Chapter three-Without Your Friend Your Whole Life's Off Track
"Chloe, I missed you!" He said, hugging her tightly.
"I can't believe you're really here," she said. She backed away from him to inspect him. "I...I...I just never expected to see you."
"That was kind of the plan," he said with a smile.
"What about your family," she asked.
"I spent Christmas Eve with them. They thought it was great that I was going to see you for Christmas," he explained.
"This is the best gift," she said.
"Well, it's possible. But, you haven't see what I brought you," he said as he handed her a gift.
Her eyes were wide as she looked at the gift. "I...Clark, I don't know what to say."
"You could invite me in," he suggested.
"Oh yeah! Come in! Come in!" She exclaimed, pulling him inside by his arm.
Clark walked into her apartment and surveyed the place. "It's small, but very you," he said as he noted her very eclectic style.
As if reading his mind she said, "Yup. The style is just like my writing, various, cluttered, disturbing, yet it draws you in." Clark and her smiled at each other.
Clark took it upon himself to sit down. Chloe plopped down next to him.
"This is so great that you're here!" She said, sincerely.
"Well, I missed you," he told her.
"I missed you too. How is everybody?" Chloe asked.
"Well, Pete is at Cornell right now. Whitney got a Football scholarship to some college in Texas and Lana goes to Smallville community college," Clark answered.
"Wait a second. Lana is still in Smallville. If anything I always figured it'd be me who would always be stuck there and she'd get out," Chloe said.
"Well, she's still there. Besides," he looked at Chloe. "Smallville isn't really that bad, is it?"
Chloe looked down. "I guess not. But, all I know is there is so much more that is beyond Smallville and I want to see it," Chloe said. "No matter what good or bad things life brings me I want to experience it all. I want to say 'I know what that felt like' or 'I've seen that.' I want to have so much to store in my memory."
"Well, don't lose it," he said, playfully knocking on her head.
She laughed at him. "What about you? What have you been up to?"
"You know me. Just drifting," Clark said with a shrug.
"Drifting? You must have something," Chloe said.
"Honestly, I didn't know what I wanted to do. And I missed you so much that one night I just kind of sat down and started writing. It was comforting. So, I'm taking some journalism classes now," Clark said.
"You're gonna write? Wow! Just like me. We could work together. 'Chloe and Clark.'" She said, imagining the title.
"It's a plan," Clark told her. "So, now open your gift!"
Chloe beamed. "Oh yeah!" She began ripping it open.
"Don't be too careful," he said.
Chloe's mouth dropped when she opened the box. It was a sterling silver necklace with a lightning bolt pendent. "Ohmigod," she breathed. She looked over at Clark. "Clark, it's..." She looked back at the necklace. "Amazing. I love it."
"I think by your expression I know you are telling the truth," Clark told her.
Chloe wrapped her arms around him catching him by surprise. "I really love it Clark. Thank you so much."
Clark, in turn, wrapped his arms around her. "I missed you so much, Chloe. I just don't know what to do without my best friend."
They let go of each other. "I know how you feel, Clark." She leaned her head on his shoulder as he put his arm around her.
"So, let's make this first Christmas without the parents really cool," Clark spoke.
Chloe smiled and jumped up from the couch. "Yeah!"
"I'm glad you agree. Because I bought a bunch of food," Clark told her.
Chloe looked around. "Uh, Clark, I don't see any bags of food around here," Chloe told him.
"It's in the car," he said and got up from the couch. "I'll be right back."
Clark left to get the food.
Five minutes later...
"Your mom makes the best turkey!" Chloe exclaimed as she bit into a piece.
"She did make sure to pack some for you because she knows how much you like it," Clark told her.
They sat across from each other at Chloe's table, both stuffing their mouths with food. "Oh guess who I saw yesterday!" Chloe said.
"Who?" Clark asked.
"Guess."
"Guy Pearce," Clark joked.
"Who?" Chloe asked.
"Guy...Pearce. He's an actor. He was in that...{sigh} never mind," Clark said and laughed.
"I'm sure whatever movie he was in is good," Chloe assured Clark then giggled. "Anyway, I saw Lex Luthor!"
Clark almost started choking on his food. "Wait, did you say Lex Luthor?" Clark asked.
Chloe shook her head.
"Lex. Luthor." Clark empathized.
"Lex Luthor. Yes, I saw Lex Luthor," Chloe said again.
"Wow. I haven't heard from him since he left Smallville 3 years ago," Clark said. "So, what is he doing now?"
"I don't know. I didn't ask. But, he was dressed all business like and he did mention something about having a meeting," Chloe told Clark.
"So, you did talk to him," Clark said.
"Just a little bit. He didn't even recognize me at first," she informed him.
"Lex didn't recognize you? Lex usually remembers every little detail about everything," Clark said.
"Oh," was all Chloe could say as she thought of the possibility that maybe Lex had known who she was the whole time.
Clark noticed the strange look on her face. "What is it, Chloe?"
Chloe didn't answer. She just kept thinking of her encounter with Lex.
"Chloe." Clark stated.
Chloe shook her head and looked over at Clark. "I'm sorry, Clark. What was that you said?"
"What were you thinking about?" Clark asked.
"Nothing," Chloe lied.
"Chloe, your mind was a billion miles away. I want to know what was on your mind," Clark said.
She poked his side and said, "Don't be so nosy."
Clark laughed.
"Maybe I was having some hot sex dream," Chloe joked.
"Of Lex?" Clark joked.
Chloe's eyes widened. "What?!"
Clark noticed the expression change from joking to seriousness. "Chloe, I was joking."
Chloe laughed nervously. "I know. Sorry, it just caught me completely off guard when you said that. I mean really, a sex dream about Lex Luthor? And me having that dream? How absurd," Chloe said.
"Oh really?" Clark said, raising an eyebrow.
"Now a sex dream about Josh Hartnett is not far fetched," Chloe said with a smile.
"Josh Hartnett? Come on he was cool like in 2002. But, he's a has been now," Clark joked.
"CLARK! Don't be so mean! Anyway, not to change the subject, but how long are you staying?"
"I have to leave tonight," he said with sadness.
"Oh. Well, hey a few hours is better than nothing." Chloe proclaimed with a smile.
Chloe and Clark spent the rest of the day catching up, playing their favorite board games, and watching their favorite Christmas movies.
Hours later...
"So, you will be coming this summer for sure, right?" Clark asked as he gathered up his things.
"Of course! I'm going to start saving up for it by my next paycheck," Chloe informed him.
"OK," Clark said and hugged her. "I'm going to miss you, Chloe. Being away from you and then seeing you again made me realize how much you mean to me."
"Clark, you mean a lot to me too," she told him.
Clark stared into her eyes. He wondered if he should tell her right then that he was falling in love with her.
"What?" Chloe asked softly.
Clark just smiled again then said, "You're my best friend."
Chloe wrapped her arms tightly around him again. "I'll see you this summer."
"Bye Chloe," he said and with that he left and headed back to Smallville.
After Clark left Chloe sat down and for the first time felt the full effect of being lonely. Something about those last few moments with Clark made her realize that something had changed between them. She just didn't know what it was.
She ran over to her laptop and turned it on.
December 25, 2005 11:43 P.M.
Originally I thought I'd be spending Christmas all alone. But, it never turns out the way I think it will, THANK GOD! My best friend since childhood, Clark Kent, stopped by. He spent Christmas day with me. And I can tell you that this is the best Christmas since the days back when my mom was still alive to spend Christmas with me.
I can't help but think that things have changed between Clark and I. But, something tells me it's not a bad thing. I don't know if I still love him. I mean I'm only 19 and am finally over the fact that he never felt the same way and it's not like myself as a 15 year-old would actually know anything about love. But, I can be sure of one thing; no matter what good or horrible things are in my future; in the end and in the beginning he'll be there for me.
Signing off,
Chloe Sullivan
To be continued...
