Chapter 7
"Clark, we need to talk."
"That's never good," Clark replied, grimacing.
Lana smiled reassuringly. "I just have something to tell you," she said, leading the way to the same room she and Chloe had been in an hour earlier.
Clark looked skeptical. "What is it, Lana?"
Lana turned to face Clark, her smile gone. "I'm not sure how to tell you this."
"Tell me what?" Clark asked, stepping closer and letting the door shut behind him.
"Chloe and I are dating," Lana blurted out.
Clark gave a small smile. "I'm glad you each found someone."
"No, Clark. We're dating each other," Lana said after a long pause.
* *
"We need to hurry, because I have a hot date tonight," Pete said, jogging into the Torch office.
"So do I," Chloe piped up, realizing her opportunity.
"With who?" Pete asked, straddling a chair next to Chloe.
"Lana," Chloe answered, forcing herself to look at her best friend.
"Oh, a girl's night out?"
"No, a date."
"I don't get it."
"Lana and I are dating," Chloe said, realizing Pete still didn't understand. "Each other."
* *
"Say something, Clark. Scream, cry, hit me. Just don't stand there with that look on your face," Lana pleaded.
"Lana, I would never hit you," Clark said calmly.
"You aren't mad?"
Clark sat on the couch. "I really don't know. I think I saw this coming, but…"
"But you didn't want to believe it," Lana finished, sitting next to him. She put a hand on his knee. "Tell me what you're thinking."
"Lana?"
Lana turned as the door opened and Lex walked in.
"Is everything okay?" Lex asked, noticing the somber mood.
"Lex, this isn't a good time," Clark started.
"No, he needs to hear this, too," Lana cut in. "Chloe and I are dating."
* *
"What?!" Pete asked, standing and backing away from Chloe.
"Pete calm down and talk to me," Chloe said, her eyes pleading. "Why are you so angry?"
"Why?! My best friend just told me she was gay. How did you think I'd react?" Pete asked loudly.
"I thought my best friend would support me," Chloe replied.
"Not when-" Pete stopped himself.
"Not when what, Pete?" Chloe asked, her voice demanding.
"You want support, go talk to Clark," Pete sneered.
"You don't mean that," Chloe said in shock, her voice suddenly airy. "Don't say that."
* *
"Congratulations, Lana."
"Congratulations?" Clark asked in shock.
"Thank you, Lex," Lana said, turning her attention back to Clark. "Clark, talk to me."
Clark turned to Lana. "I'm not mad, Lana. Yes, I'm disappointed. Who wouldn't be in my position?"
Lex shut the door and walked to Clark. "That's understandable, Clark. It's not wrong to feel disappointed, or to feel anything."
Lana thanked Lex with her eyes. "Right. I want you to be honest."
"Look, we agreed to be friends, right?" Clark asked.
"Right," Lana agreed.
"Would you get mad if I started to date someone?" Clark asked.
"I guess not."
"It's sort of the same thing," Clark told her.
"You're taking this very well, Clark," Lex put in.
Clark stood. "I'm not saying that I'm totally okay with it, but I'm not mad. I mean, now I've lost any chance with either of you."
"You feel let down?" Lex asked knowingly.
Clark nodded. How are you so calm about this?"
"Clark, I grew up where men dating men or women dating women wasn't odd. I think that as long as you're happy it doesn't matter if you're with a man or a woman," Lex answered. "Also, I've never been in love with wither of them, so that makes it easier to accept."
"Can you accept it, Clark?" Lana asked warily.
Clark was quiet for a moment. "It will take some getting used to, but I think I can."
"I just hope Pete takes it as well. Chloe's telling him right now," Lana said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Clark's face dropped. "Where are they?" he asked almost frantically.
"The Torch. Why?" Lana asked, also standing.
"We have to go," Clark said, walking out of the room.
* *
"Don't tell me what to think, Chloe," Pete said angrily.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. Please talk to me," Chloe urged, holding back tears.
Pete shook his head. "I can't deal with this right now."
"Pete," Chloe called as Pete strode through the office door.
Pete took off at a jog, racing out the front door with Chloe close behind. Lana, Chloe, and Lex were walking up the steps when Chloe ran out of the door.
"Chloe?" Lana asked worriedly.
Tears were streaming down Chloe's face. "He's so angry," she said, watching Pete.
"I'll talk to him," Clark assured her, taking off after Pete.
"Are you okay?" Lana asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"He's never talked to me like that. I think I just lost my best friend," Chloe said, her voice a whisper. She watched as Pete tried to get in his car, but Clark held the door shut.
Lana put her arm around Chloe. "I think he's just afraid."
"What would he be afraid of?" Chloe asked, watching Pete and Clark argue.
"This is a shock," Lex cut in. "He probably feels like he doesn't know you anymore. I bet he feels like you did the night of the tornado."
"What?" Chloe asked, whirling to face Lex.
"Pete likes you, Chloe," Lana said gently.
"And I left him for you," Chloe said softly.
"Like Clark left you for me," Lana finished as Pete drove off.
Chloe walked slowly down the steps as Clark came back towards them.
"I'm sorry. He wouldn't listen to me," Clark told her, his face full of concern for his friend.
Chloe's tears came back full force. She looked to where Pete's car was fading to a small dot. Without a word Clark wrapped her in a hug as Lex and Lana joined them.