Chapter 18

Love, love me do.
You know I love you,
I'll always be true,
So please, love me do.
Whoa, love me do.
--Love Me Do--by The Beatles

Clark grinned.

"What?" Pete asked nervously. "What's that look for?"

Clark reclined on the red couch, propping his feet up on a desk. "You've only talked about Chloe. No Lana to be heard of. What gives?"

Pete smiled. "She said she loved me."

"Lana did?" Clark asked, sitting up.

Pete laughed. "No, Chloe. She said she loves me, and I realized that I really do love her."

"That's great, Pete," Clark said sincerely.

"I know," Pete replied, grinning even wider.

Clark laughed. "I have to go find Lana. Talk to you later," he said, getting up.

"Alright. I have to finish my article so Chloe doesn't kill me," Pete replied, turning to a computer.

Clark left the room, almost colliding with Lana. "Hey," he said. "You look very happy today."

Lana tugged on a strand of deep brown hair. "I am. Where are you off to?"

"To find you, actually," Clark answered.

"Did you need something?" Lana asked with a smile.

"Mom wants everyone to come over tonight for dinner. Something you said about adopting four extra kids," Clark said in confusion.

Lana laughed. "I told her that by adopting you, she pretty much adopted Chloe, Pete, Lex, and me. We all seem to rely on her in some form or another."

"That makes her feel so good," Clark said with a smile.

"Us too. I'd love to come tonight. Has everyone else already agreed?"

"Pete did. Lex did, so I'm sure Chloe will. That just leaves you," Clark said.

"I'll be there. What time?" Lana asked.

"Seven," Clark answered.

"Alright, see you then."

"Bye, Lana."

"Hey, Lana," Chloe said, coming from the opposite direction that Clark had just gone in.

"Hey, Chloe. What's up?" Lana asked.

"I wanted to see if you'd thought about what I said," Chloe replied.

Lana smiled. "Yes. It is just a passing thing. Pete just happened to be there at the time, so naturally that's who I connected with."

"Good," Chloe said. "You'll make Lex really happy."

Lana was about to reply, but the phone in the Torch office rang. Chloe ran to get it.

"Hello, Torch office. Chloe speaking," Chloe said into the phone. "Oh, hey, Lex. Hold on. Let me put you on speakerphone."

"Who's there?" Lex asked.

"Hey, Lex," Lana said, sitting on the desk next to the phone.

"Hey, Lana. Anyone else?" Lex asked.

"And me. What's up?" Pete questioned.

"Hi, Pete. I was just calling to check on everyone's plans for dinner tonight at Clark's."

Chloe looked confused. "I didn't know about it, but I'll be there."

Pete smiled at Chloe, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "Me too," he said, as Chloe leaned into him.

"Wouldn't miss it," Lana answered, grinning at Chloe and Pete.

"Good. Why don't I have the limo pick everyone up?"

Chloe laughed. "I'll be at the mansion, so whatever you decide is fine."

"Sounds great," Lana said.

"Alright. I'll see you all tonight."

"Lex?" Lana asked.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

~*~END~*~