Out of the Coat Closet
By Queen of Sarab
Author's Note: I'm not sure how long the next chapter will take I'm starting college this week, so I don't know yet how busy I'll be also, I'm trying to decide if I should up the next chapter to deserving an R rating or keep it PG13 anyway, I'll try to get it up soon, and please review! I thrive on your comments!
Chapter Six
Clark had walked the entire way home. It was the first time in his memory that he'd done that; he'd always relied his super speed to get him everywhere. But he had needed time to think, to seriously mull over the events of the past day in his mind.
His mind, however, had other plans, and he found himself going in mental circles, like a dog chasing its tail. He loved Lex, and he loved his father, both in very different but equally stubborn ways. He didn't want to go against his father, but he wanted to be with Lex more than anything he'd ever wanted in his life. In fact, not being with him right now was eating away at him. He had left Lex with no answer to a soul-baring confession of love, and that hurt him more than it probably hurt Lex.
It was fully dark by the time he finally walked through his front door, letting it slam carelessly behind him. Almost immediately following the doors resounding bang, Martha Kent's voice came sharply out of the next room.
"Clark? Is that you?"
"Yeah, Mom, it's me," the young Kent called back, tromping tiredly into the kitchen, where his mother was chopping lettuce.
"Oh, I'm glad you're home!" Martha said, setting down her knife and wiping her the shreds of vegetable still clinging to her palms against her worn jeans. "I was beginning to get really worried."
"Sorry," Clark mumbled, sinking onto a stool by the counter. "I just lost track of time, I guess."
"Well, supper's in a half hour," his mother said, "Oh, and Chloe stopped by just a little while ago she wanted you to call her."
Clark nodded affirmation. "Alright," he said. "I'm going up to the loft."
Without another word he slipped out the screen door leading outside, trudging across the yard and up through the barn, barely paying attention to his surroundings- the path was so familiar, so well-traveled, he hardly needed to pay attention anymore.
"Clark?"
The chipper voice startled him out of his reverie, and he jumped in surprise. In the shadows of the growing night, a slight, blond figure hopped up from her seat on the bed and strode towards him.
"Chloe," he said, "I thought my mom said you'd gone home."
His friend shrugged. "Well, I was going to, and then I just had this urge to come up her and watch the sunset. Hope you don't mind?"
"No, of course not," answered Clark with a minute shake of his head. "I just didn't expect to find you here."
Chloe's lips twitched into a smile, and she motioned toward the wide window of the loft. "Your telescope is actually very good for looking at stars, you know," she smirked. "It apparently has other uses than Lana-stalking."
With a small, humorless laugh, Clark crossed to the bed, sinking onto the edge without answering. Chloe studied him, then bent to and swiveled the telescope, staring out across the fields. "Doesn't quite reach the Luthor Mansion, though, does it?" she said softly, bright eyes quirking towards him.
Clark started. "I wouldn't know," he murmured.
"Uhhuh," answered Chloe. "I'm guessing that means the conversation I left you to this afternoon didn't go well?"
"Chloe, I don't know"
"Oh, don't protest, Clark," laughed Chloe. "The longing gazes kinda clued me in a long time ago."
Clark didn't answer, but he felt strangely calm. Chloe liked him- or so he'd been told- and yet here she was, not only knowing his dirty secret but understanding, seemingly sympathizing. It was an entirely different feeling from the guilt trip he'd been punched with by his father.
There was a soft creak as the smaller girl sat next to him. "You want to tell me what happened?"
A small shock of pain passed through Clark at the words. What had happened? He wasn't really sure himself. He'd finally found happiness, and it was threatened from two directions; he'd probably either lost his father or Lex; and he was more torn than he'd ever been in his life.
"What happened," he repeated hoarsely, eyes glazing with unexpected moisture.
"Yes," affirmed Chloe. "Maybe if you tell me, I can help."
His heavy eyes snapped to meet hers. She seemed sincere, and she was one of his best friends- if he couldn't tell her, he couldn't tell anyone, he reasoned.
And suddenly the entire story was spilling out, from that fateful day on the bridge to their heated kisses in the loft to Lex's emotional speech. He become more and more fevered as he spoke, hands shaking as they pushed his hair away form his eyes, and by the time he finished Chloe was grasping his hand firmly, anchoring him to the bed and reality.
"I don't know what to do," he said finally, voice trembling. "I don't want to hurt my father, but I don't know what I would do without Lex."
Chloe was silent for several moments before answering. "Well," she said finally, "I think it's pretty obvious what you have to do."
"It is?" Clark asked dubiously.
"Yes," she answered with uncharacteristic solemnity. "Clark, if you let this opportunity with Lex go by you'll regret it your entire life. No matter how it would have turned out in real life, you'll always wonder what would have happened if you'd given into your feelings."
"And my father?"
"He loves you, Clark. He'll either come to accept it or he won't, but he'll love you no matter what." With a soft smile Chloe caressed one side of his face with her slender hand, a resigned regret lurking in her eyes. "Go to Lex, Clark."
She stood, kissed him lightly on the forehead, and turned to go. Clark sat in a stupor behind her, mind whirling. "Chloe."
She turned. "Yeah?"
Eyes serious, Clark met her gaze with a suddenly strong and determined one of his own. "Thank you."
Chloe just smiled, then turned and walked down the stairs.
It was less then five minutes before Clark zipped down the stairs, shooting across the fields and towards Lex's house.
(Author's reminder: PLEEEAAASSEEEE remember to review!!!)