, 2002. All Rights Reserved. All characters and situations-save those created by the authors for use solely on this website-are copyright Tollin-Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television. Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster.

Author's Note: This story was started a ridiculously long time ago and would probably still be unfinished were it not for two things. Teri Leigh's "An Arrangement Between Friends" which put me in the mood to think about Clark and Chloe again... instead of Clark and Lex which had taken over my brain for most of the season and Evelyn, who is always there for me with ideas, encouragement, beta skills, a sharp sense of humor, and a remarkable amount of patience.

It's Now Or Never

by Debi

"I've got to find a way to tell him!"

Chloe Sullivan paced angrily across the bedroom carpet once again. She had been pacing since she got back from the farmer's market nearly 20 minutes ago. Today, she had left early. She just couldn't handle watching Lana bat her eyelashes at Clark, and Clark fawn all over Lana in return. So she made up an excuse and fled to the safety of her room. But even miles away from Clark and Lana, she couldn't get rid of the mental image of them together and it was driving her insane. Pete had been telling her for months now that she should tell Clark how she really felt, but she hadn't been ready. She also thought she had all the time in the world, but now she wasn't so sure.

Chloe stopped in front of her dresser and warned the girl in the mirror. "Lana lets him in a little more every day. She's still with Whitney, but Clark is definitely gaining ground and Whitney will graduate in a few months. Lana will be here all by herself and she's not the type that does 'alone' very well. It's just a matter of time before she decides she wants Clark and then your chance will be gone forever."

"Like I even really have a chance with Clark," Mirror Chloe scoffed back.

"This is so pathetic!" She yelled before resuming her angry pacing. "I'm even talking to myself now!"

Falling backwards onto her bed, she sighed miserably. She grabbed her pillow and hugged it for comfort as she stared at the ceiling. She knew how she felt. She knew it was time to tell Clark. She knew it was now or never. What she didn't know was how to actually say the words to him... or what he was going to do when he heard them.

The very thought of herself speechless made her laugh. She had never been at a loss for words in her life. Never. No, this sudden affliction was all Clark Kent's fault. She was crazy in love with him and hadn't a single clue how to tell him. The irony was unbelievable. For years Clark had been too afraid to talk to Lana, he would turn into a total freak show whenever he got within five feet of her. Now, it seemed the tables had turned. Since school started he had slowly come out of it and now Lana and Clark together was a very real possibility and Chloe was the one turning into a tongue- tied freak when it came to her feelings for Clark.

"Clark," she sighed as she unconsciously hugged the pillow more tightly. Images of him came easily. The first was always his smile. Clark Kent had the most beautiful, infectious smile ever created. His adorable dimples alone were enough to do her in, but add in the way his whole face seemed to light up when he smiled and she was a goner. There was just no resisting the warm, tingly feeling that spread throughout her whenever he turned on that smile. It was simply impossible to be unhappy when Clark's smile was beaming down at you.

His eyes were always next. Clark was the ultimate "aw shucks" farm boy- until you looked deep into his eyes. Sure, they were beautiful on the surface. Somehow managing to be green, blue and brown all at the same time and they were surrounded by the longest, sexiest eyelashes she had ever seen, but the real attraction was looking beyond the surface. There was something deep and mysterious, old and anything-but-innocent in those eyes. Something that blew the aw-shucks innocence all to hell. The mystery in those eyes was as captivating and addicting as any drug or drink.

And then there was the obvious-that boy had a body that wouldn't stop! Long and lean, with fluid muscles forming curves and planes that could only be described as tantalizing. Years of hard work on the farm had sculpted Clark Kent into the finest physical specimen in all of Smallville. Hell, in the entire state of Kansas as far as she was concerned.

The best part about Clark though, was that he was... Clark. And that meant that he was oblivious to it all. He had no idea he was gorgeous and never put any real thought or effort into looking the way he did. The jocks would spend hours in the gym working this muscle or that muscle-not Clark. The popular kids spent hours in the bathroom primping and insisted on wearing the latest fashions-not Clark. No, Clark worked hard, took a shower and got dressed. He was quite simply a natural beauty. There was nothing artificial or phony about him. Add the fact that his inner beauty surpassed his physical beauty and Chloe was compelled to scream into her pillow in frustration. He was perfect in every way and she wanted him.... badly!

It was now or never.

With a sudden burst of determination, she got up and headed for the bathroom.

An hour later, she brushed the last strand of hair into place and studied her reflection carefully. The last sixty minutes had seen her shower using all the special, scented soaps and shampoos she bought on her last trip to the city, empty the contents of her closet onto the bed searching for just the right outfit, meticulously apply makeup, and style her hair carefully placing every last strand. She had just paid more attention to her appearance in one hour than she did all of last week getting ready for school.

"It doesn't get any better than this," she sighed at the mirror as she dabbed her favorite perfume on her neck and wrists.

"Not without raven hair and emerald eyes anyway," Mirror Chloe taunted.

She checked her watch. Clark should just be finishing putting everything away from the farmer's market. With any luck, she would catch him in the barn loft before Jonathan Kent had the chance to put him to work for the afternoon.

A deep breath and renewed determination propelled her out of the room and on her way to the Kent farm. This was it, now or never.

Clark groaned as Lana wrapped her arms around Whitney's neck and kissed him before he even finished coming up the porch steps. What the hell was it about Whitney Fordman anyway?

He mumbled something unintelligible, but obviously irritated as he sank back against the desk and away from the annoying images in the telescope.

"I just don't get it!" His palm smacked the well-worn desk top in frustration.

"Whitney over at Lana's again?"

Chloe's voice launched him off the desk, almost knocking over the telescope as he whirled around to face her.

"Damn, Chloe! Don't you ever knock?"

Chloe chuckled. "It's still a barn, Clark. Where would you have me knock?" She swept her arms wide indicating the vast amounts of open space. "If I knocked on the door," she pointed across the building, "you probably wouldn't hear it anyway."

"Are you here for a reason or did you just want to bust my chops some more about Lana?" He turned to hide his embarrassment and aimlessly began arranging the books on his desk.

Chloe felt her heart start to race. This was it-time to tell him why she just spent an hour getting ready to go to her best friend's house. Something she had done hundreds of times before without so much as a second glance in the mirror.

"Ummm...." She paused, not sure how to begin. "Actually... " She paused again, searching for the right words.

Clark stopped fiddling with the books and turned back to Chloe. Something was up-Chloe was always quick with words. His gaze sharpened when he noticed her fingers nervously toying with the hem of her sweater. Nervous? Chloe? What was Chloe nervous about?

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Clark could swear he heard a touch of fear in her voice. Concerned, he moved closer to her.

"What's wrong, Chloe?"

As she struggled for words, he searched her face hoping to find some kind of answer. This was not like Chloe and he was starting to get worried.

He moved closer still and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, noticing for the first time the light scent of her perfume.

"Come on, Chloe. Tell me what's wrong," he coaxed softly.

Finding the words was proving to be harder than she had imagined and Clark's hand on her shoulder wasn't making it any easier. If anything, the heat his touch was creating made it harder to think.

"Clark... " She looked up at him. Big mistake-those eyes! Rational thought slipped farther away.

"Clark, honey! Are you and Chloe up there?" Martha's voice rang out, startling them both.

"Yeah, Mom." Clark called back while Chloe turned away, grateful for the interruption and the chance to compose herself.

Clark went to the top of the stairs as Martha Kent emerged with two large mugs.

"I saw Chloe pull in," she said by way of an explanation. "I tried a new recipe that came with the latte machine and thought you two might like some."

"Thanks, Mom," Clark said, taking the mugs from her.

"Yeah, thanks Mrs. Kent," Chloe added, having regained a bit of her composure.

"Enjoy! Oh and Clark... your Dad and I are going to head into town for a while. I've got some shopping to do and he wants to pick up parts for the tractor. We'll be back in a couple of hours." Martha said with one last look at each of them before heading back down the stairs.

Silence reigned for a moment as Clark stood there with a coffee mug in each hand watching Chloe study her feet. Bending slightly, Clark tried to catch her eyes.

"Chloe?" he said gently.

"Yeah," she whispered slowly, looking up and meeting his eyes.

Her breath caught at the genuine concern she saw in them.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

Deep breath. "Nothing is wrong Clark-at least not yet, anyway. I just have something I need to talk to you about and I'm not sure how."

"Chloe Sullivan at a loss for words? Stop the presses and alert the media!" Clark laughed. "I never thought I'd see the day." He teased. "You at a loss for words!" Chloe cheeks flushed red and she playfully punched him in the arm...

Sending hot mocha latte splashing across his chest.

"Oh my God!" Chloe gasped as Clark jumped from the surprise of the hot liquid seeping through his shirt. "Clark, I am so sorry!" She exclaimed as she spun around frantically looking for something to soak up the latte.

Clark set the mugs on the floor and tried to hold the wet fabric away from his skin, but seeing Chloe so uncharacteristically flustered brought on a fit of laughter. Laughter that made Chloe stop and take a good look at him.

He was bent over, partly from laughing and partly from the wet shirt, and quite a sight. Chloe's senses returned as she realized how silly she was being and how uncomfortable Clark must be wearing a shirt soaked with hot liquid. Walking over to him, she reached for the hem of his shirt.

"Come on, Clark, we have to get that shirt off of you." Her normal authoritative tone was back and he straightened up. He was still laughing, but he allowed her to begin lifting the wet garment.

For Chloe the sudden closeness and beautifully tanned, toned skin she was exposing was making her head swim. She paused at his shoulders and Clark took over, pulling the shirt over his head. Chloe stood frozen in place, staring at his chest. He was more stunning than she had imagined... and she had imagined a LOT.

Clark tossed the shirt aside and looked back at Chloe. The expression on her face brought an abrupt end to his laughter. Chloe Sullivan had a hungry look on her face that he had never seen before. He could swear it was lust.

As if possessed, she pressed her hands flat against his solid chest.

His breath caught.

Slowly, she followed the exquisite contours of his chest; amazed that something that solid could also feel that smooth.

Suddenly unable to move, he watched as her hands continued to roam across his chest. His heart started to pound. Her hands were creating a blazing trail of heat across his chest. What was happening here?

"Chloe?" he questioned softly.

"Clark, " was all she said before grabbing his face and pulling his lips to hers.