Chapter 3- Choosing You

"Wow, you look amazing," Pete said when Chloe opened the door.

Chloe twirled her off-the-shoulder dress, the ice-blue satin swishing around her. "Well, I'm glad someone will appreciate it."

Pete held out his arm and smiled as he escorted Chloe to the car. "How's Lana getting there?"

"She's on homecoming committee so she left a while ago to make sure everything was set up," Chloe explained, letting Pete slam her car door closed.

* * *

Lana looked around at the homecoming decorations. The perfect color to contrast with her baby pink dress.

Lana had talked to Chloe and from what Chloe said she never really believed that anyone but Lana was the one Clark was talking about. Lana did feel bad about taking the guy Chloe had crushed on for so long, but Lana had liked him, too. Lana couldn't help but feel a nagging in the pit of her stomach.

* * *

"It's almost seven everyone," someone called out. "Five."

The rest of the school joined in the countdown. "Four. Three."

Clark stood on the stage, barely able to breathe. He was so afraid she wouldn't show up. So afraid that he had crossed the line too many times.

"Two!"

Clark forced himself to breathe. He had to concentrate so he wouldn't crush the bouquet of flowers in his hands.

"One!" they finished, starting to shout

"Now, Chloe," Pete said, pushing her to the steps.

Chloe held the skirt of her dress so she wouldn't trip and started to walk up the steps.

On the other side of the stage Lana did the same thing. She ran her hands over the skirt of her dress and made her way to the top of the stage.

Everyone got dead quiet when they noticed that there were two girls on the stage. They all looked expectantly to Clark.

Chloe took one look at Lana and turned to walk down the steps, but was stopped by someone taking her hand. She turned around to see Clark mere inches from her.

"You came," he said, his smile on full blast.

Chloe blushed. "It was me?" she asked, trying to keep her emotions under control.

Clark nodded, sweeping her into his arms for a kiss. Chloe pulled back when everyone started to cheer. She took the bouquet Clark handed her.

"What about…" she trailed off when she saw Lana was no longer on the stage.

"Dance with me?" Clark asked, looking down at Chloe.

Chloe nodded, not trusting herself to talk.

"Congratulations, Clark. Now it's time to get this party started," one of the band members said.

Clark led Chloe down to the dance floor. On the way Chloe handed her flowers to Pete. Everyone stepped back to make room for the couple. Clark held Chloe tightly in his arms as she laid his head on her shoulder. They swayed back and forth to the beat of the music.

"I love you, Chloe. I'm so sorry it took so long for me to figure it out," Clark said into her hair as the other couples began to dance.

Chloe pulled back and looked up at him. "I'd say it was worth the wait, but the wait almost killed me," she said with a smirk.

Clark didn't laugh. "I took you for granted, but I'll never do it again," he went on.

Chloe stood on her toes to kiss his temple. "It's okay, Clark."

Clark shook his head, still swaying to the music. "No, it's not. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"Clark," she said, looking around. "All of this more than makes up for it."

"You shouldn't be so easy on me, you know?" Clark asked, a smile playing at his lips.

Chloe snuggled back into his chest. "You know, you probably broke Lana's heart," she said, wincing in preparation of his reply.

Clark tightened his arms around Chloe. "Maybe, but I couldn't bear to break yours anymore."

"Hmmm," Chloe murmured.

Clark kissed Chloe's hair and she looked up at him. "If you leave I'll never forgive you," she warned seriously.

Clark leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. "I don't care if Lana's screaming for help and I'm the only one who can save her, I don't plan on ever letting you go."

"See, my dad may have a problem with that," Chloe said, trying in vain to hold back a smile.

"Will he have a problem with this?" Clark asked, capturing her mouth in a kiss. The heat of it seared Chloe's lips.

Chloe's arms tightened around Clark's neck. She held back a moan when his tongue probed her mouth. Clark started to pull back, but she held him in place with a hand on the back of his neck. When she finally let him go they were both out of breath.

"No, I don't think he'll have any problem with that," Chloe answered with a bright smile.

"Then why did you stop?" Clark pouted, leaning back in.