Chapter Five

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Chloe Had Noticed

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Lois stretched out and slowly opened her eyes. The sun was hitting her face making her grimace. What time is it she thought to herself. Glancing back at the clock on the nightstand she saw it was eight in the morning. Ugh, it's too early to be up. She rolled back into the bed but the smell of food caught her attention. She slowly shifted and put her feet on the floor next to the bed. She was hungry and as to make her more aware of that fact her stomach growled loudly. When had she eaten last? She couldn't even remember. She rose from the bed and tried to keep her balance. She opened one of her suitcases and found a pair of pajama pants and slipped them on. Her head still hurt and she was still a little dizzy but she would manage. She opened the door to the bedroom and made her way down to the kitchen.

Walking down the stairs Lois spotted Chloe talking with Clark at the kitchen counter. What the heck was Chloe doing here so early? When she reached the last step Lois lost her balance a little and let out a little squeal. Clark and Chloe both turned in time to see Lois stumble a little on the last step. In the blink of an eye Clark was at her side holding her arm so she wouldn't fall. Shaking her head to get rid of the fuzziness Lois looked at Clark and quirked an eyebrow. He smiled sheepishly and let her arm go.

"Nice save Smallville." she said.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Chloe asked her.

"Yeah, just still groggy from sleeping." Lois said. "I just have to wake up all the way, where's the coffee?"

Walking to the kitchen Lois grabbed a coffee cup and poured herself some. Turning around she found both Clark and Chloe looking at her with worry. Rolling her eyes she lifted her cup and peered at them over the rim. She needed to get the focus off of her.

"Seriously," she said. "I'm okay. What are you doing her so early Chloe?"

Chloe and Clark looked at each other. They had been discussing A.C. and his ability to swim faster than Clark. He had told Chloe that A.C. had appeared out of nowhere to grab Lois under the water and he wanted to know how he did it.

"I'm helping Clark with some research for school." Chloe told her.

"Cool." Lois said. "I've got to go take a shower. I'm going back to work at the Talon today and I want to be fully awake when I get there."

"Lois," Clark said. "I don't think that you should do too much today."

"He's right," Chloe started. "you should relax and try not to stress too much."

"I'M FINE!" Lois shouted. She hated the coddling; she could take care of herself.

Clark and Chloe both stared at her in surprise. Lois felt bad that she had yelled.

"I'm sorry guys." Lois said. "Its just...I'm fine, really!"

After washing the cup she had used for coffee Lois went upstairs to take her shower and get ready for work. Downstairs Chloe and Clark looked at each other shrugged. Clark remembered that there was something else he wanted to talk to Chloe about.

"So Chloe," Clark said. "Did Lana really ask you to try and convince Lois not to move back in here?"

"How'd you.." Chloe said and then her eyes narrowed and she glared at Clark. "Did you listen in on my conversation with Lois yesterday?"

"I didn't mean to." Clark said looking down at the floor. "I just heard you tell her what Lana said when I came home."

"Riiight." Chloe drawled out. "Yes, Lana asked me to try and convince Lois not to move back in here."

"Did she say why?" Clark asked.

"No," Chloe said with a small smile. "But I'm pretty sure it's because of the way you eyed Lois yesterday."

"I did not." Clark said in shock.

Chloe just rolled her eyes at him. She had to admit that it kind of stung that Clark would be taking an interest in Lois. She had loved Clark for a long time now but she had recently realized that Clark would never see her as anything but a friend. Clark was her best friend and she just wanted him to be happy but she would not let Lois go through what she had went through in the whole Clark and Lana drama. She knew that Lois didn't see Clark in that way but in her experience it didn't take much to fall for Clark and there was definitely some chemistry between the two that would ignite at any time.

"Listen," Chloe started. "I've seen the chemistry between you and Lois. I noticed it at the start of senior year but I will not let you hurt Lois in anyway. You are with Lana, that's what you've always wanted so please don't get Lois mixed up in your roller coaster of a relationship."

"I'm happy with Lana." Clark said. "Me being worried about Lois yesterday was just me being worried about a friend nothing more. I don't like the insinuation that I would do anything to hurt either Lois or Lana."

"I know you wouldn't Clark." Chloe said. "It's just that when Lois is around you, you get a spark in your eye that I don't see with Lana. All I'm saying is be careful how you act around Lois because it's like you are fighting to control some strong feelings when you are around her and I don't want to see her get hurt."

"I don't feel anything for Lois but friendship. I love Lana." Clark insisted but he sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than Chloe.

"Okay," Chloe said with a sigh. "Just keep telling yourself that when you are around Lois."

Clark just stared at Chloe. So many thoughts were running through his head. Chloe had noticed how he had looked at Lois yesterday and apparently so had Lana. While Clark was lost in his thoughts Lois came down the stairs all dressed and ready to go.

"Well," Lois said. "I'm outta here. See you guys later."

She hugged Chloe goodbye and gave Clark a playful punch on the arm and headed out the door.

"Wait Lois," Chloe called after her. "I'll head out with you."

Turning to Clark Chloe told him that she would look into A.C. and that she would come by later if she found anything. Clark watched as Chloe and Lois drove off. Chloe was right. It did confuse him the feelings that Lois stirred in him but at the same time excited him. When he was around Lois he had to remind himself that he loved Lana and he shouldn't have to do that. Closing his eyes tight he shook his head. He was in big trouble if he didn't figure all these feelings out soon but he didn't want to hurt anyone in the process.

Snapping out of his thoughts Clark realized he would be late for class if he didn't hurry up. Pushing all thoughts of everything else to the side he sped out the door.

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