Chapter 36- Metropolis or Bust
Chloe got to the Kent's a few minutes after ten the next morning. "Clark?" she called letting herself in.
"He's still getting ready, sweetheart," Martha called from the kitchen.
Chloe made her way to the kitchen. What she saw made her mouth water. "Wow, Mrs. Kent! This looks amazing!"
Martha laughed and piled more eggs onto the already overflowing serving dish. With the eggs were sausage, bacon, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, and gravy.
"Good morning, Chloe," Clark said coming down the stairs.
"Good morning," Chloe answered.
"And how are we this morning?" Clark asked, slipping his arm over her shoulders.
"Better now. And yourself?" Chloe said in a dignified tone of voice.
"Much the same," Clark answered before breaking into a grin.
"The doorbell rings," Chloe said waggling her eyebrows.
"Then we shall answer," Clark said turning Chloe toward the door.
"Who is it, I wonder?" Chloe asked as they made their way to the door.
"It be Lana and Whitney," Clark said as he and Chloe burst into laughter.
"Hey, you guys. Come on in," Chloe said trying to control herself.
"What was that all about?" Whitney asked.
"It's better not to question these two," Lana joked.
"We were just being silly," Chloe answered Whitney.
"Ah…silliness. It's what us three musketeers are famous for," Pete said walking up to the front door.
"Better believe it!" Chloe exclaimed.
"Come in everyone," Clark said leading the way to the kitchen.
"Hi Mrs. Kent," Lana said sweetly.
"Hi, Lana, Pete, Whitney," Martha said acknowledging everyone. "Plates are in the cabinet. Help yourselves to as much as you want. Jonathan and I already ate, so you guys have your fill."
"Thanks, Mom," Clark said pulling five plates out of the cupboard.
"Whitney, you are in for a treat," Lana said with a grin.
"Looks like it," Whitney agreed.
When everyone had piled their plates they sat around the large table.
"Biscuits and gravy," Chloe said hungrily. "Clark, I love your mother."
Clark laughed. "She loves to hear you say it."
"I love your mother," Chloe repeated causing everyone to laugh. "We are going to have so much fun today!"
"Lex-free fun," Pete corrected.
` "Yes, if you insist. Lex-free fun," Chloe said.
"Why don't you go ahead and relinquish your phone," Whitney suggested.
Chloe glared at the faces around the table. "You'd like that wouldn't you?"
"Yes, we would," Clark replied seriously.
"Who is going to take it?" Pete asked.
"Either me or Clark," Lana supplied.
"Lana's good with the whole is-it-serious thing," Whitney said.
"Yeah, but Clark is Lex's best friend," Pete pointed out.
"No offense, but Clark would be more objective," Chloe said.
"Not necessarily," Pete added. "He would be more likely to want to keep Lex away from you." When Clark shot him a look he added, "I didn't mean it like that!"
Chloe laughed. "Sure you didn't," she said once again wagging her eyebrows at Clark. This time Lana shot Chloe a look and moved closer to Clark. "We're kidding, you guys!"
"So, what's the plan for the phone?" Whitney asked.
"I'll give it to Pete. He's the one besides me that will always be with either Lana or Clark at any given time," Chloe said reluctantly handing over her phone.
"Now that wasn't so hard was it?" Pete asked with a grin. Chloe was the one to elicit a dirty look. "Okay, maybe it was."
"You act like it's your lifeline, Chlo," Clark pointed out.
"There are two things that I am never without: my laptop and my cell phone," Chloe said.
"Where's your laptop?" Whitney asked.
"My point exactly! I had to give up my laptop for a day of fun in Metropolis…now my cell?? What are you people trying to do to me?" Chloe asked.
"Give you a day of fun in Metropolis," Lana answered simply.
"Ah, see now I get it," Chloe said throwing her hands up in defeat. When her hands came back down her cast hit the table. "Ow!"
"Are you okay?" Pete asked.
"See what you made me do!" Chloe half-teased.
"Yeah, I see," Pete said poking her ribs.
"Hey," Chloe said squirming. "Stop that!"
"Not until you laugh," Pete said continuing to poke Chloe. It took a few minutes, but Chloe finally laughed.
"It's about time you were happy," Whitney said.
"Today is going to be great fun," Chloe said sarcastically.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Oh, Chloe. Try this one on!" Lana exclaimed.
"Uh, no offense, but I don't do sweater sets," Chloe said eyeing the pink sweater.
"Your loss," Clark said wrapping an arm around Lana's waist.
"Whatever," Chloe said eyeing the couple sadly.
"What do you do?" Whitney asked. "You don't do sweater sets…what exactly do you do?"
"You've seen the style I wear. Again no offense, but I don't dress 'girl next door,'" Chloe said.
"No offense taken," Lana said flipping through the racks of clothes.
"What about this?" Lana asked holding up a red tank top. The shoulders were held together by leather ties.
"That's more like it," Chloe said taking it in her hands.
Lana smiled. "Good."
"I know it's probably not very manly to do this, but…what about this?" Whitney asked holding up a pants suit.
"Ooh," Chloe said walking to him. "Very nice."
"And you're right," Pete teased. "That wasn't very manly."
Whitney playfully punched Pete and the boys began to play-fight.
"Want some of this action, Kent?" Whitney asked grinning.
"Too rich for my blood," Clark said.
"Most everything is, isn't it," a voice said behind them.
"What do you want?" Chloe growled.
"I own this store. I came to see how it was doing and happened to run into this lively bunch," Lionel said with a smirk.
Clark immediately stepped in front of Chloe. "Then I suggest you go talk to whomever you came to talk to and leave us alone."
"You're not very nice to your best friend's father," Lionel said in a mock-pout.
"The father who is disgusted by his son and tears him down every moment he can get?" Chloe asked, placing her hand on Clark's arm so she could get around him.
"That would be the one," Pete said standing in front of Lana.
"It's so charming how you stand up for such a misfit," Lionel said.
"He's only a misfit by your standards," Chloe sneered.
"While this banter is very entertaining I must get about my business," Lionel said walking away.
"You better," Pete muttered.
"Well, that was fun," Lana said sarcastically.
"I could just…" Chloe said tensing up.
Clark put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "You tell Lex to not let Lionel bother him. Don't let Lionel bother you, either," Clark told her.
"You want me to take him, Chlo? I'll take him out," Pete said.
"I'm with Pete. We could take him," Whitney added.
"You guys are too sweet, but no. That's not the way to handle it," Chloe said shrugging off Clark.
"Go, Chloe," Lana encouraged her friend after reclaiming Clark's hand.
Clark smiled at Lana reassuringly, and wrapped his arm back around her waist.
"More shopping," Chloe said. "I've only spent two hundred dollars so far."
"Only?" Whitney asked.
"I wish I could say that," Pete replied.
"Yes, I am quite the rich person lately," Chloe joked.
"Don't spend it all now," Clark warned.
"I won't. Just maybe a few hundred more," Chloe teased.
"How's about you share the wealth?" Whitney suggested hopefully.
"Fat chance," Chloe said, her eyes twinkling.
"You think you know a person," Whitney sighed in mock sadness.
Chloe half-giggled half-laughed. "You are too adorable."
"I know," Whitney said.
Lana laughed. "Here comes Lionel." Pete, Whitney, and Clark shot her a look. "Just a warning," she said defensively.
"Warning taken and filed away," Chloe said visibly stiffening.
Lionel walked past the five friends without a word or glance.
"Yeah, he better leave us alone," Chloe muttered.
"You okay?" Pete asked throwing an arm around Chloe's shoulders.
"Am now," Chloe replied continuing to sift through racks of clothes. "I think I'm done here."
"Let's go," Lana said walking up to the counter.
Chloe and Lana laid Chloe's selected clothes onto the counter and waited while the cashier rang them up. When Chloe paid for them the five made their way out of the store.
"Where to now?" Lana asked.
"Can we just walk a while?" Chloe asked.
"Sure," Clark said offering an arm to each girl.
Lana and Chloe each took one of Clark's arms. Lana smiled sweetly at Whitney and linked arms with him as Chloe linked arms with Pete.
"Aren't we too cute?" Chloe said sarcastically.
"Yes we are," Pete said in his most charming voice.
Chloe laughed outright.
"It's good to hear you laugh," Lana said as Chloe's cell phone rang. "I have got to stop telling you that," Lana said remembering the last time she had told Chloe the same thing.
Pete pulled the phone out of his pocket. "Lex," he said simply.
"Let me," Clark said reaching across Chloe for the phone. Chloe looked on helplessly as Clark flipped the phone open and answered.
"Hello?" Clark asked. "What do you need?…She can't talk right now…Remind me to thank your father…Obviously he forgot to mention that Chloe and I aren't the only ones here…Calm down, we're just trying to have some fun…No, she can't talk…I know you're upset, but for no reason…There's nothing I can do if you choose to believe him and not me…Do you want to talk to Lana or Pete or Whitney? They'll tell you the same thing…Fine," Clark said handing the phone to Whitney. "He wants to talk to you."
Whitney took the phone from Clark with an almost worried look. "Lex?…Me, Chloe, Clark, Lana, and Pete…No, they haven't…Yes, we did…He was very rude…No, she isn't…Fine," Whitney said handing the phone to Pete. "Your turn, man."
"Lex?" Pete asked into the phone. "Whitney and Clark already told you…Why trust them, huh?…No, they haven't…Lana…Yeah," Pete said handing the phone to Lana.
"Just let me talk," Chloe whined.
Lana ignored her and took the phone from Pete. "We're all here. Chloe can't talk, and no they haven't been alone," Lana said without letting Lex say a word. "She can't talk. Didn't I just say that?…I'm not being rude, Lex…I'm sorry you feel that way…He is just trying to mess with you…He's lying…Lex, he's lied before hasn't he?…Okay…Bye."
"What was all that?" Chloe asked.
"Lionel told Lex that only me and you were here. He wouldn't believe me that Whitney, Lana, and Pete were here too," Clark supplied.
"Lex wanted to know who all was here with you and Clark. I told him you two hadn't been alone all day. He asked if we had seen Lionel and I told him that he was very rude to us. He insisted he talk to you," Whitney relayed.
"Asked me the same thing. When I told him exactly what Clark and Whitney had he demanded to talk to Lana," Pete explained.
"He said I was being rude, and that it surprised him. He said that Lionel had told him something other than what we said, and I told him that Lionel was lying. He said okay, he believed us, then hung up," Lana said.
"If I may add something?" Whitney said. When Chloe looked at him he continued. "Next time let someone other than Clark answer. It didn't go over too well when Clark answered your cell. He seems to think that I will be the least likely to lie to him, but he trusts Lana the most."
"You're right," Pete agreed. "Lana should answer if he calls again."
"Fine," Chloe said shaking her head in despair.
"Good idea, Whit," Lana said squeezing his arm.
Chloe looked ready to cry. Pete and Clark glanced at each other before each wrapping an arm around her petite shoulders. Chloe wrapped her arms around their waists and squeezed without saying a word.
"Want to talk?" Pete asked.
Chloe shook her head.
"Are you okay?" Clark asked.
Chloe shook her head again.
"Leave her alone, guys," Lana said, her voice full of compassion.
"Want some pizza?" Pete asked as they approached a small pizza shop.
Chloe nodded.
"One thing before we go in," Pete said eyeing Clark mischievously.
Clark nodded with a sly grin. "On three. One, two, three."
At the count of three both boys kissed Chloe's cheeks at the same time. Chloe's jaw dropped before she broke into a goofy grin.
"You guys," she said in blushing in embarrassment.
"Works every time," Pete said smugly.
"Like a charm," Clark said leading the girls into the restaurant. He didn't notice Lana's not-so-happy expression.
"You two are full of it," Chloe said smiling.
"You know you love us," Pete said happily.
"True, true," Chloe said.
"So, what does everyone want?" Lana asked.
"They make it right at your table, I think," Whitney said.
"They do, trust me," Chloe said her eyes twinkling as she removed her arm from behind Pete.
"Chloe's in her natural habitat. She knows all," Clark said with a laugh.
"Better believe it," Chloe replied, letting her arm linger a little too long behind Clark's back.
Clark looked at her curiously and Lana shot her a dirty look. It was going to be a long day.
Chloe got to the Kent's a few minutes after ten the next morning. "Clark?" she called letting herself in.
"He's still getting ready, sweetheart," Martha called from the kitchen.
Chloe made her way to the kitchen. What she saw made her mouth water. "Wow, Mrs. Kent! This looks amazing!"
Martha laughed and piled more eggs onto the already overflowing serving dish. With the eggs were sausage, bacon, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, and gravy.
"Good morning, Chloe," Clark said coming down the stairs.
"Good morning," Chloe answered.
"And how are we this morning?" Clark asked, slipping his arm over her shoulders.
"Better now. And yourself?" Chloe said in a dignified tone of voice.
"Much the same," Clark answered before breaking into a grin.
"The doorbell rings," Chloe said waggling her eyebrows.
"Then we shall answer," Clark said turning Chloe toward the door.
"Who is it, I wonder?" Chloe asked as they made their way to the door.
"It be Lana and Whitney," Clark said as he and Chloe burst into laughter.
"Hey, you guys. Come on in," Chloe said trying to control herself.
"What was that all about?" Whitney asked.
"It's better not to question these two," Lana joked.
"We were just being silly," Chloe answered Whitney.
"Ah…silliness. It's what us three musketeers are famous for," Pete said walking up to the front door.
"Better believe it!" Chloe exclaimed.
"Come in everyone," Clark said leading the way to the kitchen.
"Hi Mrs. Kent," Lana said sweetly.
"Hi, Lana, Pete, Whitney," Martha said acknowledging everyone. "Plates are in the cabinet. Help yourselves to as much as you want. Jonathan and I already ate, so you guys have your fill."
"Thanks, Mom," Clark said pulling five plates out of the cupboard.
"Whitney, you are in for a treat," Lana said with a grin.
"Looks like it," Whitney agreed.
When everyone had piled their plates they sat around the large table.
"Biscuits and gravy," Chloe said hungrily. "Clark, I love your mother."
Clark laughed. "She loves to hear you say it."
"I love your mother," Chloe repeated causing everyone to laugh. "We are going to have so much fun today!"
"Lex-free fun," Pete corrected.
` "Yes, if you insist. Lex-free fun," Chloe said.
"Why don't you go ahead and relinquish your phone," Whitney suggested.
Chloe glared at the faces around the table. "You'd like that wouldn't you?"
"Yes, we would," Clark replied seriously.
"Who is going to take it?" Pete asked.
"Either me or Clark," Lana supplied.
"Lana's good with the whole is-it-serious thing," Whitney said.
"Yeah, but Clark is Lex's best friend," Pete pointed out.
"No offense, but Clark would be more objective," Chloe said.
"Not necessarily," Pete added. "He would be more likely to want to keep Lex away from you." When Clark shot him a look he added, "I didn't mean it like that!"
Chloe laughed. "Sure you didn't," she said once again wagging her eyebrows at Clark. This time Lana shot Chloe a look and moved closer to Clark. "We're kidding, you guys!"
"So, what's the plan for the phone?" Whitney asked.
"I'll give it to Pete. He's the one besides me that will always be with either Lana or Clark at any given time," Chloe said reluctantly handing over her phone.
"Now that wasn't so hard was it?" Pete asked with a grin. Chloe was the one to elicit a dirty look. "Okay, maybe it was."
"You act like it's your lifeline, Chlo," Clark pointed out.
"There are two things that I am never without: my laptop and my cell phone," Chloe said.
"Where's your laptop?" Whitney asked.
"My point exactly! I had to give up my laptop for a day of fun in Metropolis…now my cell?? What are you people trying to do to me?" Chloe asked.
"Give you a day of fun in Metropolis," Lana answered simply.
"Ah, see now I get it," Chloe said throwing her hands up in defeat. When her hands came back down her cast hit the table. "Ow!"
"Are you okay?" Pete asked.
"See what you made me do!" Chloe half-teased.
"Yeah, I see," Pete said poking her ribs.
"Hey," Chloe said squirming. "Stop that!"
"Not until you laugh," Pete said continuing to poke Chloe. It took a few minutes, but Chloe finally laughed.
"It's about time you were happy," Whitney said.
"Today is going to be great fun," Chloe said sarcastically.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Oh, Chloe. Try this one on!" Lana exclaimed.
"Uh, no offense, but I don't do sweater sets," Chloe said eyeing the pink sweater.
"Your loss," Clark said wrapping an arm around Lana's waist.
"Whatever," Chloe said eyeing the couple sadly.
"What do you do?" Whitney asked. "You don't do sweater sets…what exactly do you do?"
"You've seen the style I wear. Again no offense, but I don't dress 'girl next door,'" Chloe said.
"No offense taken," Lana said flipping through the racks of clothes.
"What about this?" Lana asked holding up a red tank top. The shoulders were held together by leather ties.
"That's more like it," Chloe said taking it in her hands.
Lana smiled. "Good."
"I know it's probably not very manly to do this, but…what about this?" Whitney asked holding up a pants suit.
"Ooh," Chloe said walking to him. "Very nice."
"And you're right," Pete teased. "That wasn't very manly."
Whitney playfully punched Pete and the boys began to play-fight.
"Want some of this action, Kent?" Whitney asked grinning.
"Too rich for my blood," Clark said.
"Most everything is, isn't it," a voice said behind them.
"What do you want?" Chloe growled.
"I own this store. I came to see how it was doing and happened to run into this lively bunch," Lionel said with a smirk.
Clark immediately stepped in front of Chloe. "Then I suggest you go talk to whomever you came to talk to and leave us alone."
"You're not very nice to your best friend's father," Lionel said in a mock-pout.
"The father who is disgusted by his son and tears him down every moment he can get?" Chloe asked, placing her hand on Clark's arm so she could get around him.
"That would be the one," Pete said standing in front of Lana.
"It's so charming how you stand up for such a misfit," Lionel said.
"He's only a misfit by your standards," Chloe sneered.
"While this banter is very entertaining I must get about my business," Lionel said walking away.
"You better," Pete muttered.
"Well, that was fun," Lana said sarcastically.
"I could just…" Chloe said tensing up.
Clark put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "You tell Lex to not let Lionel bother him. Don't let Lionel bother you, either," Clark told her.
"You want me to take him, Chlo? I'll take him out," Pete said.
"I'm with Pete. We could take him," Whitney added.
"You guys are too sweet, but no. That's not the way to handle it," Chloe said shrugging off Clark.
"Go, Chloe," Lana encouraged her friend after reclaiming Clark's hand.
Clark smiled at Lana reassuringly, and wrapped his arm back around her waist.
"More shopping," Chloe said. "I've only spent two hundred dollars so far."
"Only?" Whitney asked.
"I wish I could say that," Pete replied.
"Yes, I am quite the rich person lately," Chloe joked.
"Don't spend it all now," Clark warned.
"I won't. Just maybe a few hundred more," Chloe teased.
"How's about you share the wealth?" Whitney suggested hopefully.
"Fat chance," Chloe said, her eyes twinkling.
"You think you know a person," Whitney sighed in mock sadness.
Chloe half-giggled half-laughed. "You are too adorable."
"I know," Whitney said.
Lana laughed. "Here comes Lionel." Pete, Whitney, and Clark shot her a look. "Just a warning," she said defensively.
"Warning taken and filed away," Chloe said visibly stiffening.
Lionel walked past the five friends without a word or glance.
"Yeah, he better leave us alone," Chloe muttered.
"You okay?" Pete asked throwing an arm around Chloe's shoulders.
"Am now," Chloe replied continuing to sift through racks of clothes. "I think I'm done here."
"Let's go," Lana said walking up to the counter.
Chloe and Lana laid Chloe's selected clothes onto the counter and waited while the cashier rang them up. When Chloe paid for them the five made their way out of the store.
"Where to now?" Lana asked.
"Can we just walk a while?" Chloe asked.
"Sure," Clark said offering an arm to each girl.
Lana and Chloe each took one of Clark's arms. Lana smiled sweetly at Whitney and linked arms with him as Chloe linked arms with Pete.
"Aren't we too cute?" Chloe said sarcastically.
"Yes we are," Pete said in his most charming voice.
Chloe laughed outright.
"It's good to hear you laugh," Lana said as Chloe's cell phone rang. "I have got to stop telling you that," Lana said remembering the last time she had told Chloe the same thing.
Pete pulled the phone out of his pocket. "Lex," he said simply.
"Let me," Clark said reaching across Chloe for the phone. Chloe looked on helplessly as Clark flipped the phone open and answered.
"Hello?" Clark asked. "What do you need?…She can't talk right now…Remind me to thank your father…Obviously he forgot to mention that Chloe and I aren't the only ones here…Calm down, we're just trying to have some fun…No, she can't talk…I know you're upset, but for no reason…There's nothing I can do if you choose to believe him and not me…Do you want to talk to Lana or Pete or Whitney? They'll tell you the same thing…Fine," Clark said handing the phone to Whitney. "He wants to talk to you."
Whitney took the phone from Clark with an almost worried look. "Lex?…Me, Chloe, Clark, Lana, and Pete…No, they haven't…Yes, we did…He was very rude…No, she isn't…Fine," Whitney said handing the phone to Pete. "Your turn, man."
"Lex?" Pete asked into the phone. "Whitney and Clark already told you…Why trust them, huh?…No, they haven't…Lana…Yeah," Pete said handing the phone to Lana.
"Just let me talk," Chloe whined.
Lana ignored her and took the phone from Pete. "We're all here. Chloe can't talk, and no they haven't been alone," Lana said without letting Lex say a word. "She can't talk. Didn't I just say that?…I'm not being rude, Lex…I'm sorry you feel that way…He is just trying to mess with you…He's lying…Lex, he's lied before hasn't he?…Okay…Bye."
"What was all that?" Chloe asked.
"Lionel told Lex that only me and you were here. He wouldn't believe me that Whitney, Lana, and Pete were here too," Clark supplied.
"Lex wanted to know who all was here with you and Clark. I told him you two hadn't been alone all day. He asked if we had seen Lionel and I told him that he was very rude to us. He insisted he talk to you," Whitney relayed.
"Asked me the same thing. When I told him exactly what Clark and Whitney had he demanded to talk to Lana," Pete explained.
"He said I was being rude, and that it surprised him. He said that Lionel had told him something other than what we said, and I told him that Lionel was lying. He said okay, he believed us, then hung up," Lana said.
"If I may add something?" Whitney said. When Chloe looked at him he continued. "Next time let someone other than Clark answer. It didn't go over too well when Clark answered your cell. He seems to think that I will be the least likely to lie to him, but he trusts Lana the most."
"You're right," Pete agreed. "Lana should answer if he calls again."
"Fine," Chloe said shaking her head in despair.
"Good idea, Whit," Lana said squeezing his arm.
Chloe looked ready to cry. Pete and Clark glanced at each other before each wrapping an arm around her petite shoulders. Chloe wrapped her arms around their waists and squeezed without saying a word.
"Want to talk?" Pete asked.
Chloe shook her head.
"Are you okay?" Clark asked.
Chloe shook her head again.
"Leave her alone, guys," Lana said, her voice full of compassion.
"Want some pizza?" Pete asked as they approached a small pizza shop.
Chloe nodded.
"One thing before we go in," Pete said eyeing Clark mischievously.
Clark nodded with a sly grin. "On three. One, two, three."
At the count of three both boys kissed Chloe's cheeks at the same time. Chloe's jaw dropped before she broke into a goofy grin.
"You guys," she said in blushing in embarrassment.
"Works every time," Pete said smugly.
"Like a charm," Clark said leading the girls into the restaurant. He didn't notice Lana's not-so-happy expression.
"You two are full of it," Chloe said smiling.
"You know you love us," Pete said happily.
"True, true," Chloe said.
"So, what does everyone want?" Lana asked.
"They make it right at your table, I think," Whitney said.
"They do, trust me," Chloe said her eyes twinkling as she removed her arm from behind Pete.
"Chloe's in her natural habitat. She knows all," Clark said with a laugh.
"Better believe it," Chloe replied, letting her arm linger a little too long behind Clark's back.
Clark looked at her curiously and Lana shot her a dirty look. It was going to be a long day.