Everything In This World
By Viv
*~*~ Part Four ~*~*
It was all Chloe could do to keep upright and walking the next day, as she endured endless stares and speculation from her fellow students. Maybe she was just being hyper-paranoid, but she swore she could almost hear the whispers follow her passage down the hall between classes.
Stares she could handle; an icy glare from her cold hazel eyes were enough to detract the most blatant of starers as she walked past them, but whispering and conjecture were a different matter.
Chloe's pride would never have allowed her to stoop to losing her cool and confronting anyone about what they may or may not have been saying about her. She didn't really want to think about it - didn't want to think about anything to do with her former best friend. She just wanted to get on with her work.
That was what she had decided was the best thing to do now. She had woken up that morning much earlier than usual - she had slept surprisingly well given the whole prima donna performance she had given yesterday, and had grabbed an early morning coffee on her way to school. That way, she avoided running into Clark on the bus, and was able to think about how she was going to live her life post-Clark. That was when she had decided she was going to concentrate on her work, and leave all the baggage with Clark for another day.
"Chloe." For a moment her entire body spasmed with tension until she realised that it was Pete, not Clark, who was calling out to her from across the hall. She sighed in relief, giving him a tiny smile in greeting.
"Hey you."
Pete sidled up to her and hooked an arm around her shoulders. "How's it going?"
"Haven't you heard?" Chloe smiled despite herself. "I insulted the school swimming hero right before the most important meet in the history of Smallville."
"Oh that." Pete's smile faltered, and Chloe noticed that even his naturally cheery nature couldn't quite get over the complete sundering of his best friends' friendship.
They walked on in silence, until Pete burst out with, "I don't know what's going on with you guys Chloe."
Chloe shrugged. "And you're asking me? I'm the madwoman who punched him in front of the entire student body. If the Torch wasn't the quality publication that I've made it to be, the headline would be screaming 'Freak Assaults Swimming Champion'." She laughed without real emotion, as if she could alleviate her own misery.
"Chloe." Pete sighed, "what am I going to do with you two?"
Chloe's blue orbs locked with Pete's intent brown ones. Solemnly, without any trace of sarcastic humour, she said, "Pray."
Pete stared at her, apparently shocked enough by the gravity in her voice and demeanour to check himself for a moment. Suddenly he laughed. "Oh, you almost had be there Chloe. If I didn't know you so well, I could've sworn you were feeling sorry for yourself." He slapped her back heartily, as if she were one of his team mates. "You know, instead of plotting some serious kick-ass story to put in the next issue of the Torch."
Chloe had to roll her eyes at Pete's optimism. She was flattered that he thought so much of her that he thought she would have the ability to pick herself up from excessive wallowing in self-pity she was so obviously indulging in at the moment. Despite herself, she let a small chuckle escape and was jolted by the reality that although she had made a mess of things with Clark, she clearly still had good things going for her in her life. Her other best friend for one thing.
"Thanks Pete. I could always count on you to cheer me up." She gave him a small punch on the shoulder as he smiled somewhat bashfully. Trust guys to become embarrassed by their own emotions, Chloe thought wryly.
She opened her mouth to basically tell him as much when her sharp eyes caught the unmistakable figure of Clark making his way towards their direction, his tall frame easily identifiable amongst the throng between them, his face one of brooding misery. Her heart ached in the knowledge that she had caused that misery so plainly etched on his face, but she wasn't ready to confront him yet.
She wasn't ready to confront him yet, so she did the only thing she could. To Pete's astonishment, she did a quick turnaround and began walking away, leaving him behind. She caught a glimpse of Clark's surprised features as he spied her in front of him, but she just couldn't stay.
"Chloe!" Clark called after her, naked pleading in his voice.
She ignored him as she lost herself in the crowded hall of the school, hoping that there would come a day when she and Clark could salvage what was left of their tattered friendship.
(c) July 2002