Chapter 2-The Previous Tuesday
After school on Tuesday Chloe approached Clark. She had a steaming cup of coffee in her hand. "I've got a lead for a great story. You know you want to come."
Clark twisted the lock on his blue locker and grinned. "It has to do with the meteors, doesn't it?"
"Don't they always?" Chloe asked, flashing her bright smile.
"Come to think of it, yes. So, why would I want to come on a meteor hunt? Give me one good reason why I would want to be dragged to some back road place to dig for little green rocks," Clark challenged Chloe. He nudged her softly with his shoulder, then the pair walked down the hall. His mind was spinning with ways to get out of having yet another unpleasurable meeting with meteor rocks.
"Because you love me," Chloe replied, smiling brightly. Clark's breath caught at Chloe's smile. It was so beautiful. He didn't realize he had been staring until Chloe spoke again. "I meant as friends, Clark. Geez, don't look so disgusted."
Clark flashed his best Kent Charm smile. "There is nothing about you that would disgust me, Chloe," Clark replied, noting the way her face lit up at his comment.
"So?" Chloe urged, gulping down the rest of her coffee.
"Have I ever turned you down before, Chloe?" Clark asked, stopping as they neared the Torch. He was never able to turn down Chloe Sullivan. Call it his weakness.
"Nope, and you better not plan on starting to," Chloe said, shooting Clark a look and walking directly to the coffee pot.
"Slow down on the coffee, Chloe. It's beginning to become an addiction," Clark told her, his eyes shining as she poured another cup.
Clark wasn't prepared for Chloe's reaction. "Coffee is not an addiction and I'm tired of everyone constantly accusing me of being addicted. I'm drinking coffee because it is, in fact, a very tiring job working on the Torch. I drink coffee to help me stay awake, not to curb some craving. I know that's hard to believe, but coffee does serve a purpose," Chloe shot at Clark. Chloe suddenly slammed her cup onto the counter, causing some to slosh over.
Clark put up his hands in an apologetic manner. "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just teasing."
Chloe immediately softened. "I hate to say this, but it's been a long day and I still haven't had my coffee."
With that the two broke into laughter.
"Okay, let's go," Chloe said, pulling Clark to the door.
* * *
Chloe was bending over a pile of dirt. Her fingers were muddy from digging in the soil. She looked up in time to see Clark falter. Chloe was at his side in a second. "Clark? Are you alright?"
Clark blushed. "Fine, Chloe."
Chloe furrowed her eyebrows. "Sure, Clark," and with that she went back to her pile.
Clark smiled at Chloe's back. One of the things he loved about her was that she was very loyal to her friends. If he or Pete ever needed anything she was there. Clark swallowed back the small ache in his gut caused by the meteors and knelt by Chloe. "Find anything?"
"Look, Clark," Chloe said, holding up a small piece. "I knew that the meteors were the reason that the bugs are twice the size on this plot of land than anywhere else."
Clark swayed slightly as the meteor fragment came closer. He smiled weakly, "Only you could find a mutant bug, Chloe."
"Wait," Chloe said. She set down the fragment and began to dig in the soil again.
Clark suddenly felt very sick. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. He should have told Chloe he had other plans, but she looked so cute as she went on and on about her theory.
"I've never seen a piece so big," Chloe said, holding up a piece the size of a coke can.
Clark practically flew backward when Chloe pulled the meteor from the ground. He felt like he couldn't move. Chloe gasped and dropped the green rock. She moved to Clark's side and laid a hand on his arm. "Clark! Clark??"
"Over there," Clark gasped as he pointed toward the truck.
Chloe didn't seem to understand until Clark tried to stand. Chloe jumped up and held Clark tightly as she half-dragged him back to the truck. Clark immediately felt better, and moved away from Chloe to stand on his own. As he did, he saw the hurt look on Chloe's face.
"Clark, what happened?" Chloe asked, out of breath from carrying his huge frame.
"Nothing Chloe. I just felt a little sick," Clark said, hoping she would buy it.
"It was more than that. You practically got flung backwards when I held up the meteor," Chloe said, talking more to herself than to Clark.
"That's silly, Chloe. Why would the meteors do anything to me?" Clark asked nervously, brushing the dirt from his pants and shirt.
Chloe seemed to think about that. "There's something you're not telling me. I can feel it," she said, moving a step closer.
Clark tried to smile. "Chloe, drop it. You don't know what you're talking about."
"Why won't you tell me?" Chloe said with a laugh.
"Chloe, I said drop it," Clark said roughly. Chloe never knew when enough was enough.
Chloe stepped back as if Clark had hit her. Clark stepped forward to apologize, but Chloe backed away from him. "Let's just go, Clark," Chloe said, holding up a hand to ward off Clark's apology.
* * *
Clark was sitting in the Talon looking longingly at Lana who was cleaning tables across the room when a hand waved in front of his face.
"Earth to Clark," Pete said, sliding into the booth in front of Clark.
"Hey Pete. What's up?" Clark asked, tearing his gaze away from Lana.
"I'm to make an intervention," Pete said simply, a smile taking over his face.
Clark looked at Pete warily. "An intervention?"
"This is getting out of hand," Pete said seriously, the smile fading.
"Pete, I still haven't figured out the way your mind works. You'll have to explain," Clark said, turning to face Pete head on.
"You have got to pick, Clark. Do you want Chloe, or do you want Lana? This is becoming ridiculous. As long as Lana isn't around you're all for dating Chloe, but the moment Lana walks in you're back to staring at your telescope," Pete said, leaning his elbows on the table. "Do you know who you want, Clark?"
Clark sighed, and looked down at the table.
"Clark, you know you're my best friend, but it has got to stop. You're ripping Chloe apart. She can't take this much longer. You'll be losing an amazing friend if you don't do something fast. Choose, Clark," Pete urged as Lana walked up.
"Hi, Pete," she said, smiling happily.
Pete smiled at Lana tiredly. "Lana, I really don't mean to be rude, but I need to talk to Clark. It's important. Can we talk later?"
"Of course," Lana said, gesturing to another table. "I have work to do anyway."
"Thanks Lana," Pete said, turning back to Clark. "This isn't good, what you've been doing to Chloe.to both girls."
Clark brought his eyes up to meet Pete's. "I know, but it's not that simple. They're both."
"Amazing? Yes, I know. Weigh the options Clark. Pick one or neither, and I suggest you do it before the end of the week. Stop playing with them, Clark," Pete said, his voice softening.
"I know, Pete. It's just.how do I choose between my best friend and my dream girl? Either way I lose someone important to me," Clark said, worry in his eyes.
"And if you keep this up, you'll lose them both," Pete said, standing up. "Just think about it, Clark. I can't sit by and watch you constantly being hurt by Lana, and constantly hurting Chloe."
Clark shook his head sadly.
"Look, I just want to help. If you want to talk about it, or just need a friend call me, ok?" Pete said, looking at Clark.
Clark looked up at Pete, his eyes conveying his inner turmoil. "Thanks, Pete. I guess I needed to hear that before I could actually realize what I was doing."
"Yeah, I'm just a good guy," Pete replied, straightening his jacket and grinning. "Later, man."
"Bye," Clark said as Pete left the Talon. Clark took one more look at Lana then also left the coffee shop.
After school on Tuesday Chloe approached Clark. She had a steaming cup of coffee in her hand. "I've got a lead for a great story. You know you want to come."
Clark twisted the lock on his blue locker and grinned. "It has to do with the meteors, doesn't it?"
"Don't they always?" Chloe asked, flashing her bright smile.
"Come to think of it, yes. So, why would I want to come on a meteor hunt? Give me one good reason why I would want to be dragged to some back road place to dig for little green rocks," Clark challenged Chloe. He nudged her softly with his shoulder, then the pair walked down the hall. His mind was spinning with ways to get out of having yet another unpleasurable meeting with meteor rocks.
"Because you love me," Chloe replied, smiling brightly. Clark's breath caught at Chloe's smile. It was so beautiful. He didn't realize he had been staring until Chloe spoke again. "I meant as friends, Clark. Geez, don't look so disgusted."
Clark flashed his best Kent Charm smile. "There is nothing about you that would disgust me, Chloe," Clark replied, noting the way her face lit up at his comment.
"So?" Chloe urged, gulping down the rest of her coffee.
"Have I ever turned you down before, Chloe?" Clark asked, stopping as they neared the Torch. He was never able to turn down Chloe Sullivan. Call it his weakness.
"Nope, and you better not plan on starting to," Chloe said, shooting Clark a look and walking directly to the coffee pot.
"Slow down on the coffee, Chloe. It's beginning to become an addiction," Clark told her, his eyes shining as she poured another cup.
Clark wasn't prepared for Chloe's reaction. "Coffee is not an addiction and I'm tired of everyone constantly accusing me of being addicted. I'm drinking coffee because it is, in fact, a very tiring job working on the Torch. I drink coffee to help me stay awake, not to curb some craving. I know that's hard to believe, but coffee does serve a purpose," Chloe shot at Clark. Chloe suddenly slammed her cup onto the counter, causing some to slosh over.
Clark put up his hands in an apologetic manner. "I didn't mean anything by it. I was just teasing."
Chloe immediately softened. "I hate to say this, but it's been a long day and I still haven't had my coffee."
With that the two broke into laughter.
"Okay, let's go," Chloe said, pulling Clark to the door.
* * *
Chloe was bending over a pile of dirt. Her fingers were muddy from digging in the soil. She looked up in time to see Clark falter. Chloe was at his side in a second. "Clark? Are you alright?"
Clark blushed. "Fine, Chloe."
Chloe furrowed her eyebrows. "Sure, Clark," and with that she went back to her pile.
Clark smiled at Chloe's back. One of the things he loved about her was that she was very loyal to her friends. If he or Pete ever needed anything she was there. Clark swallowed back the small ache in his gut caused by the meteors and knelt by Chloe. "Find anything?"
"Look, Clark," Chloe said, holding up a small piece. "I knew that the meteors were the reason that the bugs are twice the size on this plot of land than anywhere else."
Clark swayed slightly as the meteor fragment came closer. He smiled weakly, "Only you could find a mutant bug, Chloe."
"Wait," Chloe said. She set down the fragment and began to dig in the soil again.
Clark suddenly felt very sick. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. He should have told Chloe he had other plans, but she looked so cute as she went on and on about her theory.
"I've never seen a piece so big," Chloe said, holding up a piece the size of a coke can.
Clark practically flew backward when Chloe pulled the meteor from the ground. He felt like he couldn't move. Chloe gasped and dropped the green rock. She moved to Clark's side and laid a hand on his arm. "Clark! Clark??"
"Over there," Clark gasped as he pointed toward the truck.
Chloe didn't seem to understand until Clark tried to stand. Chloe jumped up and held Clark tightly as she half-dragged him back to the truck. Clark immediately felt better, and moved away from Chloe to stand on his own. As he did, he saw the hurt look on Chloe's face.
"Clark, what happened?" Chloe asked, out of breath from carrying his huge frame.
"Nothing Chloe. I just felt a little sick," Clark said, hoping she would buy it.
"It was more than that. You practically got flung backwards when I held up the meteor," Chloe said, talking more to herself than to Clark.
"That's silly, Chloe. Why would the meteors do anything to me?" Clark asked nervously, brushing the dirt from his pants and shirt.
Chloe seemed to think about that. "There's something you're not telling me. I can feel it," she said, moving a step closer.
Clark tried to smile. "Chloe, drop it. You don't know what you're talking about."
"Why won't you tell me?" Chloe said with a laugh.
"Chloe, I said drop it," Clark said roughly. Chloe never knew when enough was enough.
Chloe stepped back as if Clark had hit her. Clark stepped forward to apologize, but Chloe backed away from him. "Let's just go, Clark," Chloe said, holding up a hand to ward off Clark's apology.
* * *
Clark was sitting in the Talon looking longingly at Lana who was cleaning tables across the room when a hand waved in front of his face.
"Earth to Clark," Pete said, sliding into the booth in front of Clark.
"Hey Pete. What's up?" Clark asked, tearing his gaze away from Lana.
"I'm to make an intervention," Pete said simply, a smile taking over his face.
Clark looked at Pete warily. "An intervention?"
"This is getting out of hand," Pete said seriously, the smile fading.
"Pete, I still haven't figured out the way your mind works. You'll have to explain," Clark said, turning to face Pete head on.
"You have got to pick, Clark. Do you want Chloe, or do you want Lana? This is becoming ridiculous. As long as Lana isn't around you're all for dating Chloe, but the moment Lana walks in you're back to staring at your telescope," Pete said, leaning his elbows on the table. "Do you know who you want, Clark?"
Clark sighed, and looked down at the table.
"Clark, you know you're my best friend, but it has got to stop. You're ripping Chloe apart. She can't take this much longer. You'll be losing an amazing friend if you don't do something fast. Choose, Clark," Pete urged as Lana walked up.
"Hi, Pete," she said, smiling happily.
Pete smiled at Lana tiredly. "Lana, I really don't mean to be rude, but I need to talk to Clark. It's important. Can we talk later?"
"Of course," Lana said, gesturing to another table. "I have work to do anyway."
"Thanks Lana," Pete said, turning back to Clark. "This isn't good, what you've been doing to Chloe.to both girls."
Clark brought his eyes up to meet Pete's. "I know, but it's not that simple. They're both."
"Amazing? Yes, I know. Weigh the options Clark. Pick one or neither, and I suggest you do it before the end of the week. Stop playing with them, Clark," Pete said, his voice softening.
"I know, Pete. It's just.how do I choose between my best friend and my dream girl? Either way I lose someone important to me," Clark said, worry in his eyes.
"And if you keep this up, you'll lose them both," Pete said, standing up. "Just think about it, Clark. I can't sit by and watch you constantly being hurt by Lana, and constantly hurting Chloe."
Clark shook his head sadly.
"Look, I just want to help. If you want to talk about it, or just need a friend call me, ok?" Pete said, looking at Clark.
Clark looked up at Pete, his eyes conveying his inner turmoil. "Thanks, Pete. I guess I needed to hear that before I could actually realize what I was doing."
"Yeah, I'm just a good guy," Pete replied, straightening his jacket and grinning. "Later, man."
"Bye," Clark said as Pete left the Talon. Clark took one more look at Lana then also left the coffee shop.