Disclaimer: I know I don't own Smallville! Do you have to rub it in? Grrr.... I still have Joe!

True Love Is Hard To Find

Chapter 7

Getting Our Resolve Together



(~~~)-Chloe's thoughts

()-Joe's thoughts

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I have to know. I have to find out if he told them.

Joe walked discreetly past a group of football players, listening to their conversation.

"So, is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"That Joe hit on you and told you he's gay. That's what we heard. Is it true?"

Joe froze, listening hard.

"Yeah, it's true. But--"

Joe walked away quickly.

Don't break down now. Don't ever let them do that to you.

"But what?"

"He did say that, but he was just joking around. No big deal. Anyway, have you seen Lana? I've been looking for her all day."

"No, sorry. Haven't seen her. So, you did get back together? That--"

"That's what you heard, right. I know. It's true. I gotta go."

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"Clark, wait! Please!"

Clark started walking faster at the sound of Chloe's voice behind him.

"Clark!"

"What happened this time?" Pete said, walking up behind her.

"Nothing. I really don't wanna talk about it."

"You turned him down again?"

"Umm...yeah. Yeah I did."

"OK, you're going to a party with me tonight."

"I'm really not in the mood, Pete."

"You'd rather sit and sulk over Clark all night?"

"Honestly? Yes."

"Well, too bad. You're going anyway, and you're gonna have a great time. I'll make sure of it."

"Why do you do this to me?"

"If it wasn't for me, you'd--"

"I'd probably be going out with Clark tonight."

"OK, you have a point. And I'm sorry. But that's why you have to come tonight."

"Explain."

"Clark will be there. I wanna make up for it."

"Another 'plan' thing? Remember what happened when I tried that?"

"That was when you tried it. I won't screw it up."

He ducked, missing her fist by inches. Then she swung again, not missing the second time around.

"Ow! Sorry," he said, rubbing his arm. "So, I'm gonna be late, so I gotta go. I'll meet you here at 6:30 if I don't see you before then, ok?"

"I don't wanna go!"

"Look, I'm gonna find a way to get you and Clark together again eventually, so you might as well suck it up and come."

"Do you ever quit?"

"Sure I do. As soon as you and Clark hook up, I'll quit."

"It'll never happen, Pete. Especially not now. He hates me."

"No he doesn't. However great Clark may be, nobody can go from loving someone with all their heart to hating them in 5 seconds flat. He's obviously upset, and he might be really pissed at you, but..."

"Stop! I'll go to the stupid party!"

"I thought so......you really love him, don't you?"

"Would I be putting up with you if I didn't?"

"I guess not. I'll see you later."

"Bye."

Chloe glanced at her watch.

~~~Still way too much time to kill.~~~

She sunk heavily onto a bench, fighting the urge to run, scream, cry, hurt someone bad--anything.

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"Hey, Joe. I need to talk to you. About the other day--"

"I heard enough already."

"What are you talking about?"

"I heard you telling them. I thought I could trust you of all people to keep my secret. You really disappointed me, Whitney."

"Joe, that's not what happened. I--"

"You what? You broke the DNA code and had yourself cloned? I know what I heard."

"I told them that--"

"I know what you told them. I don't want to hear it."

"Joe, wait a sec. Let me explain."

"Fuck off!"

He managed to get out of Whitney's sight so he was sure he wasn't being followed. Then he glanced at his watch, praying for an excuse to skip his last class so he could get away.

Still way too much time to kill.

He sunk heavily onto a bench, fighting the urge to run, scream, cry, hurt someone bad--anything.

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"Hey, aren't you--"

"The all-too-honest and cynical editor of the Torch? That would be me."

"How'd you know--"

"You think I don't know what people say about me? I am a reporter, it's my job to know."

"Right. Didn't you go--"

"Don't remind me."

"You're--"

"Yeah, I am good at that."

"Can I talk please?"

"Sorry. I'm kinda--freaking out about some personal things right now, so I'm even more of a bitch than usual."

"Who said you were a bitch? Besides you, that is."

"Everybody. People hate me."

"You sound proud of that."

"I am. I'd rather be a bitch who gives a damn about what's going on in this- -"

"This leafy little hamlet of ours?"

~~~Wow, this guy actually has a brain cell or two left.~~~

"Yeah. You have a good eye for details. You would make a great reporter. Anyways, I'd rather be a bitch who gives a damn than--nevermind."

"No, what? I'm intrigued now, don't stop."

"No, I think it's my turn to interrogate you now."

"Alright. Go."

"I'll start with your famous lines. 'Hey, aren't you--'"

"The football player with a recently outed secret that's going to ruin his life? That would be me."

"How'd you know--"

"You think I don't know what people say about me? If I'm gonna survive, it's my job to know."

"Right. Didn't you--"

"Don't remind me."

"You're--"

"Yeah, I am good at that."

"Can I talk please?"

"Sorry. I'm kinda--freaking out about some personal things right now, so I'm even more of a bitch than usual. No pun intended."

She laughed.

"You know, I'm really glad I talked to you. It helped a lot."

"Same here."

"God, you actually got me to laugh. You wouldn't believe how much that takes right now."

"Yeah, well, I read somewhere once that gay men have a much better sense of humor, and that they can actually make a woman laugh sometimes."

"You're--"

"Yeah."

"OK, but you didn't read that."

"Sure I did."

"No you didn't. I know by now that jockstraps do not read the Torch, and that was just a joke anyway."

"And I know by now that jockstraps are homophobic by default, which is why my life is now officially over. So what were you going to say when you blew it off and started interrogating me?"

"I was gonna say I'd rather be a bitch who gives a damn than another Lana Lang."

"Uh, Lana's not that bad. But I guess you'd be biased against her anyway because of Clark Kent."

"I guess--what?"

"I'm observant."

"You really should be a reporter."

"I'll consider that. I really had a great time talking to you, but now I have to go. We should do this again sometime, just talk."

"Yeah, yeah we should. Hey, are you going to the party tonight?"

"I hadn't planned on it."

"You should go."

"And face my adoring fans?"

"You're one to talk. Don't forget you are talking to Chloe Sullivan here."

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For forcing Whitney into that bet. I definitely didn't expect to find out you're such a great person, especially after all this."

"Come to the party tonight, Joe. We'll get our resolve together."

"Alright. I'll be there. And thank you for everything."

"Thank you. You just saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life."

"Glad to be of service. I guess I'll see you tonight."

"Yeah, see you."

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