Chapter 9
"Dad?" Chloe asked when Gabe hadn't answered. She mentally prepared herself for whatever he had to say.
Gabe looked from Chloe to Lana and back again. "Sweetie, I love you and I'll support you in anything you do."
Chloe had to fight to keep her mouth from dropping open. "Are you serious?"
Gabe smiled. "Yes, Chlo. I love you. Nothing can change that."
Chloe threw herself into her father's arms. "I love you, too. Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me."
"Thank you, Mr. Sullivan," Lana told him with a smile.
"Call me Gabe. You know there's going to be different rules now, though, girls," Gabe said seriously.
Chloe groaned. "Dad," she complained.
"I'm serious, Chloe. Other than 'don't touch the dishes until the sink is overflowing,'" he teased.
"You heard that?" Chloe asked in embarrassment.
"Oops," Lana said with a grin.
Gabe smiled. "When you two go out the rules are the same for any date. When you are in one of your rooms, the door stays open unless you're changing clothes. Understood?"
Chloe nodded. "Understood."
"Yes sir," Lana replied.
"Good," Gabe said, standing. "I'll fix dinner tonight, but I have to get some work done. I'll be in my office if you need me."
"Okay, Dad," Chloe replied as Gabe kissed her head and left.
"Wow, I didn't expect that reaction," Lana admitted.
Chloe smiled. "My dad's supportive. I thought he'd accept it."
"I didn't expect that reaction out of Clark or Lex, either."
"I didn't expect any reaction out of Lex," Chloe said, her eyes questioning. "He wasn't in our plan."
Lana blushed. "I was talking to Clark and he walked in. I figured he'd find out sooner or later and it was best if I told him. At least that way he'd stop pushing Clark on me."
Chloe's face dropped. "What about Pete? What if he never speaks to me?"
"He will. He just needs time. Give him time," Lana said, putting a hand on Chloe's knee.
"All I have is time," Chloe replied.
Lana moved her hand to rub Chloe's back in small circles. "Want to go talk to him?"
Chloe thought for a minute. "Yeah. Want to come with me?"
"Of course," Lana replied.
Chloe smiled. She leaned in to kiss Lana, then got up. "He's probably at home."
The ride to the Ross' was quick. Chloe and Lana got out, and Chloe led the way to the door. She rang the doorbell, then reached over for Lana's hand.
"Hey, Chloe," a boy answered with a grin.
"Hey, Mike. Is Pete here?" Chloe asked, smiling back.
"He might be. Let me check," Mike said, walking a few feet back into the house. "Hey, Petey! You here?!"
"He's with Clark," a voice yelled back. "Stop screaming."
Mike turned back to Chloe and Lana. "He's at Clark's."
"Thanks, Mike," Chloe said, pulling Lana off of the porch. "Let's go to Clark's."
Chloe and Lana heard voices as they stepped out of the car.
"Clark, stop pushing it. I'll deal with it my own way," Pete said in an exhausted tone.
"Alright, Pete. I just don't want you and Chloe mad at each other," Clark's voice came back.
Chloe took Lana's hand to stop her from going up the stairs.
"Me either, but you don't understand," Pete said.
"Chloe loves you. Not the way you want her to, but you mean a lot to her. You're her best friend. She needs people to support her."
"Then you be there for her," Pete said, his voice on the edge of hostility.
"It's not the same and you know it."
"You and her have a lot in common. Both of you-"
"Pete, that's enough," Chloe said firmly, her tone angry. "Don't you dare talk to him like that. This is between me and you, and you don't have to drag Clark through the mud in the process."
"Chloe," Lana warned, squeezing Chloe's hand.
Chloe softened. "I'm sorry, Pete, but this isn't about Clark, and you know it."
"I didn't say it was about Clark. I said that if he wants to support you, he can go right ahead. That doesn't mean I have to," Pete retorted.
Chloe winced.
"Clark, I need to make an order with your mom. Can you help me find her?" Lana asked.
Clark nodded in understanding. "Sure, Lana."
Chloe sat on the couch. "Pete, all the things Clark said are true. I don't want you mad at me. What can I do to fix it?"
"Nothing," Pete muttered almost inaudibly.
Chloe's eyes started to water. "I never meant to hurt you."
"I know, but you did," Pete replied.
Chloe took a deep breath. "I don't know how to make it better. This is the way it is."
Pete stood, walking across the loft. "You and Lana," he muttered again.
Chloe stood, squaring her shoulders. "Are you mad because I'm dating someone? Or are you mad because I'm dating Lana?" she asked, demanding an answer.
Pete turned to face her. "I'm mad because I'm supposed to know you. We're supposed to be best friends, Chloe. Best friends don't keep secrets from each other. If you were a lesbian you should have just told me. Then I wouldn't be so angry."
Chloe looked taken aback as she walked to Pete. "It's not something I planned. Hell, two weeks ago I was making out with Ian in my living room with the lights off."
"Yeah, about that-"
"No, no, no. Don't change the subject," Chloe told him. "It just happened gradually as Lana and I got closer. I didn't just wake up one morning and say 'I think I'll be gay now.'"
"But it's- You're my-" Pete tried to say.
Chloe put a hand on Pete's arm. " I'm still Chloe. I still work on the Torch. I still go to the ends of the earth to confirm my meteor theories. And most of all, I still need my best friend."
"Can you just give me some time?" Pete asked.
Chloe nodded. "You got it."
"Thanks," Pete answered, leaning in to give Chloe a hug.