Summery: In this chapter, we learn more of the mysterious person's agenda, Chloe gets a surprise and Lana meets the green eyed monster

Rating: PG-13 cause any lower and it wouldn't be that interesting now would it?

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except for the world. Which will come to me eventually…

A/N: I would now like to bring to your attention that the idea for this fic hit me in a bolt of lighting after Obscura but before Tempest, so completely disregard all events in Tempest, as they cannot fit in this story. Yet. They might. Lets just see where it goes, shall we? This chapter is also kinda long winded, but it has to be to lead to places. Bear with me, juicy things to follow.

NOW…on with the show!!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Of Mice and Men
By Calette

      Clark Kent pulled into the driveway of his Smallville home. The sunset hit the house, turning the yellow paint into a beautiful fiery orange red. The flowers in the garden seemed to be aflame, dancing in the wind.

"Hey Farm boy, can we just get whatever it is you need to get and go already?"

Chloe was looking at him impatiently, with that quirky little look on her face.

"Need I remind you that we have to be at the Talon in…10 minuets?" Chloe looked at her watch and then back at Clark.

"Alright alright Chloe, I get the message." Clark said, laughing.

"Good. Then why aren't you moving?"

"Huh?"

"You're still in the truck."

"Oh…Oh! Right, the thing I need to get...which is in my house…"

"And therefore, by simple deduction, should you not be going into your house?"

"Ah. Right. House. Enter. Going now. " Clark opened the truck door and started walking. Man, Chloe sure was impatient. But Clark couldn't help it. The way the sunlight struck off her face…her hair…Lana never looked like that. Could never look like that. But yet, he still liked them both. Dammit! Why did they have to be so…so…so…them! Clark sighed, and opened his front porch door, walking in. Why did life have to be so complicated?

~*~*~*~

Chloe sat in the truck, impatiently tapping her fingers on the dashboard. What was taking him so long? What was it that he needed to get anyways? Chloe wouldn't be surprised if it were a gift for Lana, they were going to the Talon after all. They way he fawned over her, honestly… right in front of her too! That boy was as blind as a bat. He may be able to spot a penny on the sidewalk 20 feet away, but could he tell her feelings for him? No. Ugh. No matter how hard she tried to move on form him, she just could not.

But still…when he asked her to the Spring Formal, at first she thought it was cause he had no one else to go with. But in the past few days, it seemed as if he really did want to go with her, not cause there was no one else, but…just her. Chloe shook her head. It was stupid to get ideas like these in her head. They could lead to places and hoping and wishing and the eventual letdown when Lana breaks it off with Whitney and her and Clark go running off into the sunset leaving her behind…ugh. Love. How terribly inefficient it was. It gets in the way of everything, leaving you crushed and broken in its wake.

What was taking Clark so long?

Chloe undid her seatbelt, got out of the truck and walked towards his house. It wasn't like she was spying on him…just, checking up on him. Who knows? Maybe he fell in this kitchen and needed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation…Chloe grinned at that thought. And when she revived him, he would look into her eyes, and tell her that there was no other…

And then his dead cows would fly by. The chances of that ever happening were non-existent…in other towns. But this was Smallville. Who knows what affects the meteor rocks had on the bovine population of this little town? Ahh the rocks, as long as those were still around, Chloe knew she had some hope.

The door was open, so she walked in. She could hear Clark's voice in the kitchen.

"Yeah…don't worry, I got it. Yeah…yes...yes! Lex! Stop worrying, we'll be there on time! I know, I know, but it's not like I could leave without it now could I? Listen, just get ready, we'll be there soon enough. All right…all right…ok already! Don't worry, everything will go according to the plan. Chloe will be there. She has to be. I can't wait for it…this will blow her away…"

Clark made some more small talk, and then hung up the phone. Chloe stomped her feet a couple of times and shut the door to make it seem as if she just entered.

"You took too long so I thought I'd come in and see what was up." Chloe yelled out. In the back of her mind, she wondered, what was he talking about with Lex on the phone?

"Oh…well, I had trouble finding…the thing I was looking for." He held up a plain cardboard box. "It's for Lana."

Knew it, Chloe thought bitterly. "Gonna give me a hint to what it is?"

"Nothing much really." Clark asked, his eyes shifting form side to side. He was such a bad liar. Looked cute when he did that eye thing. Dead giveaway though.

"Fiiiiiiine, don't tell me, your best friend, your confidante, your date to the Spring Formal." Chloe grinned evilly.

"Aw come on Chlo, just leave it. It's a gift yes. AND, that's all I will say." Clark said, walking out. Chloe ran out.

"I'm hurt Clark, deeply hurt that you would not trust me." Chloe feigned tears.

"Oh, however could I have done such a thing?" Clark said monotonously.

"Exactly what I was thinking. You can make it up to me by telling me what's in the little box."

"Why do you want to know so much?"

"Cause you don't want me to know. Reporters instinct tells me there is a cover up here!"

"Ugh, Chloe, just drop it. There's nothing in here that would interest you, I swear."

"Humph. I'll find out eventually. Just you wait."

"We're going to be late." Clark motioned to his watch. "Correction; we are late."

"You're changing the subject, but I'll ignore that. Lets just go so you can give her the gift and I can find out what's so important about it that you have to keep it a secret." Chloe

"You do know that curiosity killed the cat right?" Clark opened the door for Chloe, and then got in himself. Always the gentleman, so sweet…and kind…and thoughtful…and hot…

They rode to the Talon in silence. Clark kept drumming his fingers on the wheel in tune to the beat on the radio. Chloe was staring out the window, her thoughts wandering about.

"So, exactly what are we going to do when we meet up with Pete?" Chloe inquired.

"The standard. Back to my house, cake, gifts, friends, good times. Ya know, standard issue birthday package."

"Awww Clark-"

"Chloe, it's your birthday. Of course we're going to celebrate it, no matter how many times you tell us you don't want to."

"It's just my 16th birthday, no big deal-"

"No big deal!" Clark was indignant. "You're sweet 16 Chloe! This is the birthday that you're supposed to remember for the rest of your life! Pete and me intend to make it memorable. So there."

"Oh fine then. Celebrate if you must." Chloe slumped in her seat, pretending to pout. Deep down however, she was glad for the attention Pete and Clark were giving her. Smiling as they pulled into a parking space in front of the Talon, Chloe turned her attention back to the Box on Clark's lap. UGH! Why must Lana get something on her birthday? She already knew what Clark was giving her, Pete told her. Well, more of a 'Would you like it if Clark got you another gift certificate to HMV?' Ugh, nothing says 'platonic friendship' more then a gift certificate on her birthday.

Stupid Lana.

"Why are we meeting here anyway? Why not just go straight to Pete's house?" Chloe asked. Clark held up the little box and shook it, painfully reminding her for whom the box was intended. "If you're going in just to see Lana, I think I'll say out here and miss the sugary sweetness of it all."

"Come on Chloe…they have coffee. I'll buy you an espresso."

Chloe was still unconvinced.

"With foam?"

Still nothing.

"Extra large?"

"Ok, you got me Farm boy, but I'll hold you to it." Chloe grinned as she walked out of the truck. She could always absorb herself in caffeine and ignore the flirting between Lana and Clark.

Walking into the Talon, her and Clark noticed the same thing. It was completely dark. None of the lights were on, it seemed as if nobody was there.

"Clark…where did all the people go?" Chloe said, trying to navigate around in the dark.

No response.

"Clark? Where are you?"

Dead silence.

"Ok, now this is getting a little freaky, where is everybody?"

Suddenly, the lights went on. Balloons and streamers came out of everywhere. A banner unfurled on the wall, sprouting the words "Happy Sweet 16 Chloe!" People started pouring out of everywhere, all her friends, her grandparents, cousins, Pete, Lex, The Torch staff,  Lana [with Whitney? What was that dumb jock doing here?], everybody she knew was packed into the café.

"So, what do you think of this?" Clark said from behind, startling her.

"Clark Abraham Kent! I cannot believe you did this!" Chloe said, hugging him.

"Shhhhhh, not so loud on the 'Abraham' thing." He whispered into her ear, sending shivers up and down her spine.

Lana came in pulling a huge cart with a big cake on top. Everyone surged forward, eager to grab a slice. Soon after, there was naught a hand without a plate of cake in one hand and some caffinated beverage in the other.

And then, the gifts came. There was a whole mountain of them, more then she has ever gotten. Some were practical [underwear from Aunt Celeste], others were funny [a plushie that said things when you punched it form Whitney, for 'that time of the month', he told her. He ran from her flying fork], and most of the rest had to do with photography or journalism. Finally, came Clark's gift. By this time, most of the novelty of opening gifts had worn off and the majority of the guests went off mingling. Clark handed her an envelope. Inside was a card [Hallmark, of course] and…a gift certificate. Bleah. She forced a smile as she thanked Clark.

"Hold on. I have another one."

What? Another one? You mean he's pulling away from his standard gift certificate? Thought Chloe. Hey, even Farm Boy can pull a few surprises.

It was the box. The simple, little cardboard box she had been dying to know what lied within. She took it gingerly, almost hesitant to look inside. Opening the flap at the stop, pushing aside the newspaper, she pulled out something. And then she looked at the delicate object in her hand.

It was a necklace. A simple little necklace. The crystal pendant hanging from it was in the shape of a heart. In the center, lay a blue sapphire. The last remaining rays of sunlight hit the pendant, casting rainbows upon the wall. It looked as if there was a little fire in the center of the gem, but only for a moment. She looked up at Clark.

"Well?"

"Oh Clark, it's beautiful!" She got up and hugged him. On the spur of the moment, she kissed him on the cheek. Chloe noticed a small reaction on his part, but then he just hugged her tighter.

"Uhhhhh, Clark?"

"What?"

"I can't breath."

"Oh! Sorry." He let Chloe go at once. There was a bit of an akward pause between them, then they both burst out into laughter.

~*~*~*~*~

She saw the whole thing.

She saw him giving her that gift…that beautiful gift…and her reaction. She saw the hug, the kiss, and the look in their eyes afterwards.

So, why did it bother her, Lana Lang, of all people?

But, Clark was hers…he liked her. Maybe even loved her. She could tell, always had. And for the past year, she reveled in the attention he lavished upon her.

But she had Whitney.

Ah yes, the every loving, doting, annoying…

Woah. Where did that come from?

Lana already knew the answer to that one. Their relationship had been deteriorating for some time now. Ever since Clark came into her life, she had seen that not all guys were like Whitney, jealous fiends who would make a fuss if she made friends with other guys. Clark wasn't like that, he was very much the gentleman, always so sweet…and kind…and thoughtful…and hot…

And he used to like her. Had she passed up on her chance to be with him? Lana looked away. Well, they weren't an item yet...maybe she was just imagining all this. Maybe things were still the same between them.

But just look at those two…

Lana went off to be with Whitney. Maybe he could keep her mind off these conflicting thought that were arising in her mind.

~*~*~*~

He looked inside the Talon with intrest. So, things changed while he was gone. Last time he checked, Kent was drooling all over…Lana. Yes, that was her name. After 20 years, he had forgotten almost all names, including his own.

But not Kent's.

Never Kent's.

Looking back in, he saw Clark fawn over the blond chick. The one who did the report on him. The one with the laptop. Her? He liked her? Which one was it? Which one would cause him pain more? Which one would make him suffer, bleed on the insides as well as rip up his soul?

Damn, he couldn't tell.

Oh well, he would just have to involve both then.

This was going to be great fun…

~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: Maybe I should change the genre for now…it doesn't seem to fit. Mind you, when I put it up there were two very annoying people looking over my shoulder, and that causes me to screw up…but it will be action. And adventure. Plus drama, so I guess the genre fits…

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