Title: I've Always Loved You
Author Email: french_hippie@yahoo.com
Rating: PG...for now ;)
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Don't sue.
Author's Note: I'd just like to say that most of the stuff that's going to happen b/t Clark and Chloe has actually happened to me. It didn't work out good for me at all so I figured I'd put a happy twist to it. Btw, // are thoughts
Part 2 – The Voices in My Head
Today Chloe had been glad that Clark had missed the bus. She didn't know if she'd be able to keep herself from staring at him. The last thing she wanted was for him to catch her. She'd probably end up blushing like an idiot.
"So, Chloe, what's up with the outfit? Planning on finally asking out 'you-know-who'?" Pete teased. They both knew that by 'you-know-who' he meant Clark.
"Pete, for like, the millionth time, I do not like Clark," Chloe hissed. She knew it was untrue, but there was no way she was going to tell Pete that. If it ever got back to Clark, she didn't know what she'd do. She knew he couldn't possible feel the same way she did. He was far too busy pining away for Lana to ever notice her. Chloe looked out the window and sighed, remember her wonderful, yet cut-short dream.
"Whatever you say, Chloe. I'll be here when you come out of this denial."
"And what's wrong with my skirt?" Chloe asked, defensively.
"Well, it's just…not very you…and very…short."
"You might have forgotten but I am a girl. And we do have the tendency to wear skirts from time to time."
"Sorry." He said. Pete let Chloe continue her staring out the window, and the rest of bus ride was in silence. //Geez. Could she be more obvious? I wish she'd just admit it.//
Clark caught up with Chloe and Pete as they made their way into the high school.
"Hey guys! Wait up!" Clark called as he ran after them.
"I will never understand how you make it to school on time everyday," Pete greeted him. They continued down the hall where they would go their separate ways and to their respective classes.
"Wait a second, I gotta stop at my locker," Chloe said. She stopped at a particular locker, spun the combination until it opened and then stuffed her coat inside. Once her long coat was off Chloe's very short skirt was much more visible. Clark looked at her in disbelief.
"Hey, earth to Clark," Pete said, noting his friend's glazed over expression.
"W-w-what are you wearing," Clark stammered, his eyes still fixed at Chloe's choice of clothes, or lack there of. It wasn't just the extremely short skirt she was wearing, but also the low-cut, short-sleeved baby tee that caught his attention.
"It's a skirt, Clark," she said simply, "I am allowed to wear them, you know."
"But it's the middle of February!" Clark cried. Chloe just looked at him and rolled her eyes.
***
It was later on that day. Chloe had made it through yet another day of school and was now, as always, working diligently on the torch. For what seemed like the millionth time that day, she shivered.
//Maybe I should have worn something warmer,// Chloe thought, //but then again…Clark did pay me some attention today.// She smiled and went back to work.
"Need some company?" a familiar voice asked, interrupting her concentration. She looked up to see Clark smiling that great smile of his.
"Of course," she smiled back at him. Clark walked over and stood behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders as he read what she was working on. Chloe sighed at his touch. His hands were warm against her cool skin. "Pull up a chair Clark. Unless you intend on standing there all day."
Clark did as he was told and pulled a chair away from another computer and moved it very close to her. Clark noticed that he had to stop him self from staring at her while they worked no less than three times. He didn't know what was going on with him. Ever since Chloe had kissed him while they were at Kyle's, he couldn't stop thinking about her. He didn't tell her, but the kiss was certainly a lot more than just 'fine.'
"Okay. I think we're just about done. I just need to put in that article Pete's writing for me and then we're done. However I might have to rearrange some things depending on how long it is." Chloe sat back in her chair and sighed.
"I'm sure you'll make it work, Chlo. You always do," Clark reassured her, "why don't we take a break," he said as he saw her yawning. Chloe stood up, stretched, and yawned again. "Tired?" Clark asked.
"Yeah. I didn't sleep too well last night." She told him.
"Oh. Bad dreams?"
"No…actually they were pretty good," she laughed. Her cheeks turning a bright pink, Chloe turned away as she remembered who she was talking to. //Nice job, Chloe.// She mentally yelled at herself. //Why don't you just go and tell him he's the reason they were so good?//
"What's wrong?" Clark asked, sensing the tension that had appeared so suddenly.
"Nothing, I just need to get some fresh air. I'm gonna go grab something from the vending machine."
Once Chloe was gone, Clark let out a giant sigh.
//What's going on here?//
His stomach had being doing flip-flops since he entered the room. Hanging out with Chloe had never been like this before. Even Lana had never made him feel quite this way. Chloe reentered the room, Hershey bar in hand. She shivered as she sat back down in her cold seat. Clark, still standing behind her, chuckled.
"Cold?" he asked. Chloe nodded. "I wonder why." Chloe shot an annoyed look his way, as if to say, 'Enough cracks about the outfit.'
"I'm sorry Chlo. Come here."
Clark stood with his arms outstretched. Chloe got up from her chair but she was still somewhat perplexed as she walked towards him.
//What's going on with him?//
He wrapped his arms around her and as she felt his warmth envelop her she also felt her heart beat faster. After what seemed like forever, although in Chloe's opinion it didn't last long enough, Clark released his blonde friend and rubbed her shoulders.
"Better?" he asked.
On the outside he appeared cool and collected but mentally he was screaming at himself. //What am I doing? I'm hitting on Chloe! Chloe, my best friend! What is wrong with me?//
"Um, Clark." Chloe's voice brought him back to reality, "I think I'm just going to get my coat out of my locker."
"Don't bother," Clark said.
Before she had a chance to protest, he had pulled off his sweater and handed it to her. As she pulled it on she saw that it was far too big, which was to be expected, and hung on her like a dress. The sleeves were far too long; her hands were lost in them. It came down so far that you couldn't even see her skirt. Not that her skirt was so long to begin with. Chloe looked up to see Clark with a smile on his face. He seemed as if he was trying not to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"You," he admitted, "You look so cute like that." Once the words were out of his mouth he wished he hadn't said them. //Did I really just say that? Did I just call Chloe cute?//
Chloe kind of half smiled at him. They both just stood there, Chloe draped in Clark's sweater, Clark in a red t-shirt, his muscular arms exposed.
//Wow, he looks really good in that t-shirt.// She looked up at him and their eyes met. The two continued to stand there, neither saying a word.
//I really want to kiss you// Clark thought, as he looked deep into her eyes. He concentrated on that thought as though she would be able to read his mind. //Would it ruin everything?//
They were so wrapped up in each other's presence they didn't even hear the door open and some one come inside. Pete had just returned from football practice and dropped by to give Chloe his article for the Torch.