Authors Notes: Two in a row! Aww yeah. Thanks to all who are reading. I do it all for you!
Disclaimer: They aren't mine. But I'll be happy if the WB would just give Chloe and Lex some screen time together… pretty please?
(yeah, and I'm sure that's what you all say about my fanfics)
Chapter Six: "Back at Home"
"We're here" Pete said, nudging Chloe. The limo pulled to a slow stop outside of Chloe's house.
"Mmm Hmm" Chloe mumbled. Her head was down and she was busy writing on a piece of paper. She was just about to sign her name when Pete snatched the paper out from her grasp. "Hey, I was writing there"
"I could see that" Pete said, as he quickly read what she was writing. "A thank you note?" Pete raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, Pete. I polite way of thanking Lex for the use of his car" She grabbed the paper back. "Especially considering his nice gesture ended with his car getting a flat"
The limo driver opened the back door and Pete exited, followed by Chloe, who was busy folding the paper in half. "I'm sure he can more then afford a tire" Pete stated.
"And I'm sure you could afford to take a couple of hits to the head, but we're not gonna go doing that are we?" Chloe pointed out. "And why are you getting out here?"
"I'm just imaging the looks on my parents face when I show up in a Luthor Corp. limo. I was hoping I could just count on you to drive me home"
Chloe rolled her eyes, but of course she'd do it. They made their way to her front door, where the driver had placed the last of their bags. "I hope the rest of your day goes well" he stated.
"Thanks so much" Chloe handed him the note. "Could you see to it that Lex gets this?" she asked.
"As you wish" the driver said, and walked back to the vehicle.
Chloe fished around in her purse until she found her keys, and opened the front door. She found a stick it note stuck to the lamp by the door, left by her father.
'Hey Sweetie, I'm at work, I'll be there until late. I know you are going to Lana Lang's gathering, and staying over at the Kents… just please be careful. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that I don't trust the guys in this town. (Clark and Pete excluded). If you want me to get anything at the store, just leave a note and it will be here when you get back tomorrow. I love you and I'll see you when I get down work tomorrow night.'
Together her and Pete pushed her bags inside, and dragged them to her bedroom. They left Pete's on the porch, because in a town like Smallville it wasn't likely someone would steal luggage of your porch. They'd just try to kill you with bees or freeze you.
Once in her bedroom, Chloe grabbed a messenger bag from her closet and threw in the clothing and other misc. items she'd need for the night. She grabbed her laptop case as well. "Okie, lets go get you home so your parents don't get nervous" Chloe grinned. "Are you honestly not going to tell them about getting a ride from Lex?" she questioned, as they exited the house.
Pete picked up his bags, grunting slightly at the weight of them. "Yeah, I figure it's a don't ask don't tell kind of thing. They are aware that Lex and Clark are friends but they aren't really skipping at the thought. Of course, neither am I" He placed his bags in the back seat of Chloe's car, after she unlocked the door.
"A bit out of shape there Pete. How ever will you be at your peak physical performance to keep the bench warm?" Chloe slide into the drivers seat, as Pete took his place on the passenger side.
"Oh I'll be ready" Pete grinned. "Come mid October, no body will outshine my seat warming skills. I'm gonna letter in it."
*****
The sky was turning dark by the time Chloe's car reached the Kent farm. The Ross's had been so excited to see Chloe that they made her recount her whole summer to them. It was nice that they cared, but Chloe didn't like having to fib to them about the whole 'bus ride'. Pete had gone a bit overboard on the details. Apparently a large man of bad hygiene was in the second row left hand side, and spent most of the trip playing with a game boy set at full volume.
"I just wish that if you were going to lie, you'd lie right" Chloe said. "You had way too many details going, and I looked like a looney because I just kept nodding my head to what ever you said"
"Well, it beats saying I took the Luthor express" Pete argued.
"You, Mr. Ross, need to get over it" Chloe turned off the car. They both grabbed their overnight bags, and exited the car. Mrs. Kent was already waiting for them on the porch, ready to wrap them in big hugs, which she did as soon as they climbed the steps.
"It's so good to see you again Chloe. A summer is too long to be away" Martha said as she held the younger girl. "And Pete, we missed you during your trip to Florida" she said as she released Chloe. "Clark should be…"
"In the barn" Pete interjected.
"Some secret hide out" Chloe grinned. "We'll just go up and meet him"
"Ok, you kids just come by to let us know when you're going to Lana's, alright?"
"Sure thing" Pete nodded, and he and Chloe made their way over to the barn.
"You here Kent?" Chloe called from the entrance of the barn.
"I'm up here" Clark called, as Chloe and Pete mounted the stairs. Sure enough, there was Clark, struggling with the zipper to a sleeping bag.
"Having some difficulty?" Pete laughed.
Clark grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, just a little. I'm afraid I'm going to tear it if I pull it too hard"
Chloe dropped her bag. "Oh for goodness sake, it's not an epic battle between good and evil, it's just a sleeping bag". She sat down next to Clark and took the sleeping bag from his hands. She tugged hard on the zipper, then closely examined it. "There's just a little bit of fabric pinched in" she bit her lower lip. In a moment she had the zipper back to it's normal functioning capabilities. "It's easy once you figure out what's wrong" She said, laying the sleeping bag on the ground.
"Chloe Sullivan, digging to the bottom of any issue" Pete quipped. "Never send a man to do a reporter's job"
"Yeah, thanks Chloe" Clark said, as he leaned in for a hug. "I missed you these three months"
"I missed you too Clark" Chloe said, retreating from the hug. Clark gave her a puzzled look but she ignored it. "So, I get the couch, right?" she asked, avoiding his glance.
"What, me and Clark have to sleep on the cold hard floor?" Pete pouted.
"You two can cuddle for comfort" Chloe said, placing her bag on the couch, with one of the rolled up sleeping bags. "A girl can't get her beauty sleep on the floor"
"And what about my beauty sleep?" Pete countered.
"You, dear Pete, are already beautiful enough"
"OK, you can have the couch" Pete acquiesced. "You know just how to sweet talk a guy. So, when should we head over to Lana's?" Pete looked at Clark.
"We can go now, when ever" Clark shrugged.
"Are you sure you've had enough prep time?" Chloe teased.
"Yeah, I think I'm fine" Clark smiled.
"Well, not me" Chloe grabbed a small bag out of her larger one. "Just give me 5 minutes in the bathroom and I'll be back"
"Yeah, I have to use the little farm hand's room as well" Pete said. "We'll meet you outside, OK Clark?"
"Sure. I'll finish unrolling the sleeping bags"
Pete and Chloe headed down the steps, and Clark walked over to the couch to unroll Chloe's sleeping bag. He picked it up, and knocked over her purse, causing its contents to spill all over the floor. He knelt down and picked them up. "Wallet, pen, notebook… shinny rock?" he questioned, as he picked up the bright red gem.
He turned it over in his hand, and noted how hot the stone felt… almost scorching in fact. Scaled, he dropped the stone, and he broke in two. "Oh great" he muttered, and carefully picked up the stone, only to notice that it wasn't hot anymore. There was not way he could put it back together, and Chloe would probably be pissed. She was already acting weird around him.
"Hey Clark you ready?" Pete called as he jogged up the steps to the loft.
Clark quickly put the pieces of the gem in his pocket. He looked up to see Pete standing on the landing. "Yeah, I'm ready" He grinned.
"Well, lets get a move on, Chloe should be done in a minute"
Clark walked over to his friend, and together they made their way down the stairs and back to the house, where Chloe was standing outside, with the Kents.
"You kids be careful, especially walking home late this night" Martha said. "I'm sorry, but I have to do my motherly preamble. Now make sure you have fun"
"We will" the teens chorused. They waved to the parental units, and began down the road toward Lana's.
*****
"… and Pete was making up all these stories about the 'bus ride' because he won't tell his parents. And I look like an idiot, because I just sit there nodding. Because if I add to the convo, I'll just mess up the lie" Chloe laughed. She stepped over a branch, using Pete's arm to steady herself.
"I really don't think your parents would mind too much" Clark said to Pete.
"Right" Pete said flatly. "I can just calmly explain to my parents that I went for a trip in a Luthor car. Then I'll tell them about how we bumped into Lex at the club last night" The darkness of the road hid his frown from the other two.
"What club?" Clark asked.
"Oh, Pete got two ID's and decided we should do a little dancing" Chloe smiled.
"Fake ID's?" Clark questioned.
"Yeah, I got you one too Clark, though I don't know when you'll be able to use it" Pete said. "Or if your farm boy morals even allow you to enter a club underage"
"I could enter a club" Clark protested "And what does this have to do with meeting Lex at a club?" he added, attempting to take the subject off of his innocence.
"Well" Pete began "I was out getting my dance on with a couple very nice…"
"…and scantily clad" Chloe interjected, earning her a look from Pete.
"females" Pete continued. "And I returned later on to find Chloe sharing the company of one Mr. Lex Luthor"
"You make it sound so sordid" Chloe let an exasperated sigh escape her lips. "I just ran into him because he was trying to hide out from Lois, who was on a crazed mission to get an interview with Lex"
"And that wasn't liquor I saw you two drinking down?" Pete added.
Chloe stopped walking, and both of the other teens halted. "Look Pete, I am a big girl, and if I want to talk to Lex, then I can. Hell, if I want to strip down to my skivvies and run around the Luthor manor, that's my business too" Chloe took in the disbelieving looks of her two best friends. "Oh grow up you two"
"Sorry" Pete muttered.
"I'm sorry too… even though I didn't say anything" Clark added.
"Thank you" Chloe smiled.
"Look, we're almost at Lana's" Clark said, hoping the yet another change in subject would relieve some tension. There were cars in the close distance, and they could already here music playing, and people laughing. Clark began to walk again, but stopped as a pain shot up from his feet to the top of his head. He fell down to the ground.
"Clark, are you OK?" Chloe asked, as her and Pete rushed to his side. Clark could feel the stones in his pocket burning, but in a moment they stopped, and he felt better.
"Yeah, I'm good" Clark stood up quickly. "In fact, I feel great" he started walking quickly toward Lana's.
"I wonder what that was about" Chloe frowned, watching Clarks retreating form. "He usually doesn't get weak in the knees until he's actually in front of Lana"
"With Clark, who knows" Pete shrugged. "Hey Kent! Wait up!" Pete called after his friend.
Disclaimer: They aren't mine. But I'll be happy if the WB would just give Chloe and Lex some screen time together… pretty please?
(yeah, and I'm sure that's what you all say about my fanfics)
Chapter Six: "Back at Home"
"We're here" Pete said, nudging Chloe. The limo pulled to a slow stop outside of Chloe's house.
"Mmm Hmm" Chloe mumbled. Her head was down and she was busy writing on a piece of paper. She was just about to sign her name when Pete snatched the paper out from her grasp. "Hey, I was writing there"
"I could see that" Pete said, as he quickly read what she was writing. "A thank you note?" Pete raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, Pete. I polite way of thanking Lex for the use of his car" She grabbed the paper back. "Especially considering his nice gesture ended with his car getting a flat"
The limo driver opened the back door and Pete exited, followed by Chloe, who was busy folding the paper in half. "I'm sure he can more then afford a tire" Pete stated.
"And I'm sure you could afford to take a couple of hits to the head, but we're not gonna go doing that are we?" Chloe pointed out. "And why are you getting out here?"
"I'm just imaging the looks on my parents face when I show up in a Luthor Corp. limo. I was hoping I could just count on you to drive me home"
Chloe rolled her eyes, but of course she'd do it. They made their way to her front door, where the driver had placed the last of their bags. "I hope the rest of your day goes well" he stated.
"Thanks so much" Chloe handed him the note. "Could you see to it that Lex gets this?" she asked.
"As you wish" the driver said, and walked back to the vehicle.
Chloe fished around in her purse until she found her keys, and opened the front door. She found a stick it note stuck to the lamp by the door, left by her father.
'Hey Sweetie, I'm at work, I'll be there until late. I know you are going to Lana Lang's gathering, and staying over at the Kents… just please be careful. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that I don't trust the guys in this town. (Clark and Pete excluded). If you want me to get anything at the store, just leave a note and it will be here when you get back tomorrow. I love you and I'll see you when I get down work tomorrow night.'
Together her and Pete pushed her bags inside, and dragged them to her bedroom. They left Pete's on the porch, because in a town like Smallville it wasn't likely someone would steal luggage of your porch. They'd just try to kill you with bees or freeze you.
Once in her bedroom, Chloe grabbed a messenger bag from her closet and threw in the clothing and other misc. items she'd need for the night. She grabbed her laptop case as well. "Okie, lets go get you home so your parents don't get nervous" Chloe grinned. "Are you honestly not going to tell them about getting a ride from Lex?" she questioned, as they exited the house.
Pete picked up his bags, grunting slightly at the weight of them. "Yeah, I figure it's a don't ask don't tell kind of thing. They are aware that Lex and Clark are friends but they aren't really skipping at the thought. Of course, neither am I" He placed his bags in the back seat of Chloe's car, after she unlocked the door.
"A bit out of shape there Pete. How ever will you be at your peak physical performance to keep the bench warm?" Chloe slide into the drivers seat, as Pete took his place on the passenger side.
"Oh I'll be ready" Pete grinned. "Come mid October, no body will outshine my seat warming skills. I'm gonna letter in it."
*****
The sky was turning dark by the time Chloe's car reached the Kent farm. The Ross's had been so excited to see Chloe that they made her recount her whole summer to them. It was nice that they cared, but Chloe didn't like having to fib to them about the whole 'bus ride'. Pete had gone a bit overboard on the details. Apparently a large man of bad hygiene was in the second row left hand side, and spent most of the trip playing with a game boy set at full volume.
"I just wish that if you were going to lie, you'd lie right" Chloe said. "You had way too many details going, and I looked like a looney because I just kept nodding my head to what ever you said"
"Well, it beats saying I took the Luthor express" Pete argued.
"You, Mr. Ross, need to get over it" Chloe turned off the car. They both grabbed their overnight bags, and exited the car. Mrs. Kent was already waiting for them on the porch, ready to wrap them in big hugs, which she did as soon as they climbed the steps.
"It's so good to see you again Chloe. A summer is too long to be away" Martha said as she held the younger girl. "And Pete, we missed you during your trip to Florida" she said as she released Chloe. "Clark should be…"
"In the barn" Pete interjected.
"Some secret hide out" Chloe grinned. "We'll just go up and meet him"
"Ok, you kids just come by to let us know when you're going to Lana's, alright?"
"Sure thing" Pete nodded, and he and Chloe made their way over to the barn.
"You here Kent?" Chloe called from the entrance of the barn.
"I'm up here" Clark called, as Chloe and Pete mounted the stairs. Sure enough, there was Clark, struggling with the zipper to a sleeping bag.
"Having some difficulty?" Pete laughed.
Clark grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, just a little. I'm afraid I'm going to tear it if I pull it too hard"
Chloe dropped her bag. "Oh for goodness sake, it's not an epic battle between good and evil, it's just a sleeping bag". She sat down next to Clark and took the sleeping bag from his hands. She tugged hard on the zipper, then closely examined it. "There's just a little bit of fabric pinched in" she bit her lower lip. In a moment she had the zipper back to it's normal functioning capabilities. "It's easy once you figure out what's wrong" She said, laying the sleeping bag on the ground.
"Chloe Sullivan, digging to the bottom of any issue" Pete quipped. "Never send a man to do a reporter's job"
"Yeah, thanks Chloe" Clark said, as he leaned in for a hug. "I missed you these three months"
"I missed you too Clark" Chloe said, retreating from the hug. Clark gave her a puzzled look but she ignored it. "So, I get the couch, right?" she asked, avoiding his glance.
"What, me and Clark have to sleep on the cold hard floor?" Pete pouted.
"You two can cuddle for comfort" Chloe said, placing her bag on the couch, with one of the rolled up sleeping bags. "A girl can't get her beauty sleep on the floor"
"And what about my beauty sleep?" Pete countered.
"You, dear Pete, are already beautiful enough"
"OK, you can have the couch" Pete acquiesced. "You know just how to sweet talk a guy. So, when should we head over to Lana's?" Pete looked at Clark.
"We can go now, when ever" Clark shrugged.
"Are you sure you've had enough prep time?" Chloe teased.
"Yeah, I think I'm fine" Clark smiled.
"Well, not me" Chloe grabbed a small bag out of her larger one. "Just give me 5 minutes in the bathroom and I'll be back"
"Yeah, I have to use the little farm hand's room as well" Pete said. "We'll meet you outside, OK Clark?"
"Sure. I'll finish unrolling the sleeping bags"
Pete and Chloe headed down the steps, and Clark walked over to the couch to unroll Chloe's sleeping bag. He picked it up, and knocked over her purse, causing its contents to spill all over the floor. He knelt down and picked them up. "Wallet, pen, notebook… shinny rock?" he questioned, as he picked up the bright red gem.
He turned it over in his hand, and noted how hot the stone felt… almost scorching in fact. Scaled, he dropped the stone, and he broke in two. "Oh great" he muttered, and carefully picked up the stone, only to notice that it wasn't hot anymore. There was not way he could put it back together, and Chloe would probably be pissed. She was already acting weird around him.
"Hey Clark you ready?" Pete called as he jogged up the steps to the loft.
Clark quickly put the pieces of the gem in his pocket. He looked up to see Pete standing on the landing. "Yeah, I'm ready" He grinned.
"Well, lets get a move on, Chloe should be done in a minute"
Clark walked over to his friend, and together they made their way down the stairs and back to the house, where Chloe was standing outside, with the Kents.
"You kids be careful, especially walking home late this night" Martha said. "I'm sorry, but I have to do my motherly preamble. Now make sure you have fun"
"We will" the teens chorused. They waved to the parental units, and began down the road toward Lana's.
*****
"… and Pete was making up all these stories about the 'bus ride' because he won't tell his parents. And I look like an idiot, because I just sit there nodding. Because if I add to the convo, I'll just mess up the lie" Chloe laughed. She stepped over a branch, using Pete's arm to steady herself.
"I really don't think your parents would mind too much" Clark said to Pete.
"Right" Pete said flatly. "I can just calmly explain to my parents that I went for a trip in a Luthor car. Then I'll tell them about how we bumped into Lex at the club last night" The darkness of the road hid his frown from the other two.
"What club?" Clark asked.
"Oh, Pete got two ID's and decided we should do a little dancing" Chloe smiled.
"Fake ID's?" Clark questioned.
"Yeah, I got you one too Clark, though I don't know when you'll be able to use it" Pete said. "Or if your farm boy morals even allow you to enter a club underage"
"I could enter a club" Clark protested "And what does this have to do with meeting Lex at a club?" he added, attempting to take the subject off of his innocence.
"Well" Pete began "I was out getting my dance on with a couple very nice…"
"…and scantily clad" Chloe interjected, earning her a look from Pete.
"females" Pete continued. "And I returned later on to find Chloe sharing the company of one Mr. Lex Luthor"
"You make it sound so sordid" Chloe let an exasperated sigh escape her lips. "I just ran into him because he was trying to hide out from Lois, who was on a crazed mission to get an interview with Lex"
"And that wasn't liquor I saw you two drinking down?" Pete added.
Chloe stopped walking, and both of the other teens halted. "Look Pete, I am a big girl, and if I want to talk to Lex, then I can. Hell, if I want to strip down to my skivvies and run around the Luthor manor, that's my business too" Chloe took in the disbelieving looks of her two best friends. "Oh grow up you two"
"Sorry" Pete muttered.
"I'm sorry too… even though I didn't say anything" Clark added.
"Thank you" Chloe smiled.
"Look, we're almost at Lana's" Clark said, hoping the yet another change in subject would relieve some tension. There were cars in the close distance, and they could already here music playing, and people laughing. Clark began to walk again, but stopped as a pain shot up from his feet to the top of his head. He fell down to the ground.
"Clark, are you OK?" Chloe asked, as her and Pete rushed to his side. Clark could feel the stones in his pocket burning, but in a moment they stopped, and he felt better.
"Yeah, I'm good" Clark stood up quickly. "In fact, I feel great" he started walking quickly toward Lana's.
"I wonder what that was about" Chloe frowned, watching Clarks retreating form. "He usually doesn't get weak in the knees until he's actually in front of Lana"
"With Clark, who knows" Pete shrugged. "Hey Kent! Wait up!" Pete called after his friend.