Author note:

The story takes place somewhere early season, when Whitney was suppose to be the stupid jock, when Clark didn't really notice Chloe.etc.

"Say, Sullivan, don't you have a home to go to? Why are you always here?"

Chloe jumped from her sit.

" Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you"

Her new partner walked into the room, wearing his "Crows" jacket, as usual.

"Oh, you didn't". She said, too quickly.

"I'm not easily intimidated"

"Oh, I know" He moved swiftly behind her

"Can I see what you're working on? "

Chloe covered the screen with her hands.

"I prefer not."

"Why?"

He leaned closer to her

"Is it another earth-shattering exposition about the football team?

I can see the headline

"Football players caught masturbating in the dressing room"

Chloe blushed.

"Do they?"

"That's our own little secret" He grinned to her.

"So, why are you always here?"

"I happen to enjoy it. Some people want to play for the Sharks, some want to work at the daily planet. "Not everyone's life ambition is be popular and hang out with a bunch of stupid jockstraps"

"Better not say it when we do start to hang out with them together."

He examined her closely, noticing the combination of pants and skirt, her blue and yellow shirt.

Nothing Lana would ever wear.

"Maybe you should buy some new clothes. "

He said, more to himself than to her.

"What?!"

"You know, not that there's anything wrong with the clothes you're wearing right now, but I thought you might want to fit in with something a little more. "

"Sluttier?" Chloe suggested.

Now it was Whitney's turn to blush.

Why did he ever mention her clothes? He should have known better, he told himself grimly. Girls don't like any comments about their appearance other than "You look great".

"No, not sluttier. You know.tighter. Like other girls"

"I'm not other girls. And I'm not going to give up my clothes just to be popular. Next thing you'd want me to put on pom-pom brigade uniform and that stupid jacket of yours on top."

Whitney face brightened. "You're right".

"Huh?"

Whitney took off his jacket and wrapped it around her thin shoulders.

"It says: "Whitney and Chloe are dating""

Chloe examined the jacket.

"Didn't hear it say anything other than "I have no personality""

She said lightly and regretted it immediately as his face darkened.

"Look, Chloe, you want it to work, right?"







She nodded.

"So play along! We're not going to get them separated by making smart-ass remarks about today's society fucked-up structure. Face it, jock and cheerleaders are popular, school newspaper's editors aren't!"

Whitney knew he was being harsh on her, but her attitude got to him. Why does she have to be to direct? Why can't she be more.more like Lana? Lana would have shut up and do as she was told, he was sure of that.

"Who ever said I want to be popular?"

She asked, her eyes on him.

"Everyone wants to. It's the American dream. Ever watched Spiderman?"

"Yes"

Chloe began to see his point. It was very surprising to find he has one, and that he's able to put words together into coherent sentences, but than again, Whitney Fordman surprised her in the last two weeks more than anyone else her entire life. Weird. Should she change her entire life perspective and treat jockstraps as equal? Not right now, she decided. Maybe, some day, in another lifetime.

"There's a reason why it became a Blockbuster. Think, Chloe!"

"Ok, ok."

Chloe slipped her hands into the sleeves.

Whitney seemed very pleased with himself.

"It goes well with that blond hair of yours"

"Oh"

"Really"

"Thanks"

"So, do you have any plans for tonight?"

"Staying home, watching re-runs and eat cookies."

"Feel like doing something more .exciting?"

"Like drinking and driving? No, thanks"

"You need to lay off the sarcasm, Sullivan. I heard there's a good twelve- step program in Metropolis. Join it when you reach the Planet.

"Now who's being sarcastic?"

"Self-defense. Like Karate, sarcasm should be learned and trained regularly while dealing with the queen of snark."

Chloe couldn't help it. She smiled broadly. He smiled back, and for a moment, there were just the two of them in the world.

Chloe tried to get back to normal.

"So, what's going on tonight?"

"A poet -reading evening over at the coffee shop. Lana would drag Clark, I'm sure of that. God knows she used to drag me. It would be a good chance to show our new-established relationship."

"What should I wear?"

"Something sluttier. Don't forget the jacket."

"You stupid jockstrap!"

"I love you, too, Chloe."











Lana noticed them first.

They entered together, holding hands, smiling, and she was wearing his football team jacket.

Ok, Lana, you broke up, remember?

He has the right to date any girl at school, he has the right to let her wear his jacket, as he used to let you, and he has every right to be happy.

After all, you and Clark are.

Why shouldn't he?

"Lana?" She heard Clark's voice "Is everything ok?"

"Oh, yes, it's just. the coffee" she ended lamely.

"It's too sweet."

"I'll get you another"

"No, it's ok, don't bother."

"No bother at all"

He kissed her cheek, and went searching for another cup.

Lana couldn't take her eyes off Whitney and Chloe.

They were sitting together, holding hand.

"Don't look now" Chloe whispered.

"But a certain ex-cheerleader is staring at you back" "Really?"

Whitney automatically turned his head to see, and Lana returned her gaze quickly.

"Told you not to look!"

"Sorry, couldn't help it."

"What about Kent?"

"He." Chloe searched the room.

"He just spotted us"

"And?"

"He and Lana should have ran a contest who is staring longer at your back."

"Our work here is done."

To be continued.