Chapter 18- Playing With Chloe
"Can Chloe come out and play?" Clark asked Lana. His eyes were twinkling.
"She hasn't had her lunch yet," Lana said as if talking to a child.
"Why not?" Clark whined.
Lana laughed. "Come in. Have you eaten?"
"No," Clark said smiling.
"Good. You can eat with us," Lana said. "Chlo! Clark's here. He wants to know if you can some out and play."
"Tell him Chloe needs nourishment," Chloe replied, laughter in her voice.
"I did. He wants nourishment, too. What do you suggest?" Lana called back.
"Bwonies?" Chloe asked coming down the stairs.
Lana laughed again. "No, kids. No brownies before lunch."
"I'm kidding. Hi, Clark," Chloe said.
"Hey," Clark replied.
"Let me cook. I went to the grocery store yesterday," Chloe said.
Lana nodded.
"Should we trust her?" Clark asked.
"You obviously haven't tried her cooking," Lana said with a hungry grin.
"Call Pete and Lex, I bought a lot of food," Chloe said walking into the kitchen. "Everyone likes seafood, right?"
"Yep," Lana said picking up the phone.
"Clark, help?" Chloe asked.
"Sure," Clark answered.
"Lana, keep the rest of the guys out here. I want it to be a surprise," Chloe said with a mischievous smile.
"Can do," Lana said, walking into the living room.
"Can you de-vein shrimp?" Chloe asked.
"Huh?" Clark asked.
Chloe laughed. "I'll show you. Take this little tool. Slip the small end in the back of the shrimp and pull up. See this little stringy thing? It's the veins. Make sure you get them all out, and then put them in this bowl. I'll peel them, and then hand them to you to de-vein."
"I think I can do it," Clark said sticking his tongue out in concentration. Chloe handed him a shrimp and he pinched it between his fingers. Clark tried so hard to get it right he didn't realize how much strength was behind his actions. Clark squeezed the shrimp too hard and pieces of it sprayed into the air.
Chloe laughed. It took her a few seconds to control herself. "Here, I have an easier job for you. Peel these shrimp. See, pull their legs off, and then the hard skin."
Clark blushed. "I think I can do that," he said, his speed kicking in. He was done in seconds.
Chloe chuckled.
"What?" Clark asked innocently.
"I forgot you could do that," Chloe said.
"I won't if you don't want me to," Clark said quietly.
Chloe put her hand on his arm. "I want you to be who you are."
Clark nodded. "What else can I do?"
"Uh, you can get the fish fillets out of the fridge," Chloe said.
"Now what?" Clark asked, pulling the fish out of the refrigerator.
"Here," Chloe said handing Clark a large pot. "Fill it with oil and set it to boil."
Clark nodded and got the bottles of oil out of the cabinet. By the time he had filled the pot Chloe had created the batter for the fish.
"Dip the fish in the batter, and put them on this plate. When the oil boils, you can put the fish in there," Chloe said, going back to de-veining the shrimp. When she was done, she pulled a package of skewers out of a grocery bag, and began to put the shrimp on the skewers.
"Let me do it," Clark said.
Chloe handed over the skewers and stepped back. "Normally I would say no, but I'm exhausted," she said sitting at the table and putting her feet up.
"Good," Clark said, his speed once again kicking in. As he finished with the shrimp Lana walked to the door.
"Lex is here, so let's keep the super feats to a minimum," she said with a wink.
Clark looked at Lana. "Thanks, Lan."
"Anytime," Lana replied.
"Okay, the oil is boiling so put the fish in," Chloe said.
Clark dumped the battered fish into the pot. "Now what?"
"Use that metal spoon with the holes in it," Chloe said pointing to a rack of utensils. "Every once in a while stir the fish so they don't stick to the bottom."
"I can do that," Clark said.
Lana stuck her head back in the kitchen. "Pete's here, they want to see you."
"We'll be out when we finish cooking," Chloe said rubbing the back of her neck. "Tell them they can write notes of adoration to pass the time."
Lana laughed. "I'll tell them."
"Can we go in the kitchen?" Lex asked when Lana returned.
Lana shook her head. "Chloe says no, but you can write her notes of adoration to pass the time."
Pete and Lex looked at each other, their smiles reaching their eyes. They both nodded.
"Got paper?" Lex asked.
"You're seriously going to write her notes of adoration?" Lana asked.
"Why not? She's been here over a month. We adore her, and she needs to know it. Besides, it will be funny," Pete said.
Lana smiled. "Be right back," she said climbing the stairs. She returned a moment later with three clipboards, three sheets of paper, and three pens.
"You've decided to join us?" Lex asked.
"Why not? Everyone else is doing it," Lana said.
"And that makes it worth while," Pete reasoned.
"Exactly," Lana said.
"It's pretty obvious you were once a cheerleader, Lana." Lex smirked.
"Okay, Clark. There's a couple tins of biscuits in the fridge. Get them out and open them up," Chloe said. "I'm sorry if I'm asking you to do too much, but I don't feel well."
"Are you okay?" Clark asked.
"I will be. I just need to sit here another minute," Chloe answered as Clark pulled the biscuits from the fridge. "Okay, open them and put them in the oil. They should float."
Clark pulled the can open and plopped the biscuits in. When he threw in the last biscuit oil splashed out onto his arm. Clark immediately jerked back his arm in an instant reflex.
"Clark!" Chloe said, hopping up from her seat and rushing to him. "Let me see." She pulled his sleeve back. When she touched his sleeve the oil burned her fingers. "Ow!"
"Chloe!" Clark said worriedly.
"I'm fine. I thought you got burned," Chloe said shaking her hand.
"I can't get hurt, remember?" Clark said, taking Chloe's hand in his.
"I keep forgetting," Chloe replied.
"You're going to have a blister, here put it under cold water for a few minutes," Clark said turning on the tap. "Feel better?"
Chloe nodded. "I should have known."
"It's okay. I should have been more careful," Clark said.
"What happened, Chlo?" Lana asked, walking back into the kitchen and furrowing her eyebrows.
"I burned my finger on the oil. I'm fine. Did you need something?" Chloe asked, gently drying her hand.
Lana handed her three sheets of paper "Your letters of adoration."
Chloe laughed quizzically. "You have got to be kidding me!"
"Nope. See you later," Lana said leaving the room.
Chloe sat back in her chair.
"Read it out loud," Clark said.
"Okay," Chloe replied. "To my best friend. Chloe, we have been through a lot. I'm glad you're back so that I can spend the rest of my happy moments with you by my side. I love you. Yours Forever, Pete."
Clark smiled. "That's sweet."
"Ms. Sullivan. I hope we can become good friends. I will help you in any way possible with anything you might ever need. Don't hesitate to call me. Your biggest, most adoringest fan, Lex Luthor," Chloe read.
Clark laughed. "Leave it to Lex to be formal and silly all in one note."
"My dear Chlo. I'm so glad I can help you out by sharing my house with you. I value the friendship we have built, and hope it only becomes stronger. Your friend and confidante, Lana," Chloe finished.
"The biscuits are brown. I think everything's done," Clark said putting them on a plate.
Chloe stood up. "Guys, lunch is ready," Chloe called into the living room.
"It's about time," Pete said, galloping into the kitchen.
"Hey I spent my hard earned money to make you this meal," Chloe said. Pete raised his eyebrows at Chloe. "Okay, okay. I spent Lana's hard earned money on this meal. Same difference."
"By the way, Chlo," Lana piped up. "I have an opening if you still want a job."
"Is that a good idea?" Clark asked, shooting a worried look at Chloe.
"It's fine Dad," Chloe told him. "I hate having to live off of Lana. That's great, Lan. What is it?"
"Since Nell left, the flower shop has fallen behind. I need help with orders, inventory, and that sort of thing," Lana said.
"I'll take whatever I can get," Chloe said gratefully. "Now, we better let my adoring fans eat before they start eating each other."
"Can Chloe come out and play?" Clark asked Lana. His eyes were twinkling.
"She hasn't had her lunch yet," Lana said as if talking to a child.
"Why not?" Clark whined.
Lana laughed. "Come in. Have you eaten?"
"No," Clark said smiling.
"Good. You can eat with us," Lana said. "Chlo! Clark's here. He wants to know if you can some out and play."
"Tell him Chloe needs nourishment," Chloe replied, laughter in her voice.
"I did. He wants nourishment, too. What do you suggest?" Lana called back.
"Bwonies?" Chloe asked coming down the stairs.
Lana laughed again. "No, kids. No brownies before lunch."
"I'm kidding. Hi, Clark," Chloe said.
"Hey," Clark replied.
"Let me cook. I went to the grocery store yesterday," Chloe said.
Lana nodded.
"Should we trust her?" Clark asked.
"You obviously haven't tried her cooking," Lana said with a hungry grin.
"Call Pete and Lex, I bought a lot of food," Chloe said walking into the kitchen. "Everyone likes seafood, right?"
"Yep," Lana said picking up the phone.
"Clark, help?" Chloe asked.
"Sure," Clark answered.
"Lana, keep the rest of the guys out here. I want it to be a surprise," Chloe said with a mischievous smile.
"Can do," Lana said, walking into the living room.
"Can you de-vein shrimp?" Chloe asked.
"Huh?" Clark asked.
Chloe laughed. "I'll show you. Take this little tool. Slip the small end in the back of the shrimp and pull up. See this little stringy thing? It's the veins. Make sure you get them all out, and then put them in this bowl. I'll peel them, and then hand them to you to de-vein."
"I think I can do it," Clark said sticking his tongue out in concentration. Chloe handed him a shrimp and he pinched it between his fingers. Clark tried so hard to get it right he didn't realize how much strength was behind his actions. Clark squeezed the shrimp too hard and pieces of it sprayed into the air.
Chloe laughed. It took her a few seconds to control herself. "Here, I have an easier job for you. Peel these shrimp. See, pull their legs off, and then the hard skin."
Clark blushed. "I think I can do that," he said, his speed kicking in. He was done in seconds.
Chloe chuckled.
"What?" Clark asked innocently.
"I forgot you could do that," Chloe said.
"I won't if you don't want me to," Clark said quietly.
Chloe put her hand on his arm. "I want you to be who you are."
Clark nodded. "What else can I do?"
"Uh, you can get the fish fillets out of the fridge," Chloe said.
"Now what?" Clark asked, pulling the fish out of the refrigerator.
"Here," Chloe said handing Clark a large pot. "Fill it with oil and set it to boil."
Clark nodded and got the bottles of oil out of the cabinet. By the time he had filled the pot Chloe had created the batter for the fish.
"Dip the fish in the batter, and put them on this plate. When the oil boils, you can put the fish in there," Chloe said, going back to de-veining the shrimp. When she was done, she pulled a package of skewers out of a grocery bag, and began to put the shrimp on the skewers.
"Let me do it," Clark said.
Chloe handed over the skewers and stepped back. "Normally I would say no, but I'm exhausted," she said sitting at the table and putting her feet up.
"Good," Clark said, his speed once again kicking in. As he finished with the shrimp Lana walked to the door.
"Lex is here, so let's keep the super feats to a minimum," she said with a wink.
Clark looked at Lana. "Thanks, Lan."
"Anytime," Lana replied.
"Okay, the oil is boiling so put the fish in," Chloe said.
Clark dumped the battered fish into the pot. "Now what?"
"Use that metal spoon with the holes in it," Chloe said pointing to a rack of utensils. "Every once in a while stir the fish so they don't stick to the bottom."
"I can do that," Clark said.
Lana stuck her head back in the kitchen. "Pete's here, they want to see you."
"We'll be out when we finish cooking," Chloe said rubbing the back of her neck. "Tell them they can write notes of adoration to pass the time."
Lana laughed. "I'll tell them."
"Can we go in the kitchen?" Lex asked when Lana returned.
Lana shook her head. "Chloe says no, but you can write her notes of adoration to pass the time."
Pete and Lex looked at each other, their smiles reaching their eyes. They both nodded.
"Got paper?" Lex asked.
"You're seriously going to write her notes of adoration?" Lana asked.
"Why not? She's been here over a month. We adore her, and she needs to know it. Besides, it will be funny," Pete said.
Lana smiled. "Be right back," she said climbing the stairs. She returned a moment later with three clipboards, three sheets of paper, and three pens.
"You've decided to join us?" Lex asked.
"Why not? Everyone else is doing it," Lana said.
"And that makes it worth while," Pete reasoned.
"Exactly," Lana said.
"It's pretty obvious you were once a cheerleader, Lana." Lex smirked.
"Okay, Clark. There's a couple tins of biscuits in the fridge. Get them out and open them up," Chloe said. "I'm sorry if I'm asking you to do too much, but I don't feel well."
"Are you okay?" Clark asked.
"I will be. I just need to sit here another minute," Chloe answered as Clark pulled the biscuits from the fridge. "Okay, open them and put them in the oil. They should float."
Clark pulled the can open and plopped the biscuits in. When he threw in the last biscuit oil splashed out onto his arm. Clark immediately jerked back his arm in an instant reflex.
"Clark!" Chloe said, hopping up from her seat and rushing to him. "Let me see." She pulled his sleeve back. When she touched his sleeve the oil burned her fingers. "Ow!"
"Chloe!" Clark said worriedly.
"I'm fine. I thought you got burned," Chloe said shaking her hand.
"I can't get hurt, remember?" Clark said, taking Chloe's hand in his.
"I keep forgetting," Chloe replied.
"You're going to have a blister, here put it under cold water for a few minutes," Clark said turning on the tap. "Feel better?"
Chloe nodded. "I should have known."
"It's okay. I should have been more careful," Clark said.
"What happened, Chlo?" Lana asked, walking back into the kitchen and furrowing her eyebrows.
"I burned my finger on the oil. I'm fine. Did you need something?" Chloe asked, gently drying her hand.
Lana handed her three sheets of paper "Your letters of adoration."
Chloe laughed quizzically. "You have got to be kidding me!"
"Nope. See you later," Lana said leaving the room.
Chloe sat back in her chair.
"Read it out loud," Clark said.
"Okay," Chloe replied. "To my best friend. Chloe, we have been through a lot. I'm glad you're back so that I can spend the rest of my happy moments with you by my side. I love you. Yours Forever, Pete."
Clark smiled. "That's sweet."
"Ms. Sullivan. I hope we can become good friends. I will help you in any way possible with anything you might ever need. Don't hesitate to call me. Your biggest, most adoringest fan, Lex Luthor," Chloe read.
Clark laughed. "Leave it to Lex to be formal and silly all in one note."
"My dear Chlo. I'm so glad I can help you out by sharing my house with you. I value the friendship we have built, and hope it only becomes stronger. Your friend and confidante, Lana," Chloe finished.
"The biscuits are brown. I think everything's done," Clark said putting them on a plate.
Chloe stood up. "Guys, lunch is ready," Chloe called into the living room.
"It's about time," Pete said, galloping into the kitchen.
"Hey I spent my hard earned money to make you this meal," Chloe said. Pete raised his eyebrows at Chloe. "Okay, okay. I spent Lana's hard earned money on this meal. Same difference."
"By the way, Chlo," Lana piped up. "I have an opening if you still want a job."
"Is that a good idea?" Clark asked, shooting a worried look at Chloe.
"It's fine Dad," Chloe told him. "I hate having to live off of Lana. That's great, Lan. What is it?"
"Since Nell left, the flower shop has fallen behind. I need help with orders, inventory, and that sort of thing," Lana said.
"I'll take whatever I can get," Chloe said gratefully. "Now, we better let my adoring fans eat before they start eating each other."