After school the next day, Whitney snuck into the office of the Smallville Torch. Intrigued, he walked over to the Wall of Weird. That was when he spotted the magazine cover of Lana from the day of the meteor shower. He pulled it off and brought it close to his face.
"See anything you like?" Whitney jumped to see Chloe close the office door.
"Yeah," he replied, showing her Lana's cover.
Chloe groaned her disgust clear in her voice. "Take it. I see enough of that whore as it is."
Whitney's expression turned to anger. "Don't ever insult Lana," he threatened.
"Ok, ok," Chloe answered, blowing off his warning. "So, how are we going to split up Smallville's Couple of the Year?" She inquired, sliding into the chair in front of her computer. "The only weakness your beloved Miss Lang has, as far as I know, is her parents."
Whitney sat down on the edge of Chloe's desk. "Lana's biggest weakness is trust. All we have to do is make her think Kent's cheating, and she'll dump him like yesterday's trash," he said chuckling. "She'll need someone to help her through it--"
"And so will Clark," Chloe interrupted.
Whitney suddenly jumped off the teenage reporter's desk. "I've got it!" He leaned in to whisper in Chloe's ear. And the more he said, the wider her smile got.
The next day after fourth period, Chloe threw her books in her locker and slammed it shut. Looking up, she saw Clark and his bitch headed her way. Remembering Whitney's plan, she ducked inside a doorway out of sight but within earshot.
The first voice Chloe heard was Lana's. "...Talon...4o'clock." She cringed when she heard the slurp of lips touching and then the smack as they broke apart.
Then Clark's voice reached Chloe's ears. "Nothing could stop me from meeting you."
We'll see about that, Chloe thought maliciously as she listened to Lana's departing footsteps. Timing it perfectly, she stepped out of the doorway and right into Clark. "Hi, Clark. Nice shirt," she said teasingly as she secretly breathed him in.
"Hi, Chloe. You okay?"
"Yeah." Taking her cue, she set the first phase of the plan into action. "Um, Clark, can you do me a favor?" He nodded. "You know we have really been blowing Pete off lately." Clark again nodded in agreement. Chloe continued, "So, I was thinking we could go to Fordman's and pick him up a "we still love you" present."
"Good idea. When?"
"Today. See I'm going over to Pete's house tonight to study for the history test."
Clark ran his hands through his hair. "Damn. I can't do it today."
"Why?" Chloe asked with pretend disappointment.
"I'm meeting Lana at the Talon at four."
"Well, Fordman's is right down the street, Clark. Tell you what: I'll meet you at Fordman's at 3:30, and we'll get Pete's present in plenty of time." She sealed the deal, along with his fate, with a smile.
Clark gave in. "Ok, see you then." Clark grabbed the books he needed for his next class and headed down the hall.
Chloe looked down at her left hand and imagined a wedding ring wrapped around the fourth finger. "Mrs. Chloe Kent. Has a nice ring to it," she chuckled as she headed to study hall.
Drumming his fingers on the counter, Whitney nearly jumped out of his skin when the phone rang. "Fordman's. How can I help you?" He asked in his polite employee voice.
"It's me." Whitney recognized the voice of his new partner. "Clark will be here in any minute. Are you ready?"
"Yes, I am."
"Ok, when you get my signal, make the hole, but not big enough for Lana to notice."
"I know," Whitney said, getting a little annoyed.
"Call me when it's done." Without even a goodbye, Chloe hung up.
Seconds later, she walked in the store with Clark right behind her. Whitney headed for the door.
"Hey, Whitney," Clark said as the two young men passed each other.
"Hey, Kent," Whitney replied while his mind was screaming, Bastard! Once outside, he stood in front of his truck and waited for Chloe's signal.
Chloe held a green shirt up against Clark's chest. "No, it'd look bad on him." She hung it back up. "Maybe this one?" She held the next shirt up. For no apparent reason, she shook her head.
"Are you ok?" Clark asked quizzically.
"Fine."
Taking his cue, Whitney stabbed his tire and watched the air go out. Then he headed to the Talon. "Hey, Lana?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you help me? I blew a tire. I need someone to help."
"Sure, Whitney." And with that, they headed to Whitney's truck.
Seeing Whitney gone, Chloe positioned herself and then turned her head sharply, hitting Clark right in the mouth. "OW!"
"Oh, my God. I am...so...sorry. Here let me see if anything's broken." She put her hands on his shoulders and leaned up, inspecting his mouth.
Whitney showed Lana the gash in his tire. "Oh, my gosh!" She exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's bad. Can you hand me the toolbox? It's right by the store window."
"Sure." Lana bent down and picked up the toolbox. When she straightened up, she looked in the window. What she saw made all the blood drain from her face.
TBC
Hope you like this chapter!
Read and Review! ~ SS