Chapter 2- The Truth
"Chlo," Clark yelled as he ran through the halls of Smallville High School.
Chloe turned at his voice. She felt relieved when she realized that her heart no longer raced when he said her name. "Hey, Clark. What's up?"
"I heard you had a date with Lex this weekend," Clark said as they walked into the Torch office.
Chloe turned on her teasing smile. "Yes, I do. You're not jealous are you, Clark?"
"Of Lex…or you?" he teased back.
Chloe laughed. "Well, I meant Lex, but the interpretation is up to you."
"Do you want to come over tonight?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I have to go buy a new outfit for my date this weekend."
Clark winced involuntarily.
"Clark? Are you okay?" Chloe asked placing a hand on his shoulder.
Clark quickly composed himself. "The thought of you shopping is a scary mental image."
Chloe punched his arm and then sat down at her computer and turned it on.
"Hey, I know from experience. Remember when your dad forced you to go to the eighth grade formal? He gave you money and you dragged Pete and me to every store in Smallville and Metropolis. We went to over ten different stores before you decided to get the first outfit you had tried on in the first store," Clark said.
"What are we talking about?" Pete asked walking into the room.
"We were talking about Chloe's date this weekend and her shopping history," Clark recapped.
"The eighth grade formal?" Pete asked with a grin.
"Yeah, that's what I was trying to explain to her," Clark said with a laugh.
"I'm right here, you guys. Don't be rude," Chloe said rolling her eyes at her friends' joking.
"Oh, that's right. You have a date with Lex Luthor this weekend. I'm sorry," Pete said.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Chloe asked giving him a dirty look.
"You know how I feel about the Luthors. It's no secret," Pete told her.
"Yeah, but that was Lionel, not Lex. Get over it," Chloe said only half-joking.
"What about…?" Pete asked nodding toward Clark. Clark was oblivious to the gesture.
Chloe shook her head. "No clue, he is absolutely clueless," Chloe said knowing Clark had no idea that the subject of their conversation had switched to him. "I'm tired of waiting."
Pete shrugged. "Well, that's too bad."
"Not really. I'm fine with it. I guess it just wasn't meant to be," Chloe said with a smile.
"Wait, I have a feeling we aren't talking about Lex anymore," Clark said sitting on the edge of Chloe's desk.
Pete and Chloe burst into laughter.
"Here's my article," Pete said handing Chloe a disk.
"Thanks. What about you, Clark? Lately you've only been desk candy. Why don't you try writing an article?" Chloe asked gesturing toward the corner of her desk.
"How would the desk feel?" Clark teased.
"Lighter," Chloe answered and she and Pete laughed again.
Clark rolled his eyes and walked to his own desk. To his dismay there was a fine layer of dust on his monitor and keyboard. He checked to see if Chloe was looking. When he saw her talking to Pete he quickly wiped it off.
"I saw that," Chloe said not taking her eyes off Pete.
Clark grumbled under his breath.
"I heard that," Chloe said, still talking to Pete.
Clark wadded up a piece of paper and threw it at his blond friend. It hit her squarely in the back of the head.
"She felt that," Pete said and all three burst into laughter.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Tell me again why I'm here," Clark whined.
Clark and Pete both had arms full of skirts and shirts. Chloe was in a dressing room trying on yet another outfit.
"Because you love me," Chloe said.
"That's not good enough," Pete whined.
"You two are such babies. You want a reason. How's this? Clark, you're here because you are friends with Lex and you know what he likes. Pete, you're here for moral support for Clark," Chloe yelled from the dressing room.
"You want to know what Lex likes?" Clark teased. "He likes-"
Chloe cut him off abruptly. "If you say something to the effect of 'nothing at all' I swear I will kick you!" she said opening the door.
"Wow, Chlo," Pete said and Chloe blushed.
Clark had to stop himself from grabbing her and kissing her. "Well, it's not-"
"I'll still kick you," Chloe warned.
"I was just going to say that it's not bad. You look beautiful," Clark said.
Pete rolled his eyes at his friends, but neither noticed.
"Pete?" Chloe asked.
"Lex will drool," Pete said.
"Oh, please. Lex Luthor drool? The day you become president is the day Lex will drool!" Chloe exclaimed.
"I don't want to be president, I want to be vice president…the man behind the man," Pete said.
"Okay, vice president," Chloe corrected.
"Are you buying that one?" Clark asked.
"Yeah, just let me change," Chloe said walking back into the dressing room.
"Finally," Clark said looking at Pete.
"Hey, be nice," Chloe called.
Pete and Clark laughed. When Chloe had paid for her outfit the three made their way to Chloe's car. Clark climbed in beside Chloe, and Pete climbed into the back.
"So, what caused this sudden interest in Lex?" Clark asked.
"Who said it was sudden?" Chloe replied.
"I didn't know anything about it. Pete?" Clark asked.
"I've known, man. She's liked him for a while now," Pete said.
"Thank you, Pete," Chloe said smugly.
"Anytime," Pete said with a grin.
"Just because I don't fall over when he walks into the room and I haven't gone out to buy a telescope doesn't mean I don't like him, Clark," Chloe said.
"I was just saying," Clark said. "You never tell me anything anymore."
"Correction: You never listen to me anymore," Chloe said. "Pete, how many times have I talked about Lex when Clark was around?"
"I am so staying out of this one. I don't have a death wish, contrary to popular belief," Pete said shaking his head.
"I do listen to you. How can you say that?" Clark asked.
"No. You have no right to get upset with me, Clark. No right!" Chloe stated pulling into Pete's driveway. "Thank you for going, Pete. I'll call you later."
"Bye, you guys. Clark, stay safe," Pete teased.
"Bye Pete," Clark said before they pulled away from the Ross' house.
"What are you talking about, Chlo?" Clark asked.
"Nothing, Clark. I shouldn't have said anything," Chloe said.
"Tell me," Clark demanded.
"You said that I didn't show that I liked Lex. You said that I never talk to you. There were plenty of signs Clark. You just always have your head so high up in what me and Pete call your 'Lana-cloud' that you didn't notice what was going on with me. You never seem to notice or even care about what I'm doing or how I'm feeling," Chloe said in one big breath.
"Chlo…" Clark started.
"No, Clark. I'm so tired of it. I have blown it off so many times, but not anymore. I have talked about Lex before. I know of at least two times last week that I talked about him in front of you. You don't pay attention to me anymore, Clark," Chloe explained.
"Chlo, I'm sorry. I didn't know," Clark said sadly.
"That's my point," Chloe said gently. "You know I love you. You are my best friend. But lately you have hurt me so much without even realizing it."
"I'm sorry. You're right, I had no idea. Will you tell me from now on? Don't keep it in until you explode. Tell me when you feel like I'm ignoring you," Clark said.
Chloe took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly. "I'll try, Clark. I'll try."
Clark nodded and they spent the last few minutes of the ride in silence. Chloe pulled in to the Kent's driveway and Clark turned to get out of the car. Chloe put her hand on his arm to stop him.
"Clark, I'm sorry," she said looking into his eyes.
"It's okay," Clark said.
"No. It's not. I shouldn't have said that. It was wrong of me," Chloe said searching his eyes.
"It was the truth. I'm glad that I know," Clark said sincerely.
"Clark?" Chloe asked but was interrupted when Clark hugged her.
"I'm so sorry, Chlo," he said into her blond hair. "I would never do anything to hurt you. I love you."
"I love you, too," Chloe said pulling back. She flashed him a smile before he climbed out of the car.
"Call me?" he asked.
"Top of the speed dial," she said as he shut the door.
"Chlo," Clark yelled as he ran through the halls of Smallville High School.
Chloe turned at his voice. She felt relieved when she realized that her heart no longer raced when he said her name. "Hey, Clark. What's up?"
"I heard you had a date with Lex this weekend," Clark said as they walked into the Torch office.
Chloe turned on her teasing smile. "Yes, I do. You're not jealous are you, Clark?"
"Of Lex…or you?" he teased back.
Chloe laughed. "Well, I meant Lex, but the interpretation is up to you."
"Do you want to come over tonight?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I have to go buy a new outfit for my date this weekend."
Clark winced involuntarily.
"Clark? Are you okay?" Chloe asked placing a hand on his shoulder.
Clark quickly composed himself. "The thought of you shopping is a scary mental image."
Chloe punched his arm and then sat down at her computer and turned it on.
"Hey, I know from experience. Remember when your dad forced you to go to the eighth grade formal? He gave you money and you dragged Pete and me to every store in Smallville and Metropolis. We went to over ten different stores before you decided to get the first outfit you had tried on in the first store," Clark said.
"What are we talking about?" Pete asked walking into the room.
"We were talking about Chloe's date this weekend and her shopping history," Clark recapped.
"The eighth grade formal?" Pete asked with a grin.
"Yeah, that's what I was trying to explain to her," Clark said with a laugh.
"I'm right here, you guys. Don't be rude," Chloe said rolling her eyes at her friends' joking.
"Oh, that's right. You have a date with Lex Luthor this weekend. I'm sorry," Pete said.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Chloe asked giving him a dirty look.
"You know how I feel about the Luthors. It's no secret," Pete told her.
"Yeah, but that was Lionel, not Lex. Get over it," Chloe said only half-joking.
"What about…?" Pete asked nodding toward Clark. Clark was oblivious to the gesture.
Chloe shook her head. "No clue, he is absolutely clueless," Chloe said knowing Clark had no idea that the subject of their conversation had switched to him. "I'm tired of waiting."
Pete shrugged. "Well, that's too bad."
"Not really. I'm fine with it. I guess it just wasn't meant to be," Chloe said with a smile.
"Wait, I have a feeling we aren't talking about Lex anymore," Clark said sitting on the edge of Chloe's desk.
Pete and Chloe burst into laughter.
"Here's my article," Pete said handing Chloe a disk.
"Thanks. What about you, Clark? Lately you've only been desk candy. Why don't you try writing an article?" Chloe asked gesturing toward the corner of her desk.
"How would the desk feel?" Clark teased.
"Lighter," Chloe answered and she and Pete laughed again.
Clark rolled his eyes and walked to his own desk. To his dismay there was a fine layer of dust on his monitor and keyboard. He checked to see if Chloe was looking. When he saw her talking to Pete he quickly wiped it off.
"I saw that," Chloe said not taking her eyes off Pete.
Clark grumbled under his breath.
"I heard that," Chloe said, still talking to Pete.
Clark wadded up a piece of paper and threw it at his blond friend. It hit her squarely in the back of the head.
"She felt that," Pete said and all three burst into laughter.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Tell me again why I'm here," Clark whined.
Clark and Pete both had arms full of skirts and shirts. Chloe was in a dressing room trying on yet another outfit.
"Because you love me," Chloe said.
"That's not good enough," Pete whined.
"You two are such babies. You want a reason. How's this? Clark, you're here because you are friends with Lex and you know what he likes. Pete, you're here for moral support for Clark," Chloe yelled from the dressing room.
"You want to know what Lex likes?" Clark teased. "He likes-"
Chloe cut him off abruptly. "If you say something to the effect of 'nothing at all' I swear I will kick you!" she said opening the door.
"Wow, Chlo," Pete said and Chloe blushed.
Clark had to stop himself from grabbing her and kissing her. "Well, it's not-"
"I'll still kick you," Chloe warned.
"I was just going to say that it's not bad. You look beautiful," Clark said.
Pete rolled his eyes at his friends, but neither noticed.
"Pete?" Chloe asked.
"Lex will drool," Pete said.
"Oh, please. Lex Luthor drool? The day you become president is the day Lex will drool!" Chloe exclaimed.
"I don't want to be president, I want to be vice president…the man behind the man," Pete said.
"Okay, vice president," Chloe corrected.
"Are you buying that one?" Clark asked.
"Yeah, just let me change," Chloe said walking back into the dressing room.
"Finally," Clark said looking at Pete.
"Hey, be nice," Chloe called.
Pete and Clark laughed. When Chloe had paid for her outfit the three made their way to Chloe's car. Clark climbed in beside Chloe, and Pete climbed into the back.
"So, what caused this sudden interest in Lex?" Clark asked.
"Who said it was sudden?" Chloe replied.
"I didn't know anything about it. Pete?" Clark asked.
"I've known, man. She's liked him for a while now," Pete said.
"Thank you, Pete," Chloe said smugly.
"Anytime," Pete said with a grin.
"Just because I don't fall over when he walks into the room and I haven't gone out to buy a telescope doesn't mean I don't like him, Clark," Chloe said.
"I was just saying," Clark said. "You never tell me anything anymore."
"Correction: You never listen to me anymore," Chloe said. "Pete, how many times have I talked about Lex when Clark was around?"
"I am so staying out of this one. I don't have a death wish, contrary to popular belief," Pete said shaking his head.
"I do listen to you. How can you say that?" Clark asked.
"No. You have no right to get upset with me, Clark. No right!" Chloe stated pulling into Pete's driveway. "Thank you for going, Pete. I'll call you later."
"Bye, you guys. Clark, stay safe," Pete teased.
"Bye Pete," Clark said before they pulled away from the Ross' house.
"What are you talking about, Chlo?" Clark asked.
"Nothing, Clark. I shouldn't have said anything," Chloe said.
"Tell me," Clark demanded.
"You said that I didn't show that I liked Lex. You said that I never talk to you. There were plenty of signs Clark. You just always have your head so high up in what me and Pete call your 'Lana-cloud' that you didn't notice what was going on with me. You never seem to notice or even care about what I'm doing or how I'm feeling," Chloe said in one big breath.
"Chlo…" Clark started.
"No, Clark. I'm so tired of it. I have blown it off so many times, but not anymore. I have talked about Lex before. I know of at least two times last week that I talked about him in front of you. You don't pay attention to me anymore, Clark," Chloe explained.
"Chlo, I'm sorry. I didn't know," Clark said sadly.
"That's my point," Chloe said gently. "You know I love you. You are my best friend. But lately you have hurt me so much without even realizing it."
"I'm sorry. You're right, I had no idea. Will you tell me from now on? Don't keep it in until you explode. Tell me when you feel like I'm ignoring you," Clark said.
Chloe took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly. "I'll try, Clark. I'll try."
Clark nodded and they spent the last few minutes of the ride in silence. Chloe pulled in to the Kent's driveway and Clark turned to get out of the car. Chloe put her hand on his arm to stop him.
"Clark, I'm sorry," she said looking into his eyes.
"It's okay," Clark said.
"No. It's not. I shouldn't have said that. It was wrong of me," Chloe said searching his eyes.
"It was the truth. I'm glad that I know," Clark said sincerely.
"Clark?" Chloe asked but was interrupted when Clark hugged her.
"I'm so sorry, Chlo," he said into her blond hair. "I would never do anything to hurt you. I love you."
"I love you, too," Chloe said pulling back. She flashed him a smile before he climbed out of the car.
"Call me?" he asked.
"Top of the speed dial," she said as he shut the door.