Chapter 5- Heart to Heart
"The rest of the day is yours," Lex said to Lana and Chloe back at the apartment. "We will probably be back late. We have our cell phones on if you need to reach us." I think that's it," Lex said.
"One more thing," Chloe said looking at Lana.
"What's that?" Clark asked.
"This," Lana said as she and Chloe kissed Clark and Lex.
Lana turned to Chloe after the guys had left. "Let's have that gab fest, now."
"Well, you'll have to fill me in on how this works," Chloe said.
"You've never had a gab fest before?"
"Think about it, Lana. From the time I moved to Smallville up until a year ago, my two best friends were guys."
"Good point," said Lana. "Let's talk."
"About what?" Chloe asked settling herself on the couch.
"Lex told me about what happened today," Lana started.
"Lana, I really don't want to go into that again," Chloe said stopping Lana.
"I talked to Clark. I think it would help clear some things up if you knew his side of it," Lana tried to reason with her.
"I know his side," Chloe growled.
"From your tone of voice I have to say that no you don't. Trust me," Lana urged.
"Go on," Chloe said defeated.
"This is what Clark told me. You two became best friends in middle school. He really cherished your friendship. He felt like he could tell you anything, so he did. Well, in high school his feelings started to change. He realized that he liked you as more than a friend," Lana explained.
"Lana, please…" Chloe said not believing it.
"I'm not lying. Let me finish. He started to see you in a different light and it scared the hell out of him. He didn't want to lose your friendship because it meant so much to him. So, he put it out of his mind. That's where I come in. He started to make himself like me to take his mind off of you. Before he knew what hit him, it had become a full on obsession. He totally forgot his feelings about you."
Chloe started to look annoyed.
"I'm not done," Lana said. "He started to 'remember' when you got hurt at Lex's. He was afraid he would lose you. His feelings started to bubble to the surface again when he found out that you wanted him to take you to Prom. A few weeks after that is when I confronted you about Clark. On that first date was when he realized that he had never and would never get over you."
"Well, I never heard that side of the story," Chloe agreed after thinking for a few minutes.
"I didn't think you had. It's getting kind of late, I'm going to go put on my pajamas," Lana said getting up.
"Good idea. And since we're telling all, I want to tell you about Lex," Chloe said going into her room.
When the girls had changed, they settled back onto the couches.
"I had no idea Lex would tell me so much," Chloe said.
"He's known you for almost five years. He trusts you, Chlo. He's told me so," Lana explained.
"I guess I never really give him enough credit. but, here goes. You probably know most of this but I'll refresh your memory. Lex's mom died when he was young. She was the only person who had ever loved and cared about Lex. After she died he felt empty inside. Like something had hollowed him out. He learned to ignore his pain and not let anyone get close. If thought if he did that, he couldn't get hurt again. Then, Clark saved his life. Lex realized that he wanted a friend. Clark was the closest to a friend he had ever had. Well, with Clark came me. At that point in time me and Clark were inseparable. I was like Lex, or so Lex thought. I fought to get what I wanted and didn't take crap from anyone. He thought I was the girl for him," Chloe explained.
"So far, I know this stuff," Lana said.
"Be patient. He met you soon after when you offered him a business deal with the Talon. He noticed that you cared about everyone. You never judged people, even if they were not good people. He said that you balanced his personality. You smoothed his rough edges, so to speak. When you made the comment about wanting to be the person for him to open up to, something clicked. He hadn't loved in years, and he knew he could love you. He also had a very strong feeling that you wouldn't let him down, and you haven't," Chloe finished.
"I don't ever plan on letting him down. Thank you for telling me that, Chlo," Lana said sincerely.
"Thank you, too. It meant a lot to hear about Clark. I am beat. Having an argument with Lex Luthor can wear a person out! I'm going to leave Clark a note and go to bed."
"I think I'll leave Lex a note, too. But, I'm going to take a long hot bath before bed," Lana said.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"What about this one?" Lex asked pointing to a ring in the glass case. The ring had one quite large diamond in the middle with five smaller diamonds on each side.
"Uh-uh. It's too flashy. Lana would feel like she was trying to show off how much money you have. It would make her uncomfortable," Clark explained.
"You're right, Clark," Lex said moving to the next case.
They were in the third jewelry store and had still not found the perfect rings. They were beginning to doubt if the perfect rings even existed.
"Lana likes simple," Clark said matter of fact.
Lex valued Clark's opinion because Clark had known both girls longer than Lex had. "And what does Chloe like?
"Unique…and I think I just found it," Clark said pointing at one of the glass cases. The ring had a large, round opal in the center with one medium square diamond on either side.
"I think you just hit the jackpot, Clark," Lex said. "Chlo'll love it!"
"Do you see anything for Lana?
"I think so. What about this one?" The ring had a large sapphire in the middle with two small diamonds on either side.
"Wow, good choice. Sapphires are Lana's favorite stone," Clark agreed.
When the cashier had boxed up their rings they made their way back to the car.
"I'm so nervous," Clark admitted.
"Nervousness is a sign of weakness in a Luthor, but my father always said I didn't act like a Luthor," Lex said with a laugh.
"Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who is nervous," Clark said.
"You've known Chloe for almost eight years. Why are you nervous?"
"True, but I've only thought about her romantically off and on for the last couple of years. It became serious recently. Chlo is my first girlfriend. In other words, I'm in uncharted territory.
"True, true," Lex agreed as they pulled into a parking space.
When they got into the apartment only one lamp was on. Lex and Clark went to peak in at their girlfriends.
"Chlo's sound asleep," Clark said walking with Lex back to their rooms.
"I could hear Lana taking a bath. Let me have Chlo's ring and I'll put them both in the safe," Lex said.
"Thanks. I'm going to bed, see you in the morning."
"'Night, Clark."
Walking into his room Clark noticed a white piece of paper on his pillow. He picked it up and read it with a smile:
Clark,
Lana helped me know where you were coming from back
in high school. I had no idea. I'm glad I know. All that matters
is the here and now. I love you and you love me, it couldn't be
more perfect!
Yours Forever,
Chlo
Lex put the rings in his safe and twisted the lock. As he was climbing into bed he saw a note sticking out from under the pillow.
Lex,
I will always be here to care for you, and to love you. I will
never let you down. I never knew how empty I felt until you
filled my heart. I love you now and forever.
Lana
Lex felt his eyes get moist. He grabbed a scrap of paper, wrote on it, put it on Lana's bed, and went to sleep. The note said simply:
Thank you.
"The rest of the day is yours," Lex said to Lana and Chloe back at the apartment. "We will probably be back late. We have our cell phones on if you need to reach us." I think that's it," Lex said.
"One more thing," Chloe said looking at Lana.
"What's that?" Clark asked.
"This," Lana said as she and Chloe kissed Clark and Lex.
Lana turned to Chloe after the guys had left. "Let's have that gab fest, now."
"Well, you'll have to fill me in on how this works," Chloe said.
"You've never had a gab fest before?"
"Think about it, Lana. From the time I moved to Smallville up until a year ago, my two best friends were guys."
"Good point," said Lana. "Let's talk."
"About what?" Chloe asked settling herself on the couch.
"Lex told me about what happened today," Lana started.
"Lana, I really don't want to go into that again," Chloe said stopping Lana.
"I talked to Clark. I think it would help clear some things up if you knew his side of it," Lana tried to reason with her.
"I know his side," Chloe growled.
"From your tone of voice I have to say that no you don't. Trust me," Lana urged.
"Go on," Chloe said defeated.
"This is what Clark told me. You two became best friends in middle school. He really cherished your friendship. He felt like he could tell you anything, so he did. Well, in high school his feelings started to change. He realized that he liked you as more than a friend," Lana explained.
"Lana, please…" Chloe said not believing it.
"I'm not lying. Let me finish. He started to see you in a different light and it scared the hell out of him. He didn't want to lose your friendship because it meant so much to him. So, he put it out of his mind. That's where I come in. He started to make himself like me to take his mind off of you. Before he knew what hit him, it had become a full on obsession. He totally forgot his feelings about you."
Chloe started to look annoyed.
"I'm not done," Lana said. "He started to 'remember' when you got hurt at Lex's. He was afraid he would lose you. His feelings started to bubble to the surface again when he found out that you wanted him to take you to Prom. A few weeks after that is when I confronted you about Clark. On that first date was when he realized that he had never and would never get over you."
"Well, I never heard that side of the story," Chloe agreed after thinking for a few minutes.
"I didn't think you had. It's getting kind of late, I'm going to go put on my pajamas," Lana said getting up.
"Good idea. And since we're telling all, I want to tell you about Lex," Chloe said going into her room.
When the girls had changed, they settled back onto the couches.
"I had no idea Lex would tell me so much," Chloe said.
"He's known you for almost five years. He trusts you, Chlo. He's told me so," Lana explained.
"I guess I never really give him enough credit. but, here goes. You probably know most of this but I'll refresh your memory. Lex's mom died when he was young. She was the only person who had ever loved and cared about Lex. After she died he felt empty inside. Like something had hollowed him out. He learned to ignore his pain and not let anyone get close. If thought if he did that, he couldn't get hurt again. Then, Clark saved his life. Lex realized that he wanted a friend. Clark was the closest to a friend he had ever had. Well, with Clark came me. At that point in time me and Clark were inseparable. I was like Lex, or so Lex thought. I fought to get what I wanted and didn't take crap from anyone. He thought I was the girl for him," Chloe explained.
"So far, I know this stuff," Lana said.
"Be patient. He met you soon after when you offered him a business deal with the Talon. He noticed that you cared about everyone. You never judged people, even if they were not good people. He said that you balanced his personality. You smoothed his rough edges, so to speak. When you made the comment about wanting to be the person for him to open up to, something clicked. He hadn't loved in years, and he knew he could love you. He also had a very strong feeling that you wouldn't let him down, and you haven't," Chloe finished.
"I don't ever plan on letting him down. Thank you for telling me that, Chlo," Lana said sincerely.
"Thank you, too. It meant a lot to hear about Clark. I am beat. Having an argument with Lex Luthor can wear a person out! I'm going to leave Clark a note and go to bed."
"I think I'll leave Lex a note, too. But, I'm going to take a long hot bath before bed," Lana said.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"What about this one?" Lex asked pointing to a ring in the glass case. The ring had one quite large diamond in the middle with five smaller diamonds on each side.
"Uh-uh. It's too flashy. Lana would feel like she was trying to show off how much money you have. It would make her uncomfortable," Clark explained.
"You're right, Clark," Lex said moving to the next case.
They were in the third jewelry store and had still not found the perfect rings. They were beginning to doubt if the perfect rings even existed.
"Lana likes simple," Clark said matter of fact.
Lex valued Clark's opinion because Clark had known both girls longer than Lex had. "And what does Chloe like?
"Unique…and I think I just found it," Clark said pointing at one of the glass cases. The ring had a large, round opal in the center with one medium square diamond on either side.
"I think you just hit the jackpot, Clark," Lex said. "Chlo'll love it!"
"Do you see anything for Lana?
"I think so. What about this one?" The ring had a large sapphire in the middle with two small diamonds on either side.
"Wow, good choice. Sapphires are Lana's favorite stone," Clark agreed.
When the cashier had boxed up their rings they made their way back to the car.
"I'm so nervous," Clark admitted.
"Nervousness is a sign of weakness in a Luthor, but my father always said I didn't act like a Luthor," Lex said with a laugh.
"Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who is nervous," Clark said.
"You've known Chloe for almost eight years. Why are you nervous?"
"True, but I've only thought about her romantically off and on for the last couple of years. It became serious recently. Chlo is my first girlfriend. In other words, I'm in uncharted territory.
"True, true," Lex agreed as they pulled into a parking space.
When they got into the apartment only one lamp was on. Lex and Clark went to peak in at their girlfriends.
"Chlo's sound asleep," Clark said walking with Lex back to their rooms.
"I could hear Lana taking a bath. Let me have Chlo's ring and I'll put them both in the safe," Lex said.
"Thanks. I'm going to bed, see you in the morning."
"'Night, Clark."
Walking into his room Clark noticed a white piece of paper on his pillow. He picked it up and read it with a smile:
Clark,
Lana helped me know where you were coming from back
in high school. I had no idea. I'm glad I know. All that matters
is the here and now. I love you and you love me, it couldn't be
more perfect!
Yours Forever,
Chlo
Lex put the rings in his safe and twisted the lock. As he was climbing into bed he saw a note sticking out from under the pillow.
Lex,
I will always be here to care for you, and to love you. I will
never let you down. I never knew how empty I felt until you
filled my heart. I love you now and forever.
Lana
Lex felt his eyes get moist. He grabbed a scrap of paper, wrote on it, put it on Lana's bed, and went to sleep. The note said simply:
Thank you.