Chapter 4

"Lana, you okay?" Clark asked, taking a stool at the counter.

Lana pulled herself out of her thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Clark asked, narrowing his eyes as if he could see through Lana.

"Clark, what do you do when the person you'd go to talk to about a problem, is the one you have the problem with?" Lana asked, leaning her hip against the counter.

"Did I do something?" Clark asked nervously. "Because if I did-"

Lana cut him off. "No, it's not you," she said, conveying that truth with her eyes.

"Then can you talk to me about it?" Clark asked hopefully.

"That's the problem, I can't talk to anyone, except who the problem's with," Lana said.

"Now who's talking in secret codes?" Clark asked with a grin, his eyes sparkling.

Lana laughed. "You're right. I'm sorry. So, did you need something?"

"I have a favor to ask. I am lost on our biology project. Can you help me?" Clark asked.

"I thought you were good at math," Lana said, grabbing a rag to wipe down the counter.

"I am, but I don't get the rest of it."

"How much of the rest of it?"

"All of it?" Clark asked, grimacing.

Lana laughed. "I get off at nine. Why don't you come over and we can work on it?"

"Do you have to ask Chloe?" Clark asked.

Lana looked confused for a moment, retreating back into her thoughts.

"Lana?"

"Oh, no. She and Mr. Sullivan have made it clear that I'm to treat it like my own house."

"Yeah, I'll be there," Clark told her, standing up.

"Great. Bring your notes and we can go over them," Lana said.

"Sounds good."

* * *

Chloe opened the door in a dark green, spaghetti strap shirt, and green flannel plaid pajama bottoms.

"Don't you always tease me about flannel?"

"Clark!" Chloe exclaimed, her hands flying to the neckline of her shirt. "What are you doing here?"

"Didn't Lana tell you? She offered to help me with the biology project," Clark said, his cheeks turning deep red.

"Uh, not exactly. She's not back yet," Chloe answered. "Come in."

Clark entered the house when Chloe moved out of the way. "Sorry. I should have told you, but I figured she would have."

Chloe ran a hand through her hair exhaustedly. "She would have, but I've kind of been avoiding her."

"You've been avoiding her? Why?" Clark asked, following Chloe into the living room.

Chloe walked to the fireplace, and twisted the key to start the fire. "Problems," she said simply.

Clark thought for a second. "Then, you're the one…"

"The one who what?" Chloe pressed.

Clark shook his head, sitting on the couch. "Nothing. What kind of problems?"

Chloe shrugged and propped herself on the arm of the couch, opposite Clark. "Just…problems," she answered, putting her feet on the cushion, then stretching them out straight.

"Okay. Are you- Is there something- I mean," Clark tried to ask.

"Spit it out, Clark," Chloe told him. She scooted her butt until she fell onto the couch cushion, her knees against her chest.

"Last weekend," Clark started. "I know you said it was an accident, but-"

"It didn't seem like one?" Chloe asked with a sigh. "Yeah, that's my problem. I don't know if it was."

"I don't understand," Clark said, his eyebrows furrowed.

"I shouldn't be telling you this," Chloe said hesitantly as the phone rang. "Hello? Yeah, he's here. No, that's okay. Alright. I'll tell him. Bye."

Clark looked expectantly at Chloe.

"That was Lana. She says she has to count the change in the register, log it into the books, then she'll be done."

"Chloe, I won't tell. I hope you know you can trust me. I know I can trust you," Clark said sincerely.

"But you don't," Chloe muttered, not thinking Clark could hear her. "Well, that's not the first time something like that's happened. Just last time it was her on me. She had a nightmare, so she slept in my room on the floor. Only, when I woke up she was in bed with me. She said she had another nightmare and just got scared."

"And you don't believe her?" Clark asked.

"Are you okay?" Chloe countered, noticing that Clark didn't look at all mad, hurt, or even embarrassed. "You're not…"

Clark shook his head with a reassuring smile. "I'm not here to judge you, Chloe. I just want you to be able to tell me things. I know there's something else."

Chloe took a deep breath, closing her eyes briefly. "Are you sure? Are you sure I can tell you this? I mean, you're in love with Lana."

Clark moved closer to Chloe, putting a hand on her knee. "Chloe, you can tell me anything."

Chloe looked around as if to see if anyone else could hear her. "The thing that's bothering me is that I didn't mind."

Clark looked at Chloe, trying to understand. "You didn't mind?"

Chloe gave Clark a look as if to say, 'Please don't make me explain.' When he didn't respond she knew she'd have to. "I didn't mind that she was in bed with me."

Clark looked dumbfounded.

Chloe stood quickly, mistaking Clark's look. " I don't know what I was thinking. It's stupid. I never should have told you," she said quickly, pacing back and forth on the rug. "I just- I needed to tell someone. I don't know what I was thinking."

Clark was off the couch in a second. He took Chloe by shoulders to still her. "No, I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me."

Chloe let out a breath. "I told you a secret, now it's your turn," Chloe said, trying to break the tension with a small laugh.

"Chloe, you don't have to pretend that you're okay," Clark told her, not letting her go.

At that moment Lana came in. Chloe said hi, then left the room, leaving Clark to stare after her in shock.