Clark super sped back to the Kent Farm. His sad, depressing day had morphed into an anxiety-ridden night. He couldn't fathom how his luck had gotten so much worse in the past couple of hours, and he certainly didn't think things would wrap up nicely like they always seem to in these potentially dire circumstances. This wasn't some crazed meteor rock poisoned villain that he was facing…

~ This is way worse than that. Well it can't get much worse. ~ Clark reasoned to himself as he trudged up the creaky steps toward the loft. As soon as he reached the top of the flight of stairs, he noticed Chloe sitting on the coach, presumably waiting for him.

~ Way to jinx yourself, Clark. When the hell will I stop saying crap like that?!? ~

"Hey…Chloe, I thought you were sick today?" Clark asked as Chloe got up from the couch and walked towards where Clark was standing.

"I had a doctor's appointment today. So I was gone for the first part of the day," she smiled somewhat nervously as she made eye contact with him. Clark never understood why she did that, they had known each other for almost their whole lives. But lately she was acting really weird around him, as if she was hiding something from him.

~ Yeah Kent, you've been totally forthcoming with Chloe. Moron. ~

"So, not that I'm complaining but…what brings you by?" Clark asked as he stepped around her and fell onto the couch.

"Just wanted to know what you were doing tonight. Figured you might be around but I noticed your parents seemed to have fled the nest as well," Chloe answered as she coyly walked over to the coach and joined him in a seat.

"Yeah, they went to Metropolis on some business. You haven't been waiting long have you?" Clark hoped he hadn't inconvenienced her.

"No way," Chloe shook her head animatedly, "like five minutes, if that." She was lying, Clark would normally call her on it, but he was oblivious this time. A short pause followed as Clark nodded to Chloe's response.

~ Okay it was more like an hour or so. ~

"So," Chloe broke the short silence, "no parties this time?"

"No," Clark laughed at the question, "you remember what happened last time, besides I've gotten in enough trouble today." Clark listened to what he had just said, and immediately wished he could take it back. He looked over at Chloe who had her notorious 'tell me everything' face.

~ Do you ever shut up Clark? As long as I'm meeting Lex tonight, I might as well tell him what really happened when I fished him out of the river or how I caused his premature male pattern baldness. In fact, why not just tell Chloe how the entire 'Wall of Weird' relates to 'Clark Kent's Wild Space Ride'? ~

"Really? What has the most innocent man on the planet done to possibly get in trouble."

"Really it's nothing," Clark replied as he leaned forward on the coach, resting his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands and looking down at the floor.

"Forgive me for not believing you or your severely lacking poker face, Clark Kent."

Clark looked over at her with a pained expression. He didn't want to mope about Lana to anyone anymore, but Chloe was certainly the last person on earth he wanted to vent this too. She didn't hate Lana, but she certainly had friction with her that she would never elaborate on.

~ Well she did have a reason when Lana fell backwards into the chief editor spot after Kwan took it away from her. That was kind of justifiable. ~

"This has Lana Lang written all over it," Chloe sighed as she looked back at Clark.

~ I hate this conversation already. What the hell, if I don't spill Pete probably will anyway. ~

"I've given up on her Chloe," Clark answered back quickly.

Chloe's expression reeled and a long uncomfortable pause followed. Her eyes widened and her mouth stood agape as she took a sharp intake of air. Clark waited for her to say something, anything to break the silence. He had assumed she would make some cheerleading reference such as 'quitting the pom-pom squad', right now he would welcome some tension breaking sarcasm. But he couldn't possibly know what she was internalizing.

~ Don't smile, Chloe, don't do it. He is not happy about giving up, he's just giving up. It's about time he stopped pining for her. She doesn't like him like that, she doesn't see him the way… ~

"Okay, c'mon, I know you're dying to say something Chloe. Can you please just say it?" Clark interrupted her pensiveness.

"How do you just give up?" Chloe asked in almost a concerned half-whisper.

~ I haven't been able to give up on you, even though at times I wish I could. ~

Clark looked back down at the floor as he pondered his answer.

"I just got tired of playing this 'someday' attitude, when I know I'm never going to make a move and confess anything to her. It's not fair to either of us…you know? It's like I'm expecting her to just magically feel a different way about me, if that were the case it would have probably happened by now. I mean…don't you think…after everything that has happened over the past few months?" Clark looked at Chloe. She looked flushed, her face a couple of shades redder than normal and her eyes watery as if on the verge of crying.

"Chloe?" Clark became concerned as he turned in his seat to face her.

~ Please, please tell me that's allergies. How could I have possibly said something stupid just now? It was just about me moping over Lana. It doesn't relate to her…~