Chapter 17-

'Cause it's all about to change starting now
Yeah, it's all about to change starting now

--It's All About To Change--by Travis Tritt

"Knock, knock," Lana said, knocking on the Kent's screendoor.

"Come in, Lana," Martha called from the kitchen. "Clark isn't here, but he should be back soon."

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you," Lana said.

Martha gestured to a stool at the counter. "Would you like a piece of apple pie?"

Lana nodded. "Yes, please."

"What did you need to talk about?" Martha asked, setting a plate in front of Lana, then pouring her a glass of milk.

"Lex and Pete," Lana said, taking a bite of the steaming pie.

"Is something wrong?" Martha asked, cutting a piece of pie for herself.

"No," Lana said hurriedly. "Well, sort of. Pete and I worked together to get him and Chloe and me and Lex together. We started spending a lot of time together."

"I'm not sure that I understand, Lana," Martha said in confusion.

Lana looked down at her plate. "I feel horrible because I've only been dating Lex for three days."

"You're starting to realize your feelings for Pete," Martha said in understanding.

Lana nodded. "Does that make me a horrible person?"

"Of course not, sweetie. You just had a change of heart," Martha assured her.

"What do I do?" Lana asked.

"Talk to Chloe," Martha said simply.

Lana's eyes got wide. "But I can't. She and Pete-"

Martha cut her off. "Chloe values your friendship more than you think. She respects your opinions."

"But-"

"No buts," Martha said. "Chloe came in here earlier and said the same thing."

"She likes Lex, doesn't she?" Lana asked.

"I don't know how strong her feelings are, but they're there. Talk to her. You'll feel better."

"Thank you," Lana said, standing up.

"I'm always here if you need me," Martha answered.

Lana smiled. "In adopting Clark I think you've adopted four more kids, too."

"You are always welcome here," Martha said, a proud smile on her face.

"I know," Lana said, turning to leave. "And I appreciate it."

* * *

Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? and who should be blamed?
Am I supposed to change? Are you supposed to change?
Who should be hurt? Who should be ashamed?
--We Need A Resolution--by Aaliyah

"Lana, it's not that simple. We walk in there and say 'oh, by the way, we're switching guys' and Pete says, 'bye,'" Chloe said loudly. "I'm not prepared to hurt Pete."

"And you think I'm prepared to hurt Lex?" Lana asked from her seat on her porch swing.

Chloe paced in front of Lana. "Doing this hurts both of them. We run the risk of losing them both. I care about Lex, but I'm not sure if it's enough to ditch Pete."

"Chloe, it isn't fair to keep this up. How can you be with Pete, and have feelings for Lex? How can you deal with that?"

Chloe stopped to face Lana, pain etched in her features. "Because I love Pete. I refuse to do to him what Clark did to us."

"I understand," Lana said, the concern written across her face.

"No, you don't," Chloe said, tears threatening to fall. "You can't understand what it feels like to love someone and have them throw you aside because they decide to love someone else."

"Chloe," Lana said as a Ford and a Porsche pulled into the driveway.

"No," Chloe said firmly, paying no attention to Pete and Lex climbing from the cars. "I won't do it, Lana."

"Chloe, what's wrong?" Pete asked, climbing the stairs.

"Lana?" Lex asked, following Pete.

"You can't ignore this, Chloe," Lana said, standing.

"And you can't expect me to act on a passing feeling," Chloe threw back, her hands in fists by her sides. Pete put his hands on Chloe's shoulders from behind, but she shrugged him off. "I'm leaving."

"Chloe," Pete called as she walked from the porch. He turned to Lana.

"I'm sorry," Lana told him sadly.

"Chloe, wait! Tell me what's wrong," Pete urged, jogging after her. When she opened her car door, he pushed it closed.

Chloe turned slowly, the tears freezing her pink cheeks in the cold weather. "I love you, Pete."

"I love you, too," Pete told her, brushing a strand of blond hair behind her ear.

"Really?" Chloe asked.

Pete pulled Chloe into his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked, smoothing her hair.

Chloe nodded. "Yeah," she said, pulling back.

Lana and Lex were talking on the porch swing when Pete and Chloe walked up.

"Chloe, I'm sorry," Lana said, regret showing on her face.

Chloe nodded. "I'm just not ready to give up, yet."

"I'm not either. You're right, it's probably just a passing thing," Lana said.

Chloe took a deep breath to calm herself. "Good, because you know my luck with you and guys."

Lana laughed at the joke. "It's not my fault."

"Clark is never anyone's fault," Chloe said, with a laugh.