Summery: This is the mindless yet meaningful dribble that every story needs :P We have few if little clues to our mystery boy, and Clark and Chloe have a 'moment'…but does it actually mean anything? Or is it just a passing thing? Ooooooo, read on and find out!



Rating: PG-13…cause then the rabbits can come…0_0

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except…FOR YOUR SOULS!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

A/N: Wow. An actual update. You saw it first here folks :P. Sorry I haven't updated in…ok 2 months about, but my life has been…stressful to say in the least. It's somewhat back on track, but there are still issues to be pounded out. To all who reviewed so far, look closely…:D

NOW…on with the show!!!!

~*~*~*~*~

Of Mice and Men

Calette

The sun started to set on the shocking events of the day. The day had passed with policemen drifting in and out of Chloe's home. Not only that, but her Dad couldn't be there for most of it. Turned out that Lex really hadn't sent him the e-mail. Someone trying to get him away from the house had actually managed to hack into the Luthor Corp system undetected. He had to stay and help sort things out. The police and Luthor Corp security did manage to come to the conclusion that it was all for the sole purpose of enticing Gabe Sullivan away from his home so the mysterious man could break in. Chloe told the police that all she had found missing was her diary. The sheriff asked her if she had anything important to hide, but she quickly waved off the inquiries, telling the sheriff that there was nothing any burglar would want that they could find in her diary.

"All right little lady," The Sheriff said with his usual southern twang "Although we doubt the burglar could come back again twice in a row, we'll still post an officer outside your door for you protection and peace of mind."

A woman stepped forward, mousy brown tucked neatly back in a ponytail underneath her hat. She didn't look at all threatening. Chloe looked slightly skeptical. The sheriff noticed it, and quickly reassured her.

"This is Officer Meredith Welling. She's one of our best, they don't call her 'Ultrawoman' for nothing." He said, grinning slightly. The woman grinned as well, and put a hand on her holster.

"Don't worry, nobody will get by me." She said reassuringly. Chloe breathed a sigh of relief and went back in.

It felt odd, entering this house alone now. It seemed…violated somehow. Different, and yet the same. Chloe couldn't go into her room, not just yet. The police had told her it was all right to; there wasn't any evidence they could find. It was just…odd. Chloe did go in to get her Discman. As she stooped down to retrieve it, she noticed a hair on her pillow. Immediately, she picked it up, inspecting it. She gasped, and then ran out the door.

~*~*~

Chloe pulled up to Clark's driveway several minutes later. She felt as though she had broken al speed records coming here. The hair lay beside her, in a small plastic baggy, grabbing it; she made way for the barn, where she could see Clark looking in his telescope.

Clark looked up. Chloe was standing below him, waving something around.

"Chloe? What are you doing here?"

"I may have something on the guy who broke in my house." Chloe said, holding up the baggie.

"Here, let me see." Clark took the baggie and peered at its contents.

"A hair? Chloe…" He said, almost exasperated.

"What? It could be his hair."

"If it is a he."

"I'm sure it's Lana's guy too. He showed up last night."

'And you didn't call me? Chloe! I-"

"Yes, yes, I know Clark. You wanted to get him. But I could see what was in his hand."

"And just what was it?"

"My dairy."

"…"

Clark went silent, slightly shocked. Then, he began to wonder.

"Chloe…"

"Before you say it no. There is nothing that someone would want in my diary. I don't put notes and stuff in there."

"If you say so…"

" I *know* so farmboy."

More awkward silence. Crickets chirped. Birds twerped. Martha and Jonathan laughed. Chloe broke the silence.

"So…the hair?"

"Chloe, you're blonde."

"Oh, and what's *that* supposed to mean?" Chloe said indignantly. 

"Well, the hair in here is blonde as well."

"…"

"What? Chloe, you *scare* me when you glare like that."

Chloe grabbed the bag out of his hands.

"*This* is why I will be a reporter Kent." She drew him close. For a moment she forgot where she was, only knowing the sensations she was feeling. The light touch of their shoulders touching one another. The heat radiating from his body. The sweet and sour smell of sweat on his skin. His hot breathe lightly brushing the hairs on her neck, giving her goose bumps. Chloe regained control of her senses. "Look at the hair."

"What about it?"

"What colour is it?"

"…Blonde…Chloe, where are you going with this?"

"Yeah, look closer."

Clark brung the baggie up to his eyes.

"I'm sorry Chloe, I just don't see what you're seeing."

"The hair is dull. Brittle."

"Really? Ooooohhh, yeah! I can see it now!"

"Clark. Do not look at me like I am crazy."

"Yes mam."

"Look at my hair Clark? Is it dull? Brittle? It's not even that short, or shade of blonde."

Clark smacked his forehead. "Of course! I should have seen it!" He took the baggie, and sent over to a table in the corner, where a microscope lay.

"You keep a *microscope* in your barn?" said Chloe.

"Yeah." Clark said, making it sound as if it were the normal thing to do. "I *am* in the science club you know."

"Riiiiiiiiiight….Geek."

"Quiet you."

"Make me!"

"I just might do that." Clark said, giving her a sort of predatory look. She quickly walked over to the table.

"So, what are you trying to do?" Chloe asked, leaning against the table.

"Well, I was online a while ago, in a science chatroom –"

"Some look at porn, he goes for science-"

" Aaanyways…this one girl…sweetflower8 or something, she was talking about how cool it was to look at hair under a microscope. -"

"Point?"

"Well, you can also see how OLD the hair is. People our age generally have shiny, flexible hair. As you get older, it tends to get dull and brittle."

"So…you can do this to see if it's our guy?"

"Well, from the description you girls gave me, and from Lana's dream, he has to be older or around 30 or so."

"Ah the lrnd science prodigy."

"Lrnd?"

"Don't ask. Long story. Inside joke."

"Ahhh….why are you looking at me like that?"

"Well, what are you waiting for? Look at it!"

Clark just rolled his eyes, and prepared the slide. He then put the slide with the hair on it under the microscope. After a few moments, his head snapped up.

"It's him."

"Really? You sure?" Chloe said, jumping with excitement.

"Definatly. It's not a teenage hair, and unless you're Dad has – "

"Finish that sentence and die."

Clark laughed, and then headed over to the couch. Chloe followed, plopping down beside him. He closed his eyes, resting his head back against the cushion.

"What's wrong?" Chloe asked, concerned.

"Oh…nothing. Just tired."

"Ahhhh…maybe you shouldn't stay up so late gazing at a certain Lana Lang whom I will not mention through you're telescope." Chloe said, half grinning.

"What? Oh, that. I haven't done that in ages." Clark sat up. "Speaking of dances…."

"I never said anything about a dance." Said Chloe, a bemused expression on her face.

"Well, I had to bring it up somehow. It *is* coming up soon, and I need to know what colour your dress is."

"Huh? Oh yeeeeaaaaahhh…oh my god, I completely forgot about that!" Chloe said, laughing. She sat up as well. "With everything that's been going on lately, I've completely forgotten I'm going to the dance with you."

"Oh gee thanks."

"No offence by the way. I haven't even gone dress shopping." Chloe suddenly realized.

"Well, you aren't doing anything tomorrow are you?"

"No, why?"

"I'll take you shopping!" Clark said as if that were the answer to everything.

"Clark, you can't."

"And why not?"

"Cause that's cheating! The guy isn't supposed to see the dress before the dance!"

"Isn't that for weddings?"

"Dances too."

"Ahhhh…I'll never get you girls." He said, shaking his head.

"I'll just go by myself. Dad can give me the money."

They just sat in silence for a while, watching the clouds go by. For the first time in a long time in a long time, Clark felt comfortable. He wasn't tense, wondering if the next Freak of the Week was going to pounce up behind him. He was just there, with Chloe, watching the clouds drift by…

With Chloe.

He could smell the shampoo she used. Body shop he guessed. It had this aromatherapy like effect on him. Without thinking, on impulse, he put his head against hers.

"…Clark…what are you doing?"

"Leaning my head against your shoulder."

"Yes, I can tell, but why?"

"Cause you make such a good headrest." He sat up again, grinning. Chloe shoved him.

"Hey! What was that for?"

"For being tall enough to do that."

"Yeah…well…":::shove:::

"Hey! Watch where you put those hand mister?"

Clark blushed. "Uhhhh…sorr-"

He didn't have a chance to finish, because his mom walked in just then.

"Clark honey, you have a lettre!"

Clark looked at Chloe, then his mom, confused. He NEVER got mail. Jumping up, he bounded down the stairs to his mom. Chloe followed.

"So why hand deliver it?"

"Because there's no return address. I wanted to see who it was." Martha said, point blankedly. Clark took the envlope from her hands.

"Well, what areyou waiting for?" Chloe said, "Open it!"

Clark ripped the envelope open, tossing it aside. Inside was a single paper, folded over. He unfolded it, but before he could see what it said, Chloe snatched it from his hands.

"Hey! What's the idea?" He said, partly angry, partly confused.

"The idea is Clark," Chloe said, clutching the paper to her breast. "That this is a page from my diary!"

~*~*~

A/N: Yeah yeah yeah, I know, I usually end with the mystery guy's POV. But I'm rushing this out. Mainly cause I have little time left. For those who have reviewed and didn't see your names here, sorry. Didn't get a chance to work them in. :( Oh well. I might do something like that again. I want to clear a few things up –

YES I KNOW CLARK'S MIDDLE NAME IS JEROME!!!

Sorry, but I think I have stated this before, but I DIDN"T know when I wrote that it was Jerome. Plus, Jerome isn't nearly as embarrasing as Abraham. So from henceforth, no more comments on that please, for the purposes of this fic, his middle name is Abraham, cause it's fun to torture boys like that! Glee! Yay! All cleared up now!

I'd thank my beta right about now….but I don't have one. Not a good thing I know, but didn't know where to advertise for one…ff.net took those boards down a long time ago. :( Oh well. I am making it a point now to advertise MY skills as a beta. I'd like to do that, and considering Smallville's popularity…why not? So, writing a story? Need a beta? Drop me a line at anjelic_alex@HOTMAIL.com. I don't use my yahoo address much anymore.

I think I'll shut up now and let you nice people tell me what you think of this latest installment. :D