Chapter 6- Quartet O' Fun
"He was staring at your chest?" Lana asked. She was laughing so hard that her sides hurt.
"Yes," Chloe admitted with a sly smile.
"That sounds like Lex Luthor to me," Pete chimed in.
"Clark? Why the scowl?" Chloe asked.
"I wasn't scowling," Clark replied.
"Yeah you were, man," Pete said with a chuckle.
"What's wrong Clark?" Lana asked with a smile.
Clark was spared the trouble of making up an excuse when the phone rang.
"Smallville High School, Torch office. This is Chloe Sullivan," Chloe said into the phone.
Pete, Lana, and Clark could only hear one side of the conversation, but they could tell that Chloe was excited.
"Oh, hi!…Really?…Everyone?…When?…What time?…I'm sure they'd love to," Chloe blushed before continuing," Yes, I'd love to, also…Do we need to bring anything?…Are you serious?…Alright…" Chloe laughed, "I'll tell them…Okay, see you then…Bye," Chloe finished hanging up the phone.
"Who was it?" Pete asked.
"Lex," Chloe answered nonchalantly.
Lana squealed and clapped her hands together, excited for her friend.
"Lana!" Clark said. His voice was almost a growl.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Cool it, Clark. She's just excited. She's not hurting anyone ."
"Thank you," Lana told Chloe.
"Lex wants to invite us to his house Saturday night," Chloe explained.
"All of us?" Pete asked.
"Yes. He told me to tell you, Pete, that he would like you and him to put your differences behind you. He would be honored if you would come," Chloe said.
"I just might go," Pete said with a smug smile.
"Lana," Chloe said and had to stifle a laugh. "Lex said that he will give you Saturday night off just this once, but don't expect it to happen again."
"I'll have to thank him for his never-ending kindness," Lana said with a laugh.
"Clark, as his best friend, of course he wants you to be there, too," Chloe said.
Clark smiled slightly at the 'best friend' comment.
"What else did you talk about?" Lana asked excitedly.
"Calm down. You act like we're dating," Chloe said.
"Well, you will be soon enough," Lana said back.
"We'll see," Chloe said with a shy smile. "He is going to pick me up in his limo at five thirty. Then we'll pick up Pete, Lana, and then Clark. We will eat dinner at his house," Chloe explained.
"You mean castle," Pete said.
"Mansion," Chloe corrected. "We need to bring swimming suits for the indoor hot tub and pool. He'd like for us to stay the night. Of course we'd each have our own rooms," Chloe finished.
"Wow! I'm in," Lana said.
"Me too," Pete agreed.
"Clark? Please? For me?" Chloe asked with her best puppy dog face.
Clark smiled at his blond friend. ""Yes Chlo, I'll go."
"Good. I'll tell Lex," Chloe said happily.
"Let's continue this at the Talon," Lana suggested. "Don't tell Lex, but I'll give you guys coffee on the house just this once."
"Sounds good to me. I have my car," Chloe offered.
"I have mine," Pete said.
"I rode the bus," Clark admitted.
"Ditto," Lana replied.
"Lana, ride with me?" Pete asked.
"Okay," Lana said with a smile.
"Clark, you're mine," Chloe said with a grin.
The group said good bye and the pairs made their way to the cars.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Does Clark like Chloe?" Lana asked Pete on their way to the Talon.
"Those two have horrible timing," Pete said shaking his head in amusement. "Chloe liked Clark for years. She almost had him once, too. They were so close, but she wasn't quite fast enough," Pete explained.
"Because of me?" Lana asked.
"Yeah. Just as Clark was starting to have feelings for Chloe, Whitney started thinking about joining the army. When Clark realized that Whitney might have been out of the picture that launched him back into his obsession with you and away from Chloe. When you and Whitney broke up, Clark totally forgot about Chloe. It crushed Chlo in a way you couldn't imagine."
"You still haven't answered my question," Lana pointed out.
"I'm getting there. Chloe got tired of his affections changing so frequently. So, she decided to move on," Pete said.
"To Lex," Lana clarified.
"Right. When Chloe stopped obsessing over Clark, he realized that he really did like her. By the time he got his head straight, it was too late for either of them," Pete finished.
"I see…" Lana said, not sure what to say.
"You like Clark, don't you?" Pete said with a knowing smile.
Lana nodded. "Yes."
Pete laughed. "I'm sorry, Lana. It's just that you three are amazing when it comes to your timings!"
Lana had to laugh, too. "Hey, don't forget about you. I know you like Chloe."
"Am I that transparent?" Pete asked.
"No. But I notice it every once in a while," Lana said.
"Well, then I'd have to include myself in the joke," Pete admitted.
The pair laughed as they pulled up to the Talon.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Clark, I know I'm going to regret asking this, but what's wrong?" Chloe asked.
Clark blushed when he realized that Chloe had caught him staring at her. "Nothing," he answered quickly.
"Why can't you talk to me? We're not as close as we used to be. I can't fix it without your help," Chloe said.
"There's nothing to fix. I'm fine, really," Clark lied.
"You are a horrible liar," Chloe said.
"Am not," Clark replied.
"So, you admit that you were lying," Chloe said with a grin when she realized the meaning of what Clark had just said.
"Chlo…" Clark said as they pulled into the Talon. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"No. I want to know what's up with you lately," Chloe replied. "We can sit here until you give me an answer I'm happy with."
"Lex is here. He must have called the Torch from his cell phone," Clark said.
"Nice try, but you can't change the subject. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous," Chloe teased.
Clark blushed and stuttered searching for something to say.
Chloe's eyes widened. "Are you jealous?" she asked in shock.
Clark was saved for the second time that afternoon when Lana knocked on the car window. "Let's go you guys," she said happily, oblivious to the tension between Clark and Chloe.
"Shit," Chloe muttered under her breath. "You're not getting off that easily, Clark. We'll finish this later."
When the four friends walked into the Talon they saw Lex sitting in a round booth in the corner.
"We'll have to save those free coffees for later, you guys," Lana said when Lex waved them over.
"Would you care to join me?" Lex asked gesturing to the empty seats on either side of him.
"Sure," Chloe answered with a smile, sliding in beside Lex.
"I better sit on the outside in case we have customers," Lana said ushering Clark into the booth next to Chloe. When Pete slid in next to Lex, Lana sat next to him.
"Did Chloe tell all of you about Saturday?" Lex asked.
They all nodded.
"I think it's a great idea, Lex," Lana said with a sweet smile.
"You're coming, then?" Lex asked.
"Yes," Lana answered.
"Count me in," Pete said.
"Good," Lex said sincerely.
"Of course, me too," Chloe said shyly.
"Clark?" Lex asked his best friend.
"I'll have to see. My parents may be going to Metropolis all day, and I might have to go with them," Clark said and Chloe scowled at him.
When Lana saw Chloe's pained expression she said, "He'll go. Even if I have to drag him kicking and screaming."
Everyone including Clark laughed at Lana's threat. When Clark laughed Chloe brightened a little. Chloe blushed when Lex held her hand under the table. As soon as Lex took Chloe's hand Clark stopped laughing.
"You drag Clark? I'd like to see that," Pete said laughing. "He's like twice your size!"
"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that!" Lana said with a laugh.
"How did you know that we were at the Torch?" Chloe asked Lex.
"I know you have to have the Torch ready to send out to be printed on Fridays. I know how passionate you are about it, so I figured that you'd still be at school perfecting it. I didn't know that all of you would be there, though. I was just lucky," Lex replied.
"We were lucky to find you here," Chloe said blushing at her comment.
"I have to go," Clark said through a clenched jaw.
"That's too bad," Chloe said sincerely. She was totally oblivious to the look on his face. "I'll see you tomorrow at school."
"Bye," Clark said, glancing at Lex and Chloe one more time before walking out.
"What was that all about?" Chloe asked.
"Chlo, can I talk to you for a sec?" Lana said standing up.
"Sure," Chloe said following Lana a few feet from the table.
"You should go after him," Lana told her friend.
"Why? Is he okay?" Chloe asked with a worried look.
"Not exactly. You and him need to sit down and talk," Lana replied. "You are best friends, right?"
"Not as much as we used to be, but yes, I still consider him my best friend," Chloe said confused.
"Do you remember how you used to feel about him?" Lana asked trying to get her point across.
"No! You have got to be kidding me?!" Chloe said in disbelief when she caught on to what Lana meant.
"He didn't know how you felt until it was too late. He hurt you so much. You have a chance to save him from feeling the same pain that he caused you," Lana said.
"I like Lex, Lan," Chloe said not sure of what Lana wanted her to do.
"I'm not telling you to date Clark. You need to tell him how you feel and felt. Talk about how he feels right now, too."
"I have to go. Tell Lex bye for me," Chloe said running out of the Talon as fast as she could.
"What was that all about?" Lex asked when Lana came back to the table.
"Chloe had some unfinished business to take care of," Lana said glancing at Pete.
Pete nodded in understanding.
"She said to tell you bye, and she'll see you Saturday," Lana told Lex.
"Did you tell-" Pete asked.
"I had to, Pete," Lana said.
"Is she going-" Pete asked standing up.
"I don't know what she's going to do about it. Trust her, it will turn out fine," Lana assured him.
"It's not her I'm worried about," Pete replied.
"What am I missing?" Lex asked also standing up.
"Nothing," Pete and Lana said at the same time.
Lex shrugged and walked out of the Talon.
"He was staring at your chest?" Lana asked. She was laughing so hard that her sides hurt.
"Yes," Chloe admitted with a sly smile.
"That sounds like Lex Luthor to me," Pete chimed in.
"Clark? Why the scowl?" Chloe asked.
"I wasn't scowling," Clark replied.
"Yeah you were, man," Pete said with a chuckle.
"What's wrong Clark?" Lana asked with a smile.
Clark was spared the trouble of making up an excuse when the phone rang.
"Smallville High School, Torch office. This is Chloe Sullivan," Chloe said into the phone.
Pete, Lana, and Clark could only hear one side of the conversation, but they could tell that Chloe was excited.
"Oh, hi!…Really?…Everyone?…When?…What time?…I'm sure they'd love to," Chloe blushed before continuing," Yes, I'd love to, also…Do we need to bring anything?…Are you serious?…Alright…" Chloe laughed, "I'll tell them…Okay, see you then…Bye," Chloe finished hanging up the phone.
"Who was it?" Pete asked.
"Lex," Chloe answered nonchalantly.
Lana squealed and clapped her hands together, excited for her friend.
"Lana!" Clark said. His voice was almost a growl.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Cool it, Clark. She's just excited. She's not hurting anyone ."
"Thank you," Lana told Chloe.
"Lex wants to invite us to his house Saturday night," Chloe explained.
"All of us?" Pete asked.
"Yes. He told me to tell you, Pete, that he would like you and him to put your differences behind you. He would be honored if you would come," Chloe said.
"I just might go," Pete said with a smug smile.
"Lana," Chloe said and had to stifle a laugh. "Lex said that he will give you Saturday night off just this once, but don't expect it to happen again."
"I'll have to thank him for his never-ending kindness," Lana said with a laugh.
"Clark, as his best friend, of course he wants you to be there, too," Chloe said.
Clark smiled slightly at the 'best friend' comment.
"What else did you talk about?" Lana asked excitedly.
"Calm down. You act like we're dating," Chloe said.
"Well, you will be soon enough," Lana said back.
"We'll see," Chloe said with a shy smile. "He is going to pick me up in his limo at five thirty. Then we'll pick up Pete, Lana, and then Clark. We will eat dinner at his house," Chloe explained.
"You mean castle," Pete said.
"Mansion," Chloe corrected. "We need to bring swimming suits for the indoor hot tub and pool. He'd like for us to stay the night. Of course we'd each have our own rooms," Chloe finished.
"Wow! I'm in," Lana said.
"Me too," Pete agreed.
"Clark? Please? For me?" Chloe asked with her best puppy dog face.
Clark smiled at his blond friend. ""Yes Chlo, I'll go."
"Good. I'll tell Lex," Chloe said happily.
"Let's continue this at the Talon," Lana suggested. "Don't tell Lex, but I'll give you guys coffee on the house just this once."
"Sounds good to me. I have my car," Chloe offered.
"I have mine," Pete said.
"I rode the bus," Clark admitted.
"Ditto," Lana replied.
"Lana, ride with me?" Pete asked.
"Okay," Lana said with a smile.
"Clark, you're mine," Chloe said with a grin.
The group said good bye and the pairs made their way to the cars.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Does Clark like Chloe?" Lana asked Pete on their way to the Talon.
"Those two have horrible timing," Pete said shaking his head in amusement. "Chloe liked Clark for years. She almost had him once, too. They were so close, but she wasn't quite fast enough," Pete explained.
"Because of me?" Lana asked.
"Yeah. Just as Clark was starting to have feelings for Chloe, Whitney started thinking about joining the army. When Clark realized that Whitney might have been out of the picture that launched him back into his obsession with you and away from Chloe. When you and Whitney broke up, Clark totally forgot about Chloe. It crushed Chlo in a way you couldn't imagine."
"You still haven't answered my question," Lana pointed out.
"I'm getting there. Chloe got tired of his affections changing so frequently. So, she decided to move on," Pete said.
"To Lex," Lana clarified.
"Right. When Chloe stopped obsessing over Clark, he realized that he really did like her. By the time he got his head straight, it was too late for either of them," Pete finished.
"I see…" Lana said, not sure what to say.
"You like Clark, don't you?" Pete said with a knowing smile.
Lana nodded. "Yes."
Pete laughed. "I'm sorry, Lana. It's just that you three are amazing when it comes to your timings!"
Lana had to laugh, too. "Hey, don't forget about you. I know you like Chloe."
"Am I that transparent?" Pete asked.
"No. But I notice it every once in a while," Lana said.
"Well, then I'd have to include myself in the joke," Pete admitted.
The pair laughed as they pulled up to the Talon.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Clark, I know I'm going to regret asking this, but what's wrong?" Chloe asked.
Clark blushed when he realized that Chloe had caught him staring at her. "Nothing," he answered quickly.
"Why can't you talk to me? We're not as close as we used to be. I can't fix it without your help," Chloe said.
"There's nothing to fix. I'm fine, really," Clark lied.
"You are a horrible liar," Chloe said.
"Am not," Clark replied.
"So, you admit that you were lying," Chloe said with a grin when she realized the meaning of what Clark had just said.
"Chlo…" Clark said as they pulled into the Talon. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"No. I want to know what's up with you lately," Chloe replied. "We can sit here until you give me an answer I'm happy with."
"Lex is here. He must have called the Torch from his cell phone," Clark said.
"Nice try, but you can't change the subject. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous," Chloe teased.
Clark blushed and stuttered searching for something to say.
Chloe's eyes widened. "Are you jealous?" she asked in shock.
Clark was saved for the second time that afternoon when Lana knocked on the car window. "Let's go you guys," she said happily, oblivious to the tension between Clark and Chloe.
"Shit," Chloe muttered under her breath. "You're not getting off that easily, Clark. We'll finish this later."
When the four friends walked into the Talon they saw Lex sitting in a round booth in the corner.
"We'll have to save those free coffees for later, you guys," Lana said when Lex waved them over.
"Would you care to join me?" Lex asked gesturing to the empty seats on either side of him.
"Sure," Chloe answered with a smile, sliding in beside Lex.
"I better sit on the outside in case we have customers," Lana said ushering Clark into the booth next to Chloe. When Pete slid in next to Lex, Lana sat next to him.
"Did Chloe tell all of you about Saturday?" Lex asked.
They all nodded.
"I think it's a great idea, Lex," Lana said with a sweet smile.
"You're coming, then?" Lex asked.
"Yes," Lana answered.
"Count me in," Pete said.
"Good," Lex said sincerely.
"Of course, me too," Chloe said shyly.
"Clark?" Lex asked his best friend.
"I'll have to see. My parents may be going to Metropolis all day, and I might have to go with them," Clark said and Chloe scowled at him.
When Lana saw Chloe's pained expression she said, "He'll go. Even if I have to drag him kicking and screaming."
Everyone including Clark laughed at Lana's threat. When Clark laughed Chloe brightened a little. Chloe blushed when Lex held her hand under the table. As soon as Lex took Chloe's hand Clark stopped laughing.
"You drag Clark? I'd like to see that," Pete said laughing. "He's like twice your size!"
"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that!" Lana said with a laugh.
"How did you know that we were at the Torch?" Chloe asked Lex.
"I know you have to have the Torch ready to send out to be printed on Fridays. I know how passionate you are about it, so I figured that you'd still be at school perfecting it. I didn't know that all of you would be there, though. I was just lucky," Lex replied.
"We were lucky to find you here," Chloe said blushing at her comment.
"I have to go," Clark said through a clenched jaw.
"That's too bad," Chloe said sincerely. She was totally oblivious to the look on his face. "I'll see you tomorrow at school."
"Bye," Clark said, glancing at Lex and Chloe one more time before walking out.
"What was that all about?" Chloe asked.
"Chlo, can I talk to you for a sec?" Lana said standing up.
"Sure," Chloe said following Lana a few feet from the table.
"You should go after him," Lana told her friend.
"Why? Is he okay?" Chloe asked with a worried look.
"Not exactly. You and him need to sit down and talk," Lana replied. "You are best friends, right?"
"Not as much as we used to be, but yes, I still consider him my best friend," Chloe said confused.
"Do you remember how you used to feel about him?" Lana asked trying to get her point across.
"No! You have got to be kidding me?!" Chloe said in disbelief when she caught on to what Lana meant.
"He didn't know how you felt until it was too late. He hurt you so much. You have a chance to save him from feeling the same pain that he caused you," Lana said.
"I like Lex, Lan," Chloe said not sure of what Lana wanted her to do.
"I'm not telling you to date Clark. You need to tell him how you feel and felt. Talk about how he feels right now, too."
"I have to go. Tell Lex bye for me," Chloe said running out of the Talon as fast as she could.
"What was that all about?" Lex asked when Lana came back to the table.
"Chloe had some unfinished business to take care of," Lana said glancing at Pete.
Pete nodded in understanding.
"She said to tell you bye, and she'll see you Saturday," Lana told Lex.
"Did you tell-" Pete asked.
"I had to, Pete," Lana said.
"Is she going-" Pete asked standing up.
"I don't know what she's going to do about it. Trust her, it will turn out fine," Lana assured him.
"It's not her I'm worried about," Pete replied.
"What am I missing?" Lex asked also standing up.
"Nothing," Pete and Lana said at the same time.
Lex shrugged and walked out of the Talon.