Standing Still
Sequel to "Iris"
Chloe slammed her car door and backed out of the Kent driveway, her tears almost blinding her completely. She sped off, her anger driving the car for her until she calmed down and drove aimlessly through Lowell County. She wondered what Clark had been thinking when he did that. Had he just been too blinded by Lana he hadn't thought about anyone else? Or was the harm deliberate? She kept her eyes trained on her headlights and tried not to think about it.
Cutting through the darkest night are my two headlights, Trying to keep it clear, but I'm losing it here to the twilight.
Clark's face floated in front of her eyes, and she felt so guilty all of a sudden. Who was she to deny his happiness? He deserved Lana. Chloe's only question was if Lana was good enough for him. Her anger and hurt came rushing back as she realized she would never have a chance with Clark, and never will.
There's a dead end to my left, there's a burning bush to my right, You aren't in sight. You aren't in sight.
But she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if Clark loved her. She imagined perfect days, and cloudless skies. With fireworks and little naked babies running around shooting arrows. She just wondered if he could ever love her.
Do you want me like I want you? Or am I standing still, Beneath the darkened sky? Or am I standing still,
He was passing her by, leaving her so quickly. Outgrowing her.
With the scenery flying by? Or am I standing still? Out of the corner of my eye, was that you passing me by?
She passed through the tougher part of town, where she saw the kids playing hopscotch and riding their bikes, and their parents were sitting on the porches and stoops watching the sun go down. Mothers on the stoop, boys in souped up coupes on this hot summer night. Between fight and flight is the blind man's sight and the choice that's right.
Chloe rolled down her window to get some air, she felt like she was suffocating. She knew a small town like this was going to break her someday. She had just known it.
I roll the window down, I feel like I'm gonna drown in this strange town.
I feel broken down. I feel broken down.
She knew she needed him. More than anything she had ever known. But his world was too Lana-centered to notice her.
Do you need me like I need you? Or am I standing still?
Beneath the darkened sky? Or am I standing still?
Chloe had to talk to him. She had to explain. She pulled out her cell phone and clicked the speed dial.
With the scenery flying by? Or am I standing still? Out of the corner of my eye, was that you, passing me by?
"Clark?" "Chloe?" "Um, yeah. Can we talk?" "Ah, listen Chloe. Can we talk tomorrow?" Chloe paused. "Of course!" Chloe tried to sound pleased.
Sweet sorrow, he said, "Call tomorrow." Sweet sorrow, he said, "Call tomorrow."
Chloe hung up and kept driving. She dug around in her purse and found a picture of her and Clark from early in the school year.
Do you love me?
Like I love you?
Or am I standing still? Beneath the darkened sky? Or am I standing still? With the scenery flying by? Or am I standing still? Out of the corner of my eye, was that you, passing me by? Chloe tossed the picture out the window and let it fly.
Are you passing me by? Passing me by?
Do you love me? Passing me by? Do you need me like I need you too? And do you want me like I want you?
Chloe wiped her eyes and looked at herself in the rearview mirror.
Are you passing me by?
Or am I standing still?
Maybe she'd be all right after all.
Fin
Chloe slammed her car door and backed out of the Kent driveway, her tears almost blinding her completely. She sped off, her anger driving the car for her until she calmed down and drove aimlessly through Lowell County. She wondered what Clark had been thinking when he did that. Had he just been too blinded by Lana he hadn't thought about anyone else? Or was the harm deliberate? She kept her eyes trained on her headlights and tried not to think about it.
Cutting through the darkest night are my two headlights, Trying to keep it clear, but I'm losing it here to the twilight.
Clark's face floated in front of her eyes, and she felt so guilty all of a sudden. Who was she to deny his happiness? He deserved Lana. Chloe's only question was if Lana was good enough for him. Her anger and hurt came rushing back as she realized she would never have a chance with Clark, and never will.
There's a dead end to my left, there's a burning bush to my right, You aren't in sight. You aren't in sight.
But she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if Clark loved her. She imagined perfect days, and cloudless skies. With fireworks and little naked babies running around shooting arrows. She just wondered if he could ever love her.
Do you want me like I want you? Or am I standing still, Beneath the darkened sky? Or am I standing still,
He was passing her by, leaving her so quickly. Outgrowing her.
With the scenery flying by? Or am I standing still? Out of the corner of my eye, was that you passing me by?
She passed through the tougher part of town, where she saw the kids playing hopscotch and riding their bikes, and their parents were sitting on the porches and stoops watching the sun go down. Mothers on the stoop, boys in souped up coupes on this hot summer night. Between fight and flight is the blind man's sight and the choice that's right.
Chloe rolled down her window to get some air, she felt like she was suffocating. She knew a small town like this was going to break her someday. She had just known it.
I roll the window down, I feel like I'm gonna drown in this strange town.
I feel broken down. I feel broken down.
She knew she needed him. More than anything she had ever known. But his world was too Lana-centered to notice her.
Do you need me like I need you? Or am I standing still?
Beneath the darkened sky? Or am I standing still?
Chloe had to talk to him. She had to explain. She pulled out her cell phone and clicked the speed dial.
With the scenery flying by? Or am I standing still? Out of the corner of my eye, was that you, passing me by?
"Clark?" "Chloe?" "Um, yeah. Can we talk?" "Ah, listen Chloe. Can we talk tomorrow?" Chloe paused. "Of course!" Chloe tried to sound pleased.
Sweet sorrow, he said, "Call tomorrow." Sweet sorrow, he said, "Call tomorrow."
Chloe hung up and kept driving. She dug around in her purse and found a picture of her and Clark from early in the school year.
Do you love me?
Like I love you?
Or am I standing still? Beneath the darkened sky? Or am I standing still? With the scenery flying by? Or am I standing still? Out of the corner of my eye, was that you, passing me by? Chloe tossed the picture out the window and let it fly.
Are you passing me by? Passing me by?
Do you love me? Passing me by? Do you need me like I need you too? And do you want me like I want you?
Chloe wiped her eyes and looked at herself in the rearview mirror.
Are you passing me by?
Or am I standing still?
Maybe she'd be all right after all.
Fin