Chapter 9- Startling Confessions
Chloe woke with a start. She looked around nervously at her unfamiliar surroundings. She started to panic when she caught a movement in the corner of her eye. Her head whipped around to find Pete sitting in a chair next to her.
"Chlo? What's wrong?" Pete asked.
"Where am I?" Chloe asked frantically.
"Lex's mansion. You fainted. We brought you here so Lex's doctor could look at you," Pete explained.
Chloe threw the covers off of herself. "I have to go. I can't stay here."
"Wait," Pete said putting a hand on her arm.
"No. You had no right bringing me here. I have to leave," Chloe said, her voice rising.
"Chloe?" Clark asked coming through the door.
"My name's Lynnsey, and I'm out of here," she said standing.
"No you're not," Lex boomed from the doorway.
"Ah, quite the audience," Chloe mumbled. "Where are my clothes? Whose clothes are these?"
"Those are extras I keep around for guests," Lex explained. "Yours are on the chair."
"I have to get back, you don't understand," Chloe pleaded.
"Why? For another one of your appointments?" Clark asked.
Chloe lowered her eyes to the floor. "Yes."
"Chloe, you don't have to do that anymore," Pete told her.
"Shut up!" Chloe shouted. She pulled on her athletic shoes and began to walk from the room.
All three guys followed her down the hall before Pete stopped them. "Let me handle it."
Reluctantly Lex and Clark pulled back to let Pete catch up to Chloe.
"Chloe, at least let Clark talk to you. You don't have to talk. Just listen. Hear his side of the story. If it doesn't satisfy you, then you're free to leave," Pete bargained.
"Believe me, it won't," Chloe said, not quite sure where she was going in the large house.
"Do it for me?" Pete asked.
Chloe stopped dead in her tracks. "Pete, don't ask me this."
"I am asking you, Chlo. Do it for me," Pete said.
Chloe turned her head to look at Pete. "Why are you doing this? Why are you so bent on me forgiving him?"
"Because I know how much you loved him. I know how much he now loves you. And I want you back here with us more than I want anything. So, do it for me?" Pete asked.
"Fine, but this is the only time you can play the 'do it for Pete' card," Chloe said huffing.
Pete grinned.
"Wow, I never thought I'd see that smile again," Chloe said, with a small smile.
"Let's go," Pete said guiding Chloe back to where they had come from.
When they got to Lex and Clark Chloe looked at Clark. "You talk, I'll listen. Don't expect much in return."
"That's all I ask," Clark said leading the way into a study. Lex was right at their heels.
"No. If Lex is in here, I'm out of here. This is none of his business. It's between you and me," Chloe said.
"She's right. Pete and I will go see if we can get something for breakfast," Lex said leaving the room.
"Talk," Chloe said sitting curling up on the edge of a couch.
"I guess I'll start with the night of Spring Formal," Clark said, trying to get his thoughts together.
"Good choice," Chloe said, ready to be disappointed.
"That night there were three tornadoes on the south side of town. That was where Lana was supposed to take Whitney. I had to make sure she was okay," Clark started.
"Quite a savior complex," Chloe muttered.
"And for good reason. How can anyone expect me to have these gifts and not use them to help people?" Clark asked.
"Go on," Chloe said waving her hand.
"I got to Lana just as the three twisters merged into one giant one, right on top of Whitney's truck. The truck flew up into the twister and I ran in after it. That's when I found out I could fly. I couldn't reach the truck, it was too high up. All of the sudden I was flying. I flew up to the truck and drug it out of the tornado. By the time I got back to the dance, you were gone," Clark explained sadly.
"You left me. I told you my fears of you leaving me for Lana. You said you wouldn't do that, even kissed my cheek to prove your point. Then, middle of the dance I turn my back. I hear a whooshing sound, turn around and you're gone. It may have been for a good reason, but you could have at least told me. I searched for you for an hour before giving up and driving home," Chloe said.
"I couldn't tell you. At that point I had no idea you already knew," Clark said.
"You could have told me. We used to be best friends. I told you everything. Only when you started putting me on the back burner did I stop confiding in you. I waited and waited for you to tell me everything, but that day never came," Chloe said.
"I'm doing it now," Clark insisted.
"Two and a half years too late," Chloe shouted startling Clark. "I told Pete none of this would matter, but he wouldn't believe me," she said starting to stand.
"I'm not finished!" Clark said angrily, this time he startled Chloe.
"Go on, then. By all means, don't let me stop you. I never mattered before. I might as well find out what made you realize that I'm not invisible," Chloe said lowering herself back to the couch with a scowl.
"You never were invisible to me. Now let me finish," Clark glowered. "I went back to look for you. By then I had been gone for over two hours."
"It took you over two hours to pull a truck out of a tornado and drop Lana off at a hospital?" Chloe asked in disbelief.
Clark sighed. "No. I went to check on Lex first."
Chloe shot Clark a look as if to say, 'Ha! I knew it!'
"This mansion is also on the south side of town," Clark said as if trying to make an excuse.
"Of course it is. Go on," Chloe said.
"I came here to find Lex hurt. He had cut his eye and Lionel had broken his hip. I had to get them to the hospital and out of the way of the tornadoes. Like I said, when I got back you were gone," Clark explained. "So, I went to your house. I knew you would be mad. You told me if I left you that you would never talk to me again. I guess I just didn't take it that seriously."
"Now you know how serious I was," Chloe pointed out.
"Yes, I do. When I got to your house all the lights were out, so I went home. I called Pete, but he hadn't gotten in yet. The next day I called your house every few hours, but no one picked up," Clark said.
"I had caller I.D.," Chloe supplied.
"I called Pete again and he was pretty ticked at me for leaving you. He said it was up to me to handle it. So, I went to your house again. Again no one was home. The next day was graduation. At graduation I looked and looked for you, but I couldn't find you," Clark said.
"For good reason. I was avoiding you," Chloe supplied.
"I felt horrible. I did what I had to do to protect two friends and I ended up losing another. The morning after graduation, once more I went to your house. This time it was completely empty. No furniture, no knick-knacks, nothing," Clark said sadly.
"I packed everything the night of the dance. By the time I left for graduation the moving vans had left with all the furniture. I left after graduation," Chloe said.
"I waited and waited for you to come back. It took over a year for me to realize that you weren't going to come back. I gave up hope. I figured if you wanted us to come after you, you would have left a lead. I decided that you just didn't care enough about us to tell us where you were going, or why," Clark said.
"You know that's not true. I cared about you, that's why I left," Chloe said.
"Finally after a year of waiting and hoping, I convinced myself that you weren't coming back. I tried to put you as far back in my mind as I could," Clark said.
"Did it work?" Chloe asked.
"Not really," Clark answered.
"Good," Chloe replied smugly.
"I was cleaning out my loft and rearranging when I found your diary. It took three weeks just to make myself open it. It was then that I realized why you had left and why you weren't coming back. I talked to Lex and he got me your address, and you know the rest," Clark said.
"Yes, I do. What did you expect when you came to my apartment? That I would jump into your arms, cry, come back here, and live happily ever after?" Chloe asked sarcastically.
"Something like that," Clark said sadly.
Chloe laughed and stood up. "Sorry, not going to happen. I'm out of here, and you better not come after me again!"
"Chloe, wait!" Clark said desperately.
"Stop calling me Chloe. I killed Chloe years ago, and she'll remain dead!" Chloe said turning to leave.
"Come back!" Clark called.
"No!" Chloe shouted.
Clark tried one more plea of desperation. "You're pregnant!"
"What?" Chloe whirled around.
"You're pregnant. Lex's doctor checked you out. He saw something funny and gave you a pregnancy test. You're five months pregnant," Clark said.
"So that's what this is all about?!" Chloe shouted. "You want me to stay so you can help me, protect me, do all your saviorly duties?"
"You know that's not true," Clark said standing up.
"That's the main reason everyone wants me here. So they can look over me," Chloe said incredulously. "Of course, I should have known."
"Stop, that's not true," Clark said as Chloe left the room.
"You'll help me if I need it, but otherwise you stay emotionally unavailable. That phrase is coming to more and more use these days," Chloe said.
"Chlo?" Pete asked as he and Lex walked toward her.
When he reached a hand out to her she threw an arm up to ward him off. "Don't touch me. I'm leaving and you can't stop me."
"How do you plan on getting back? You came here in Pete's car," Lex said defiantly.
"I'll call Valerie," Chloe shot over her shoulder.
"Clark, what happened?" Pete asked, staring after Chloe.
"She thinks I only want her here because I feel responsible and want to take care of her while she has the baby," Clark said in exasperation. "She just won't get it through her head how I feel about her."
"We better let her go. She'll think about what you said. Wait. Give her time. If it's best for her to come back, she will," Pete said.
"I hate waiting," Lex sulked.
Chloe woke with a start. She looked around nervously at her unfamiliar surroundings. She started to panic when she caught a movement in the corner of her eye. Her head whipped around to find Pete sitting in a chair next to her.
"Chlo? What's wrong?" Pete asked.
"Where am I?" Chloe asked frantically.
"Lex's mansion. You fainted. We brought you here so Lex's doctor could look at you," Pete explained.
Chloe threw the covers off of herself. "I have to go. I can't stay here."
"Wait," Pete said putting a hand on her arm.
"No. You had no right bringing me here. I have to leave," Chloe said, her voice rising.
"Chloe?" Clark asked coming through the door.
"My name's Lynnsey, and I'm out of here," she said standing.
"No you're not," Lex boomed from the doorway.
"Ah, quite the audience," Chloe mumbled. "Where are my clothes? Whose clothes are these?"
"Those are extras I keep around for guests," Lex explained. "Yours are on the chair."
"I have to get back, you don't understand," Chloe pleaded.
"Why? For another one of your appointments?" Clark asked.
Chloe lowered her eyes to the floor. "Yes."
"Chloe, you don't have to do that anymore," Pete told her.
"Shut up!" Chloe shouted. She pulled on her athletic shoes and began to walk from the room.
All three guys followed her down the hall before Pete stopped them. "Let me handle it."
Reluctantly Lex and Clark pulled back to let Pete catch up to Chloe.
"Chloe, at least let Clark talk to you. You don't have to talk. Just listen. Hear his side of the story. If it doesn't satisfy you, then you're free to leave," Pete bargained.
"Believe me, it won't," Chloe said, not quite sure where she was going in the large house.
"Do it for me?" Pete asked.
Chloe stopped dead in her tracks. "Pete, don't ask me this."
"I am asking you, Chlo. Do it for me," Pete said.
Chloe turned her head to look at Pete. "Why are you doing this? Why are you so bent on me forgiving him?"
"Because I know how much you loved him. I know how much he now loves you. And I want you back here with us more than I want anything. So, do it for me?" Pete asked.
"Fine, but this is the only time you can play the 'do it for Pete' card," Chloe said huffing.
Pete grinned.
"Wow, I never thought I'd see that smile again," Chloe said, with a small smile.
"Let's go," Pete said guiding Chloe back to where they had come from.
When they got to Lex and Clark Chloe looked at Clark. "You talk, I'll listen. Don't expect much in return."
"That's all I ask," Clark said leading the way into a study. Lex was right at their heels.
"No. If Lex is in here, I'm out of here. This is none of his business. It's between you and me," Chloe said.
"She's right. Pete and I will go see if we can get something for breakfast," Lex said leaving the room.
"Talk," Chloe said sitting curling up on the edge of a couch.
"I guess I'll start with the night of Spring Formal," Clark said, trying to get his thoughts together.
"Good choice," Chloe said, ready to be disappointed.
"That night there were three tornadoes on the south side of town. That was where Lana was supposed to take Whitney. I had to make sure she was okay," Clark started.
"Quite a savior complex," Chloe muttered.
"And for good reason. How can anyone expect me to have these gifts and not use them to help people?" Clark asked.
"Go on," Chloe said waving her hand.
"I got to Lana just as the three twisters merged into one giant one, right on top of Whitney's truck. The truck flew up into the twister and I ran in after it. That's when I found out I could fly. I couldn't reach the truck, it was too high up. All of the sudden I was flying. I flew up to the truck and drug it out of the tornado. By the time I got back to the dance, you were gone," Clark explained sadly.
"You left me. I told you my fears of you leaving me for Lana. You said you wouldn't do that, even kissed my cheek to prove your point. Then, middle of the dance I turn my back. I hear a whooshing sound, turn around and you're gone. It may have been for a good reason, but you could have at least told me. I searched for you for an hour before giving up and driving home," Chloe said.
"I couldn't tell you. At that point I had no idea you already knew," Clark said.
"You could have told me. We used to be best friends. I told you everything. Only when you started putting me on the back burner did I stop confiding in you. I waited and waited for you to tell me everything, but that day never came," Chloe said.
"I'm doing it now," Clark insisted.
"Two and a half years too late," Chloe shouted startling Clark. "I told Pete none of this would matter, but he wouldn't believe me," she said starting to stand.
"I'm not finished!" Clark said angrily, this time he startled Chloe.
"Go on, then. By all means, don't let me stop you. I never mattered before. I might as well find out what made you realize that I'm not invisible," Chloe said lowering herself back to the couch with a scowl.
"You never were invisible to me. Now let me finish," Clark glowered. "I went back to look for you. By then I had been gone for over two hours."
"It took you over two hours to pull a truck out of a tornado and drop Lana off at a hospital?" Chloe asked in disbelief.
Clark sighed. "No. I went to check on Lex first."
Chloe shot Clark a look as if to say, 'Ha! I knew it!'
"This mansion is also on the south side of town," Clark said as if trying to make an excuse.
"Of course it is. Go on," Chloe said.
"I came here to find Lex hurt. He had cut his eye and Lionel had broken his hip. I had to get them to the hospital and out of the way of the tornadoes. Like I said, when I got back you were gone," Clark explained. "So, I went to your house. I knew you would be mad. You told me if I left you that you would never talk to me again. I guess I just didn't take it that seriously."
"Now you know how serious I was," Chloe pointed out.
"Yes, I do. When I got to your house all the lights were out, so I went home. I called Pete, but he hadn't gotten in yet. The next day I called your house every few hours, but no one picked up," Clark said.
"I had caller I.D.," Chloe supplied.
"I called Pete again and he was pretty ticked at me for leaving you. He said it was up to me to handle it. So, I went to your house again. Again no one was home. The next day was graduation. At graduation I looked and looked for you, but I couldn't find you," Clark said.
"For good reason. I was avoiding you," Chloe supplied.
"I felt horrible. I did what I had to do to protect two friends and I ended up losing another. The morning after graduation, once more I went to your house. This time it was completely empty. No furniture, no knick-knacks, nothing," Clark said sadly.
"I packed everything the night of the dance. By the time I left for graduation the moving vans had left with all the furniture. I left after graduation," Chloe said.
"I waited and waited for you to come back. It took over a year for me to realize that you weren't going to come back. I gave up hope. I figured if you wanted us to come after you, you would have left a lead. I decided that you just didn't care enough about us to tell us where you were going, or why," Clark said.
"You know that's not true. I cared about you, that's why I left," Chloe said.
"Finally after a year of waiting and hoping, I convinced myself that you weren't coming back. I tried to put you as far back in my mind as I could," Clark said.
"Did it work?" Chloe asked.
"Not really," Clark answered.
"Good," Chloe replied smugly.
"I was cleaning out my loft and rearranging when I found your diary. It took three weeks just to make myself open it. It was then that I realized why you had left and why you weren't coming back. I talked to Lex and he got me your address, and you know the rest," Clark said.
"Yes, I do. What did you expect when you came to my apartment? That I would jump into your arms, cry, come back here, and live happily ever after?" Chloe asked sarcastically.
"Something like that," Clark said sadly.
Chloe laughed and stood up. "Sorry, not going to happen. I'm out of here, and you better not come after me again!"
"Chloe, wait!" Clark said desperately.
"Stop calling me Chloe. I killed Chloe years ago, and she'll remain dead!" Chloe said turning to leave.
"Come back!" Clark called.
"No!" Chloe shouted.
Clark tried one more plea of desperation. "You're pregnant!"
"What?" Chloe whirled around.
"You're pregnant. Lex's doctor checked you out. He saw something funny and gave you a pregnancy test. You're five months pregnant," Clark said.
"So that's what this is all about?!" Chloe shouted. "You want me to stay so you can help me, protect me, do all your saviorly duties?"
"You know that's not true," Clark said standing up.
"That's the main reason everyone wants me here. So they can look over me," Chloe said incredulously. "Of course, I should have known."
"Stop, that's not true," Clark said as Chloe left the room.
"You'll help me if I need it, but otherwise you stay emotionally unavailable. That phrase is coming to more and more use these days," Chloe said.
"Chlo?" Pete asked as he and Lex walked toward her.
When he reached a hand out to her she threw an arm up to ward him off. "Don't touch me. I'm leaving and you can't stop me."
"How do you plan on getting back? You came here in Pete's car," Lex said defiantly.
"I'll call Valerie," Chloe shot over her shoulder.
"Clark, what happened?" Pete asked, staring after Chloe.
"She thinks I only want her here because I feel responsible and want to take care of her while she has the baby," Clark said in exasperation. "She just won't get it through her head how I feel about her."
"We better let her go. She'll think about what you said. Wait. Give her time. If it's best for her to come back, she will," Pete said.
"I hate waiting," Lex sulked.