Chapter 8- Don't Cry For Me
Pete, Lana, and Lex were sitting in Lana's living room.
"What did she say?" Pete asked.
"She doesn't want to come back. She's happy with the life she's living," Lex explained.
"She's a prostitute, Lex," Lana pointed out.
"Yes, I know. Whatever happened here hurt her very much. She has worked for the last two and a half years to try and erase her former life. She's erased all records of Smallville, including high school records, her applications for internship at the Planet, everything. To her Smallville never existed," Lex continued.
"I don't understand why," Lana said insistently.
"Because of me," Clark said walking into the room.
"How long have you been out there?" Lex asked worriedly.
"Somewhere around 'she's happy with her life,'" Clark answered sitting next to Lex. When Lana and Lex were silent Clark continued, "By all means, don't stop on account of me."
Lex looked to Lana and Pete with a shrug. Lana motioned for the boys to continue.
"Lan, you can't understand how much pain Chloe has been through while she was here. It won't go away with just words," Pete supplied.
"What else did she say?" Lana asked.
"She wants us to leave her alone, to the life she has chosen," Lex said dejectedly. "I told her she belongs with Clark in Smallville."
"And?" Pete asked.
"She said that Lana belongs here with Clark," Lex replied.
Clark remained silent through the conversation.
"Did you tell her?" Lana asked.
"Of course I did," Lex answered. "That's the point where she changed."
"Meaning?" Pete asked.
"She whispered, 'I missed it.' I have no idea what she meant," Lex said puzzled.
"I do," Pete said closing his eyes. "We used to plan our weddings in middle school. I would be the best man in hers, she would be the maid of honor in mine. We dreamed of how we would fall in love with our best friend at our side. She meant she missed me falling in love. She missed seeing me find the love of my life."
"Oh, Pete," Lana said rubbing his back.
"That makes sense. She got real quiet. That's when she decided to leave my company," Lex relayed.
"I give up. She's not coming back. I never should have thought she would. I should have been happy with everything the way it was. 'Leave well enough alone,' my dad says," Clark said.
"Don't say that," Lana said shocked.
"Why, Lan? You know how it is. I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself. I'll get over Chloe," Clark said earnestly.
"I don't want you to get over Chloe," Lana replied. "I want her to come around. I want her to put the past behind her."
"She has," Lex piped up.
Lana shot him a dirty look. "I don't mean like that! I want Chloe to see what she means to you, and I won't give up until she does!
"Lan, what are you saying?" Pete asked.
"I'm going to go talk to her," Lana said, leaving no room for discussion.
"And if she's not there?" Lex asked.
"I'll do some snooping. I learned a thing or two from her in high school, like how to jimmy a lock," Lana said coolly.
"Lana, I don't want you going there by yourself. It's dangerous. You could get hurt," Clark said.
"I won't," Lana replied simply.
"Lana, Clark's right. You could get mugged, or raped, or worse," Lex said.
"I'll be fine," Lana tried.
"Lana, promise us you won't go there alone," Pete demanded.
"Fine," Lana said rolling her eyes. "I won't go alone. Now, I have to get back to the Talon."
"Lana." Lex warned.
Lana held her hand over her heart. "I promise," she said crossing her fingers behind her back.
The boys nodded as Lana left. Lana climbed into her car. As she passed the Talon she looked nervously in her rearview mirror before turning down a side road. When she was sure she was in the clear she rolled the windows down, turned the radio up and began to sing along with the songs. She had a few hours to waste on the long drive to Metropolis, and feeling guilty was not on her agenda.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hey. Have you heard from Lana?" Pete asked into his cell phone.
"No," Lex answered. "Is she not at the Talon?"
"Nope. She didn't- I mean she wouldn't have-" Pete started.
"She can't have left more than an hour ago. We better go get her," Lex said.
"We can take my car. It will fit more than two. Pick you up in a few minutes," Pete said clicking the phone shut and pulling out of the Talon parking lot.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
As suspected, no one was at Chloe's apartment. To Lana's surprise the door was unlocked. She slipped in quietly to make sure the small, immaculately clean apartment was in fact deserted. Silently, Lana began searching every crack and crevice. She didn't know what she was looking for, but she'd know when she found it.
It wasn't until she was in the second bedroom that she found what she was looking for. In the closet was a very large box. The only writing on it were the letters SV. Lana pulled the flaps open and gasped. She sat on the floor and began to pull the contents out.
On top, bound by brown string was every issue of the Torch Chloe had put together at Smallville High. The pages were falling apart, as if from constant use. Sitting next to the issues was a teddy bear in a plastic sack. Lana recognized it as the same bear that had hung from the ceiling in the warehouse where Deputy Watts had kept her and Chloe after their kidnapping.
Under those was a manila folder. In the folder were Clark's adoption papers, the biography Chloe had done on him for her English project, the Smallville Ledger article on the tornadoes, a picture of Ryan and Clark, and a transcript of Laura Lang's valedictorian speech. Lana read over each piece of paper carefully, not skipping a word. When she was satisfied that she hadn't missed anything she put the folder aside and moved on.
Under the folder was a metal box. It was long, wide, and deep. In magic marker on the lid were the words 'Wall Of Weird.' Lana struggled to open the creaking hinges. Inside was every article Chloe had had on her wall of weird. Including a small book labeled 'The Nicodemus Diaries.' Lana carefully sifted through the box of papers. Setting the box aside Lana pulled out the last object.
It was a dark pink, strapless dress. "Chloe's Spring Formal dress," Lana whispered sadly. She ran her fingers over the smooth material. Wrapped in the folds was the pink corsage Clark had given her. Lana never heard the front door open.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Chloe shouted.
"Chloe, I-" Lana started.
"The name's Lynnsey! And you had no right to go through my personal things," Chloe shouted, desperately throwing the objects back into the box as fast as she could.
"I thought Smallville was behind you?" Lana asked defiantly.
"It is," Chloe hissed. "Get out!"
"It obviously isn't," Lana said rooting her feet to their spot on the stained carpet.
"Why won't everyone leave me alone? I worked for the last two and a half years to kill my past, and you guys suddenly have the urge to pull a reviviscence. Well, there's nothing you or anyone else can do," Chloe raged.
"I know there is. I just have to figure it out. If you wanted to totally put Smallville in the past, why did you keep all these things?" Lana asked gesturing to the box.
"To remind myself of how I felt. Every time I decided to go back I would pull out this box. I would hold the teddy bear and think of all my near-death experiences. I would look at the article about the tornadoes, and remember how Clark ran out on me. If that didn't help I would pull out my dress," Chloe laughed at herself. "Sometimes I even put it on. Then, I would remember exactly why I left!"
"I understand those things, but why the Torch? Why my mother's speech? Why the picture of Ryan and Clark? Why the Wall of Weird articles?" Lana asked.
"I don't know why I'm explaining this to you. Maybe if I do you'll understand and leave me alone. I kept the copy of your mother's speech to remind me of how I befriended you and you betrayed me. The picture of Ryan and Clark was so I could have an object to direct my anger at. My two true passions were the Torch, and the Wall of Weird. I couldn't make myself throw them out. Are you happy? Now you can get out before I call the police and have you thrown out!" Chloe said hotly.
"No, I promised I wouldn't let Clark down, and-" Lana started.
"And he promised he wouldn't let me down. Promises are meant to be broken," Chloe said grabbing Lana by the arm and pulling her to the door.
"You brought this on yourself," Lana told Chloe.
"Yes, poor Chloe Sullivan. Looked down on by her peers for her meteor theories. Unnoticed by her best friend slash love interest. Overshadowed by Lana Lang, head cheerleader. Replaced by Lex Luthor, bald millionaire. I had a lot to overcome, Lana, and I couldn't do it. It was too hard," Chloe said releasing her hold on Lana.
"That's because you were trying to do it alone," Lana said gently.
Chloe laughed. "Really?! Who do you suggest I should have gone to? If I was in trouble, Clark would rescue me. And sometimes not even then. Otherwise he remained emotionally unavailable."
"What about me?" Lana asked.
"Hmm..let's think about it. The object of Clark's every want and need. The girl Clark pushed me aside to pursue. That's ridiculous!" Chloe said animatedly.
"Alright," Lana said thinking. "What about Lex?"
"The man who tried his hardest to push you and Clark together?" Chloe asked rolling her eyes.
"Point taken," Lana agreed. "Pete?"
Chloe looked absolutely shocked at the thought. "Pete had a crush on me. I wasn't going to hurt him by talking about Clark the way Clark hurt me by talking about you!"
"Oh," Lana said biting her bottom lip. She was out of ideas.
"You see my problem. Now kindly get the hell out of my apartment!" Chloe said raising her voice, and opening the front door.
"Not until you agree to come back with me," Lana said adamantly.
"Never!" Chloe spat.
"For Pete's sake?" Lana asked.
"Yeah, for my sake?" Pete asked softly from behind Chloe.
Chloe gasped and squeezed her eyes closed without turning around.
"Chloe?" Pete asked hesitantly.
"No, no, no," Chloe whispered to herself. "Please, no!"
"Yes, Chlo," Pete said motioning for Lana to step outside. As she passed he whispered, "Lex is outside in my car. Wait for me there."
Lana nodded and silently left.
"Please go away," Chloe whispered, refusing to look at Pete.
"I can't Chlo. Do you realize how long I've waited? Never any word. I didn't know if you were alive or dead," Pete said softly.
"Both," Chloe whispered.
"Why didn't you come back?" Pete asked, standing behind Chloe.
"You know why," Chloe said softly, a single tear falling down her cheek. "Please leave me alone. Please?" Chloe pleaded.
"Chloe, you were my best friend. I needed you, and you left me. I kept waiting for you to show up on my doorstep, but you never did," Pete said sadly.
Chloe took a deep breath. "Pete, please stop. I can't talk about this."
"Yes you can. Tell me Chloe. Did you ever think about me? Did you ever wonder how I was doing? Did you ever wish you hadn't left me?" Pete asked.
Chloe slowly turned on her heel. "Every minute of every day," she answered, the tears falling freely.
"I missed you, Chloe," Pete said, his eyes starting to become moist.
"Pete, please don't. Don't cry on me. I can't handle it. Please don't," Chloe pleaded, searching Pete's eyes.
"I thought I'd never see you again," Pete said dispiritedly.
"Why can't you just-" Chloe asked. She trailed off as her eyes rolled back in her head.
Pete caught her before she fell and scooped her into his arms. He gently carried her outside to his car. "She fainted," he explained as Lex jumped from the car.
"Put her in the back with Lana. We'll take her to my mansion and call a doctor to meet us there," Lex said.
"Will she be okay until then?" Lana asked.
Lex reached down to check Chloe. "She'll be fine. Irate if she wakes and sees she's on her way to Smallville, but just fine."
Pete, Lana, and Lex were sitting in Lana's living room.
"What did she say?" Pete asked.
"She doesn't want to come back. She's happy with the life she's living," Lex explained.
"She's a prostitute, Lex," Lana pointed out.
"Yes, I know. Whatever happened here hurt her very much. She has worked for the last two and a half years to try and erase her former life. She's erased all records of Smallville, including high school records, her applications for internship at the Planet, everything. To her Smallville never existed," Lex continued.
"I don't understand why," Lana said insistently.
"Because of me," Clark said walking into the room.
"How long have you been out there?" Lex asked worriedly.
"Somewhere around 'she's happy with her life,'" Clark answered sitting next to Lex. When Lana and Lex were silent Clark continued, "By all means, don't stop on account of me."
Lex looked to Lana and Pete with a shrug. Lana motioned for the boys to continue.
"Lan, you can't understand how much pain Chloe has been through while she was here. It won't go away with just words," Pete supplied.
"What else did she say?" Lana asked.
"She wants us to leave her alone, to the life she has chosen," Lex said dejectedly. "I told her she belongs with Clark in Smallville."
"And?" Pete asked.
"She said that Lana belongs here with Clark," Lex replied.
Clark remained silent through the conversation.
"Did you tell her?" Lana asked.
"Of course I did," Lex answered. "That's the point where she changed."
"Meaning?" Pete asked.
"She whispered, 'I missed it.' I have no idea what she meant," Lex said puzzled.
"I do," Pete said closing his eyes. "We used to plan our weddings in middle school. I would be the best man in hers, she would be the maid of honor in mine. We dreamed of how we would fall in love with our best friend at our side. She meant she missed me falling in love. She missed seeing me find the love of my life."
"Oh, Pete," Lana said rubbing his back.
"That makes sense. She got real quiet. That's when she decided to leave my company," Lex relayed.
"I give up. She's not coming back. I never should have thought she would. I should have been happy with everything the way it was. 'Leave well enough alone,' my dad says," Clark said.
"Don't say that," Lana said shocked.
"Why, Lan? You know how it is. I'm tired of feeling sorry for myself. I'll get over Chloe," Clark said earnestly.
"I don't want you to get over Chloe," Lana replied. "I want her to come around. I want her to put the past behind her."
"She has," Lex piped up.
Lana shot him a dirty look. "I don't mean like that! I want Chloe to see what she means to you, and I won't give up until she does!
"Lan, what are you saying?" Pete asked.
"I'm going to go talk to her," Lana said, leaving no room for discussion.
"And if she's not there?" Lex asked.
"I'll do some snooping. I learned a thing or two from her in high school, like how to jimmy a lock," Lana said coolly.
"Lana, I don't want you going there by yourself. It's dangerous. You could get hurt," Clark said.
"I won't," Lana replied simply.
"Lana, Clark's right. You could get mugged, or raped, or worse," Lex said.
"I'll be fine," Lana tried.
"Lana, promise us you won't go there alone," Pete demanded.
"Fine," Lana said rolling her eyes. "I won't go alone. Now, I have to get back to the Talon."
"Lana." Lex warned.
Lana held her hand over her heart. "I promise," she said crossing her fingers behind her back.
The boys nodded as Lana left. Lana climbed into her car. As she passed the Talon she looked nervously in her rearview mirror before turning down a side road. When she was sure she was in the clear she rolled the windows down, turned the radio up and began to sing along with the songs. She had a few hours to waste on the long drive to Metropolis, and feeling guilty was not on her agenda.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Hey. Have you heard from Lana?" Pete asked into his cell phone.
"No," Lex answered. "Is she not at the Talon?"
"Nope. She didn't- I mean she wouldn't have-" Pete started.
"She can't have left more than an hour ago. We better go get her," Lex said.
"We can take my car. It will fit more than two. Pick you up in a few minutes," Pete said clicking the phone shut and pulling out of the Talon parking lot.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
As suspected, no one was at Chloe's apartment. To Lana's surprise the door was unlocked. She slipped in quietly to make sure the small, immaculately clean apartment was in fact deserted. Silently, Lana began searching every crack and crevice. She didn't know what she was looking for, but she'd know when she found it.
It wasn't until she was in the second bedroom that she found what she was looking for. In the closet was a very large box. The only writing on it were the letters SV. Lana pulled the flaps open and gasped. She sat on the floor and began to pull the contents out.
On top, bound by brown string was every issue of the Torch Chloe had put together at Smallville High. The pages were falling apart, as if from constant use. Sitting next to the issues was a teddy bear in a plastic sack. Lana recognized it as the same bear that had hung from the ceiling in the warehouse where Deputy Watts had kept her and Chloe after their kidnapping.
Under those was a manila folder. In the folder were Clark's adoption papers, the biography Chloe had done on him for her English project, the Smallville Ledger article on the tornadoes, a picture of Ryan and Clark, and a transcript of Laura Lang's valedictorian speech. Lana read over each piece of paper carefully, not skipping a word. When she was satisfied that she hadn't missed anything she put the folder aside and moved on.
Under the folder was a metal box. It was long, wide, and deep. In magic marker on the lid were the words 'Wall Of Weird.' Lana struggled to open the creaking hinges. Inside was every article Chloe had had on her wall of weird. Including a small book labeled 'The Nicodemus Diaries.' Lana carefully sifted through the box of papers. Setting the box aside Lana pulled out the last object.
It was a dark pink, strapless dress. "Chloe's Spring Formal dress," Lana whispered sadly. She ran her fingers over the smooth material. Wrapped in the folds was the pink corsage Clark had given her. Lana never heard the front door open.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Chloe shouted.
"Chloe, I-" Lana started.
"The name's Lynnsey! And you had no right to go through my personal things," Chloe shouted, desperately throwing the objects back into the box as fast as she could.
"I thought Smallville was behind you?" Lana asked defiantly.
"It is," Chloe hissed. "Get out!"
"It obviously isn't," Lana said rooting her feet to their spot on the stained carpet.
"Why won't everyone leave me alone? I worked for the last two and a half years to kill my past, and you guys suddenly have the urge to pull a reviviscence. Well, there's nothing you or anyone else can do," Chloe raged.
"I know there is. I just have to figure it out. If you wanted to totally put Smallville in the past, why did you keep all these things?" Lana asked gesturing to the box.
"To remind myself of how I felt. Every time I decided to go back I would pull out this box. I would hold the teddy bear and think of all my near-death experiences. I would look at the article about the tornadoes, and remember how Clark ran out on me. If that didn't help I would pull out my dress," Chloe laughed at herself. "Sometimes I even put it on. Then, I would remember exactly why I left!"
"I understand those things, but why the Torch? Why my mother's speech? Why the picture of Ryan and Clark? Why the Wall of Weird articles?" Lana asked.
"I don't know why I'm explaining this to you. Maybe if I do you'll understand and leave me alone. I kept the copy of your mother's speech to remind me of how I befriended you and you betrayed me. The picture of Ryan and Clark was so I could have an object to direct my anger at. My two true passions were the Torch, and the Wall of Weird. I couldn't make myself throw them out. Are you happy? Now you can get out before I call the police and have you thrown out!" Chloe said hotly.
"No, I promised I wouldn't let Clark down, and-" Lana started.
"And he promised he wouldn't let me down. Promises are meant to be broken," Chloe said grabbing Lana by the arm and pulling her to the door.
"You brought this on yourself," Lana told Chloe.
"Yes, poor Chloe Sullivan. Looked down on by her peers for her meteor theories. Unnoticed by her best friend slash love interest. Overshadowed by Lana Lang, head cheerleader. Replaced by Lex Luthor, bald millionaire. I had a lot to overcome, Lana, and I couldn't do it. It was too hard," Chloe said releasing her hold on Lana.
"That's because you were trying to do it alone," Lana said gently.
Chloe laughed. "Really?! Who do you suggest I should have gone to? If I was in trouble, Clark would rescue me. And sometimes not even then. Otherwise he remained emotionally unavailable."
"What about me?" Lana asked.
"Hmm..let's think about it. The object of Clark's every want and need. The girl Clark pushed me aside to pursue. That's ridiculous!" Chloe said animatedly.
"Alright," Lana said thinking. "What about Lex?"
"The man who tried his hardest to push you and Clark together?" Chloe asked rolling her eyes.
"Point taken," Lana agreed. "Pete?"
Chloe looked absolutely shocked at the thought. "Pete had a crush on me. I wasn't going to hurt him by talking about Clark the way Clark hurt me by talking about you!"
"Oh," Lana said biting her bottom lip. She was out of ideas.
"You see my problem. Now kindly get the hell out of my apartment!" Chloe said raising her voice, and opening the front door.
"Not until you agree to come back with me," Lana said adamantly.
"Never!" Chloe spat.
"For Pete's sake?" Lana asked.
"Yeah, for my sake?" Pete asked softly from behind Chloe.
Chloe gasped and squeezed her eyes closed without turning around.
"Chloe?" Pete asked hesitantly.
"No, no, no," Chloe whispered to herself. "Please, no!"
"Yes, Chlo," Pete said motioning for Lana to step outside. As she passed he whispered, "Lex is outside in my car. Wait for me there."
Lana nodded and silently left.
"Please go away," Chloe whispered, refusing to look at Pete.
"I can't Chlo. Do you realize how long I've waited? Never any word. I didn't know if you were alive or dead," Pete said softly.
"Both," Chloe whispered.
"Why didn't you come back?" Pete asked, standing behind Chloe.
"You know why," Chloe said softly, a single tear falling down her cheek. "Please leave me alone. Please?" Chloe pleaded.
"Chloe, you were my best friend. I needed you, and you left me. I kept waiting for you to show up on my doorstep, but you never did," Pete said sadly.
Chloe took a deep breath. "Pete, please stop. I can't talk about this."
"Yes you can. Tell me Chloe. Did you ever think about me? Did you ever wonder how I was doing? Did you ever wish you hadn't left me?" Pete asked.
Chloe slowly turned on her heel. "Every minute of every day," she answered, the tears falling freely.
"I missed you, Chloe," Pete said, his eyes starting to become moist.
"Pete, please don't. Don't cry on me. I can't handle it. Please don't," Chloe pleaded, searching Pete's eyes.
"I thought I'd never see you again," Pete said dispiritedly.
"Why can't you just-" Chloe asked. She trailed off as her eyes rolled back in her head.
Pete caught her before she fell and scooped her into his arms. He gently carried her outside to his car. "She fainted," he explained as Lex jumped from the car.
"Put her in the back with Lana. We'll take her to my mansion and call a doctor to meet us there," Lex said.
"Will she be okay until then?" Lana asked.
Lex reached down to check Chloe. "She'll be fine. Irate if she wakes and sees she's on her way to Smallville, but just fine."