Chapter 7
"Blow the Candles Out"
A Smallville story by Xica
Characters: Clark, Chloe, Pete, Lana, Lex, and Mari
Disclaimer: The only character I own is Mari; everything else belongs to some very rich men who don't understand that the Chlark is what makes the Smallville world go round. Enjoy.
"Okay spill it".
Chloe took in the anxious look on her friends' face with a serene smile.
"I have no idea what you're talking about".
"Liar!"
"Tease!"
"Bitch!"
"Tramp!"
"Prude!"
Chloe blushed. "Well not exactly".
"Chloe…you didn't"
"No! Not that exactly…but we did some things".
"Ohmigod!"
"Mari calm down its not like we're the first people to ever make out at a party".
"C'mon Chloe, you know you and Clark aren't just anybody".
Chloe considered that for a moment and sighed. "It was amazing", she said wistfully. "It just finally felt like we really clicked ya know? After all this time it was just so easy. It was so…hey! Why did you change your clothes?"
Now it was Mari's turn to blush. "I just felt like changing that's all" Mari said quickly, "I though we were talking about you".
Chloe eyed Mari suspiciously, taking in the sloppy hair, faded t-shirt and complete lack of make-up. Mari had been better put together when she'd gotten the measles last summer, so her current look was completely out of character.
"Mari you're rating a 10 on my bull shit meter. Fess up" Chloe said firmly before a thought dawned on her. "Did you and Pete hook up?"
Mari looked at her as if she'd grown another head. "Pete? Why would I hook up with Pete?"
Lana heard Clark's footsteps approaching her, but did not look up. Squeezing out a few more tears Lana kept her eyes focused firmly on the ground. Even though she'd planned this, even she was a little surprised at how well this was going. Clark was just as, if not more, gullible than she had ever imagined. The fact that he'd run away from Chloe's embrace at the slightest hint of her distress just proved that Clark belonged to her.
"Lana?" Showtime.
"Clark?" Lana said, pretending to be surprised at his appearance, "what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be enjoying the party…with Chloe?"
"Oh, uh well she ran off with Mari, I've got a few minutes".
Lana smiled meekly and wiped a few tears from her cheeks. "You must think I'm so pathetic, sitting out here crying like an idiot".
"No, never Lana. It's good that you can be honest with your feelings like that. I'm just sorry that you're having such a hard time. You must really miss Whitney".
Shit. She hadn't expected him to go there.
"No, its not that, I guess I just miss that feeling of being with someone I truly care about. Someone I'm meant to be with" Lana put extra emphasis on that last part, bringing her eyes up to Clark's.
To his credit, Clark at least had the decency to be uncomfortable with where things were going, but Lana wasn't going to give up so easily. Putting one delicate hand on his Lana looked deep into his eyes. "And the truth is Clark its taken me a long time to realize this but" Lana paused dramatically, "the person I'm meant to be with is you".
Clark had to stifle a gasp. His mind raced as he weighed the implications of that statement. He had wanted Lana for so long but things were clicking with him and Chloe, and it was better than he had ever imagined it could be. His eyes refocused on Lana and he was temporarily lost in the haze of her beauty. The uncertainty and longing he saw in her eyes was breaking him.
What the hell is wrong with him? Lana thought to herself. He should be falling into my arms by now. For a moment Lana was sacked with an incomprehensible thought. What if he really does like Chloe more that me? Well, there is only one way to really find out. Screwing up her courage Lana leaned close, sliding her hands up Clark's arm as she did so. Taking a deep breath Lana went in for the kill.
The feeling of Lana Lang's lips pressed firmly against his produced a feeling that Clark couldn't quite describe. How did one describe…nothing? The alarms were going off in his head but they weren't exclamations of passion, all Clark could think of was how absolutely wrong this was. Lana felt like dead wood in his arms, when Chloe had felt so warm and full of life. Clark jerked away from Lana and she stared at him absolutely stunned.
"Clark! What's wrong? I, I thought you liked me?"
"I do Lana, but"
"But what!"
"Well Chloe and I ,we kinda"
"Oh I get it" Lana spat out, visibly angry. "Chloe lets you feel her up at a party and all of sudden you're in love with her! Stop thinking with your hormones Clark".
Clark was shocked at Lana's behavior. Gone was the sweet, quiet girl that he'd thought he'd been in love with all these years. In her place was the mean spirited shrew that was staring at him with venom in her eyes. And as bad as he felt about this there was no way he was going to let her talk about his Chloe like that.
"Lana I think you need to calm down. You're saying things you don't really mean".
"Really? You're one to lecture about feelings Clark. You've been mooning after me for years and now here I am, giving myself to you and you're just gonna throw all that away!
Standing in the back door Chloe watched the scene in front of her with rapt attention. She'd come looking for Clark and she had definitely seen more than she bargained for. Chloe had walked outside just as Lana had started running her hands up Clark's arms and although she'd expected what came next that didn't make it any less painful. When Clark and Lana kissed her first instinct had been to turn tail and run away, but that feeling was short lived. She was sick and tired of everyone in town acting as if Lana Lang could do know wrong. And her anger was not only reserved for Lana. She was enraged that he would have even come out here with Lana just minutes after he held her in his arms. Playtime is over. Chloe thought to herself. She had taken the honorable mention too many times. It was high time that she made it known that Chloe Sullivan was not someone to be played with.
Mari walked through the party, desperately searching for Pete. He had seemed agitated the last time she had caught a glimpse of him and now she was certain that she knew why. She didn't know how but she had a gut feeling that Pete knew about her and Lex. But she was far more concerned about how he would react. She couldn't believe that she hadn't ever considered that he might have feelings for her. I mean yeah, he's always really nice to me and stuff but Pete is nice to everyone. And its not as if she sits at home and pines for me, he's the only one of us who actually dates on a regular basis.
The more Mari considered it Pete wasn't so bad of a guy, but she still couldn't let go of Lex. There was just something…something that she really couldn't explain, that drew her to Lex. But then again, its not as if I could ever have a relationship with him. I mean, he's a billionaire with a notorious reputation, not to mention the fact that he's at least four or five years older than me. My parents are liberal, but not that liberal.
Mari shook her head, this was all to much to deal with right now. Right now all she wanted to do was find Pete and straighten this all out. Lex or no Lex, Pete was a good friend and she wasn't going to let that go to waste.
Not looking where she was going Mari crashed hard into someone's back.
"Oh, I'm so sorry" Mari started to apologize as the person turned around.
"Pete! I was just looking for you!"
"Well now you've found me"
"Listen, we need to talk. Can we go some where ?"
Pete smiled, "Actually Mari, I don't have too much to say to you at this point".
"You don't?" Mari asked nervously.
"Nope nothing to say at all" Pete said, pulling Mari closer to him.
Pete lowered his mouth to her and kissed her softly. Mari tried to resist but soon found herself unwilling to let go. After what seemed like a lifetime Pete pulled away from her, but leaned back in to whisper in her ear.
"I guess you've got a decision to make", he whispered and then with one final look he turned around and walked away leaving Mari in stunned silence.
Oh shit.