Kaleidoscope
by Lener
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in Smallville.
Chapter Seven
Chloe's head was aching and her right ankle throbbing when she finally managed to open her eyes. Suddenly the events of what had happened in the loft raced through her mind, and she bolted up from the couch she had been lying on. The soft blanket that had been placed over her fell from her shoulders, where it had been tucked securely.
"Clark… what happened?" Chloe's eyes finally got use to the dark room just as Clark dashed to her side, looking very concerned. Chloe's heart thumped wildly. She was alone with the boy of her dreams in a dark room… Don't you even dare to think of anything, Chloe Sullivan! Chloe warned herself.
"Chlo… are you all right? Someone threw you out from the loft and I caught you… oh, you remember that bit? Yea… we met Lex on the way because someone punctured your car tyres and we had to walk. You sprained your ankle when you crashed through the wood but the doctor says you'll be fine," Clark rattled on.
"I sprained my ankle? Ugh… how weak of me…" Chloe groaned. She shifted a little, and felt a sharp bolt of pain in her ankle. Wincing, Chloe managed to prop herself into a comfortable sitting position.
"Hey… take it easy. You went right through wood, and even tough girls can get injured. Don't be too hard on yourself…" Clark told her gently.
"Oh, so I'm a girl to you now, is that right?" Chloe found herself saying, then mentally smacked herself for being so rude. Clark was only trying to comfort her.
*
Clark grimaced. Okay, Chloe's last remark had been rather snappy, but he could not help noticing how pretty his best friend looked in the moonlight that shone in through the window pane.
The dimness made her face look as though it had been carved out of ivory or made from porcelain. She looked so delicate, weak and fragile. Her soft blond curls were a little tamer now, and strands of it fell into her clear, intelligent hazel green eyes. Her nose was tilted "just so", and her lips looked rosy and glossy and oh-so-kissable.
Clark gave a start as he realized that he had been leaning in closer and closer towards his best friend. She smelt of fresh green apples and honeysuckle, just like how she'd smelt at the barn, and her soft, hot breath on his skin was electrifying.
Clark was horrified. This was Chloe, Chloe Sullivan, his best friend. The girl whom he invited over for fashion advice; the Wall of Weird girl he went to answers; the girl whom we went to for comfort and strength; his confidante, his helper, his best friend- everything. And yet she just seemed so far away now. Clark's heart throbbed in his chest, and his head whirled with all these strange thoughts. Then suddenly he felt empty deep, deep down inside.
He wondered what it would be like to kiss Chloe.
*
Chloe tried to keep her cool. He's leaning so close now, she thought. Clark was only inches away, and she wondered if he could hear the wild palpitations of her heart; the rush of blood to her head.
And suddenly she wanted him to kiss her. She needed to feel his soft lips pressed against hers in a searing, gentle kiss. Of course, that would be terribly impossible. Clark loved Lana.
Lana. She always ruined everything. Chloe knew it was not her fault, but she would bashed Lana up a long time ago, if it was not for the fact that Lana actually made Clark happy, something Chloe could never do. Sure, she was able to comfort him when he was down about, but to make him fall head over heels in love with her was a feat that only Lana could pull off.
I'm his best friend, but why can't he see me?
*
The door burst open, and Clark and Chloe sprang apart guiltily. Why guiltily, though? We weren't doing anything wrong, Clark thought.
"Clark! You can get some sleep now- it's my turn to watch over… Chlo! You're awake!" Pete's voice sounded from across the room.
"Hey Pete. You're late, and I'm starving," Chloe shot Pete a grin that made Clark's heart skip a beat. What was his problem? Only a 1000 watt Lana Smile could have made him feel that way… yet… Chloe had done it without any effort at all. She had done it without meaning to.
"I'll… get you some fruit," Clark offered, reaching for an apple that lay in the metal bowl near him. Their fingertips touched fleetingly as Chloe took the apple from him, and Clark felt a small electric current jolt through his entire system. Their eyes connected briefly, and Clark wondered if Chloe had felt that sensation too. Well, if she had, she was certainly doing a good job of not showing it.
Finally Pete broke the silence.
"Okay, what is up with you two?" he demanded, hands on hips. Clark almost died. Had it been that obvious?
"Did you guys have a fight or something?" Pete questioned. He gazed from Chloe to Clark, then back to Chloe a she began laughing. Eyes twinkling, she laid a hand on Clark's shoulder and Clark had to ignore the wonderful feeling of her hand on his.
"A fight? As far as I know, Clark and I are on best terms!" she said perkily. Clark relaxed, then smiled. Yep, he and Chloe. Best terms. Best friends.
More than that?
Shut up, Clark.
*
"A fight? As far as I know, Clark and I are on best terms!" Chloe forced herself to put her hand on Clark's arm. She just had to convince Pete that nothing was wrong, and convince herself that Clark had eyes only for Lana and never would like her in that way. She was doing her best to act normal around Pete and Clark.
After a while, Chloe slowly felt the pain in her ankle subside. She got up and tried to hobble about the room with the help of Pete. Clark walked beside her, rotating in ankles proudly in her face whenever he got the chance to. "Chloe Sullivan learns to walk," he teased, and Chloe swatted his arm in mock anger. She cast a sidelong glance at Clark and sighed inwardly.
He would always be Clark, her goofy, cute best friend. That was the way things were, and they were never going to change.
Author's Note: Sorry for this particularly short chapter. I wanted to end it on that last sentence because I wanted the ending to be "just so". Heeeheee. Well, don't keep me waiting! Go click that submit review button! More thanks to:
Starburst- Hey! Thanks for reviewing! I'm sorry… I'll really try to write quicker, but you see, the inspiration struck me on my other story, and because I was neglecting it I had to write more chapters for it, so I left Kaleidoscope a while. I realized that I kinda wanted more time to write longer chapters for readers, so very, very sorry!!!! And don't die, coz if you do, you won't be able to read!
Calty- Hey! Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you're more than satisfied! I knew Chloe/Clark fans would be really happy with Chloe fainting in his gorgeous muscular arms. Haha! I loved that part too! I'll try to continue with chapters faster, okay? But I do have other stories to write! Well, hope you keep reading!!
Suz- Hey! Thanks for reviewing! Yay! I'm so glad that everyone loved my favourite part, which of course, was when he caught Chloe. *swoons* Lol. Yes, the green stuff was kryptonite. Well, about Pete and Lex knowing each other, Pete knows who Lex is, of course, but I wanted Lex not to know who Pete is, if you get what I mean. Yes, no one knows Clark's secret. Hope to see another review from you!!