You Never Knew - Part 8
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Chloe was still blushing when she, Clark and Pete went back to their seats after giving their orders at the Talon's counter. Somehow Clark was able to read her mind and he told the waitress exactly what she wanted to have that afternoon. Exactly. And that sweet kiss he gave her forehead and his arm around her shoulders - wow. She totally did not expect that. Did Clark eat something today that made him pay more attention to her? Chloe reveled at the moment and returned the smile that Clark gave her as they sat waiting for their orders.
Clark enjoyed seeing Chloe happy. Chloe and coffee - perfect combination. She seemed very pleased that he guessed her order right; he seemed pretty pleased with himself, too. She was back to her perky, wide-smiling self. This day just got better.
Pete was also relishing the moment. Clark was finally exhibiting some intelligence with regards to man-woman relationships, particularly with Chloe. Plus he got a free mocha.
"So Chloe," Pete started as their orders got to their table, "what kind of music do they play?"
The question made the Clark and Chloe look over at the other side of the Talon where Trev, Mike and Gene were setting up the band instruments and sound equipment. Suddenly Chloe was flustered and started on her trademark brow-furrowing, hard blinking, lip-biting, stuttering response. "Um… ah… rock, I guess." She turned her attention back to the perfect latte that Clark got for her. "I mean, who doesn't do that anyway?"
"C'mon Chloe," Clark joined in, "they're your friends. You should know what their repertoire is like." He hoped that Chloe might open up some more about her life in Metropolis.
Chloe shrugged. "Can we talk about something else? How are your articles doing? I need them by Friday to make the next issue."
Pete was still watching the guys set up the band when an idea came to him. "I don't know, Chloe, I might just do a feature on the Talon's new band."
"Hey that's great!" Clark approved. "You could do a profile on Trev and his buddies. I can ask Lana how she came up with the new idea of putting entertainment in the Talon."
"Excuse me? Please be reminded that I, Supreme Overlord of the Torch, approve your articles!?!" Chloe rolled her eyes.
Trev and Lana - two people she didn't want to talk about or to. Every second that passed by was agonizing for Chloe. Her emotions were at turmoil. She wanted to have this normal time with her friends and savor the attention Clark was giving her but not with an ex-boyfriend so close at hand. She could feel Trev's eyes on her every now and then. The sound of the guys tuning the guitars, the bass and when they tested the drums was making her uncomfortable. The presence of her old friends was like her Metropolis past slowly climbing up the surface which she didn't have the mental capacity nor the emotional stability to face.
"Sound check - one, two, three." It was Gene's voice coming out of the speakers strategically placed around the Talon.
"They rigged this place pretty good." Clark noted as he took a look around. There were more speakers and lights added specially at the stage area where the band was and the sound check was coming out pretty good.
Clark also observed that Chloe somehow didn't want to be in the Talon. She would dart her eyes towards the band and quickly recover by taking a sip of her drink. He didn't understand what was going on but he felt that if they hung around long enough, they'd find out. Clark took a glance at Pete and found that he, too, was puzzled with Chloe's uneasy attitude.
Chloe knew they were staring at her. "Don't you guys have chores to do at home?"
The two boys could see through her like a pane of glass; they relaxed and lunged back on their chairs. "Nope," Clark grinned, "not till much later."
Pete added, "Right now, we just want to hang out with you and check out guitar dude and his band."
Trapped. Chloe thought this day couldn't get any worse.
Trev went to the mic. "Good afternoon, I'm Trev; this here is Mike and Gene. We're here to try out a couple of songs as the Talon experiments with live music. We apologize in advance if we sound raw as we're still tweaking the sound system. So, just kick back, relax and I hope you enjoy our set." With guitar in hand he proceeded to play an intro riff and sing his solo rendition of Default's "Wasting My Time".
I don't want to see you waiting
I've already gone too far away
I still can't keep the day from ending
No more messed up reasons for me to stay
Trev sang, more like he crooned, Chloe thought. He always sang well but with his deeper voice now, he sounded better, and it made her close her eyes.
"Man, he's good." Pete said as he took a sip of his delicious mocha.
Clark couldn't believe it. Trev sang very well. He apparently, also had an effect on Chloe who had her eyes closed just a bit too tightly as it wrinkled her brows. "Chloe?"
She opened her eyes and looked at Clark. What he saw in her eyes tugged at his chest. He was about to say something to her when Chloe shook her head, huffed out her breath and tried to smile. "Sorry. I'll be fine."
As they listened to Trev's performance, Mike and Gene walked around the Talon to check the way the music bounced off the walls and did the necessary adjustments to the sound board. The song ended to the applause of those who were there enjoying their afternoon coffee. The twins joined in with Mike on bass and Gene on acoustic guitar.
"No drummer?" Pete noted with surprise.
It made Chloe look at her Metropolis trio and bit her lip, a nervous habit. "He's probably just late or lost or something."
"Thank you." Trev acknowledged. "Please try not to laugh when you figure out our next song. We think it's one of the best songs that came out a couple of years ago. The band Travis did a take on this already and we'd like to have our turn. Ready?" He turned to the twins and they started playing the intro to a somewhat familiar tune. It all kicked in when Trev sang the first few lines:
Oh baby, baby, how was I supposed to know
That something wasn't right here
Oh pretty baby I shouldn't have let you go
And now you're out of sight
Show me how you want it to be
Tell me baby 'coz I need to know now because
My loneliness is killing me
And I must confess, I still believe.
If I'm not with you I lose my mind
Give me a sign…
Clark and Pete tried to suppress their chuckles and both were thankful that they weren't drinking when they recognized the song. However, their amusement was mixed with amazement.
It was Chloe who couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her. "Britney Spears' 'Baby One More Time'? What were those guys thinking?" Yet she couldn't help but wonder if the lyrics rang true.
"It sounds different," Clark noticed smiling, "but it's good."
"Kinda redemptive, if you know what I mean - a refreshing version." Pete added.
The crowd howled and clapped their appreciation to the live music. Gene and Trev turned to switch to their other electric guitars but Mike stepped off from stage and walked towards Chloe with something hidden behind his back.
"No, this can't be happening." Chloe muttered much to Clark and Pete's bewilderment.
When Mike was beside Chloe's chair, he dropped to one knee, bowed his head and extended his hands before her to present a pair of drum sticks. "Milady, we request that you grace us with your presence."
"No, no, no, no, no!" was Chloe's flustered response as she glanced frantically at Clark and Pete who had the same wide-eyed, eyebrows-raised, surprised expressions on their faces. Their glances shifted between Chloe and Mike. "I… I don't do that anymore."
Anymore? Clark didn't get it. What did she mean?
Mike stood up looking a bit dejected. "C'mon Sully, I mean, Chloe. I don't buy it." He waved the drum sticks at her.
Chloe was still tense. "What?" She thought of some excuse. "No! Mike, I haven't practiced in a year."
Mike pursed his lips and shook his head at her. "I seriously doubt that. Besides, you'll be fine." To Clark and Pete he said, "Excuse me guys as I borrow Ms. Sullivan for a few minutes. C'mon now, upsy-daisy. Don't worry, it'll be fun. While you're vacillating, here - study the play list."
Mike handed her a piece of paper. He grabbed Chloe's other wrist to lead her towards the band. She continued to sputter protests and looked back towards Clark and Pete who now had astonished faces.
Clark's mouth opened and closed until he found his words. "Chloe can play the drums?"
Pete could only shrug his response.
Trev started to play the opening chords and sing the first stanzas of Semisonic's "Closing Time" when he saw that Mike had Chloe in tow. He grinned at her when she passed him. She, however, glared back.
Clark saw Mike lead Chloe to her seat behind the drum set. Then she was all business with sticks in both hands and pedals beneath her docs. She came in perfectly for the chorus and the Talon came alive with fullness of sound.
She played and did so very well; too well for someone who Clark never heard play before. In the more than one year he's known her, not once did she mention or show that she could do this. Lo and behold, Chloe was striking, stomping, and pounding confidently in time to the rock song. The girl behind the drum set was simply someone he never saw before. But it made Clark smile - this Chloe fascinated him.
"Clark," Pete strained to talk over the loud music. "I know sometimes Chloe would strike at the computer with her pencil when she worked but I never thought that was for real."
"Me neither. She sometimes taps her steering wheel when there's a good song on but doesn't everybody do that?"
People started to come into the coffee shop lured by the live music they heard from outside. Just like the others, Clark and Pete tapped their feet and moved to the music that Trev, Chloe, Mike and Gene played.
Chloe felt alive to be behind a real set of drums once again. It exhilarated her when she drummed away to the song she mentally practiced and performed in the comforts of her room with earphones on. It was their old play list that comprised of songs from a few years back and was now considered certified hits.
She beamed when the song ended to a deafening applause given by the people they drew in. She nervously looked towards where Clark and Pete sat. Chloe gave them a shy wave and an anxious smile. What she got back was a standing ovation from her two best friends in Smallville and it made her feel ten feet tall. Before she could soak it all in Trev cued for her to start the opening drum riff of Toad the Wet Sprocket's "All I Want". She was hooked. Her friends were there for her so she gave her best.
"Wow," Pete said as he punched Clark lightly on the shoulder. "She's good."
"Really good." Clark couldn't take his eyes off Chloe. So this was what she was in Metropolis - Sully the rocker. He didn't know if it was the beat of Chloe's drums that made his chest pound in a harder rhythm or if was on his heart's own doing. He was seeing Chloe's hidden talent but he wondered why she'd kept it secret. What else did she withhold from them and were there more facets to Chloe he had yet to discover? Perplexed, he decided to think about that later and simply continue to gaze at her.
"My Talon's packed!" Lana just came in, surprised to find her coffee shop full and the live band in full swing. "So Trev's the new band Lex had in mind." She was also amazed to see who was playing. "Is that… is that Chloe on drums?"
Clark was still entranced so it was Pete who replied. "You bet! That's her."
"Wow. Who knew?" Lana had to get to her shift but she couldn't tear her attention away from the band. She took the seat that Chloe vacated and enjoyed the music as well.
Trev, Chloe and the rest continued to play cover songs that ranged from Creed to the Goo Goo Dolls. Trev was elated to see that Chloe still had a bit of Sully in her and she hasn't lost her touch. They did one song after another, taking in the wonderful response the growing crowd gave back to them. Wordlessly they communicated the execution of their songs relying heavily on looks, nods and other gestures to get their timing and sequences right. It was really comforting for Trev that Chloe could still get in-tune with him, them.
The subtle looks that Chloe exchanged with her band mates - particularly with Trev - did not escape Clark. That shouldn't bother him, should it? Of course, Trev was the lead and she had to take cues from him. However, it did unnerve him to see Chloe so synced with another guy at a level she and him had yet to reach. With just a little glance from Trev, Chloe would give more energy to her execution. That, too, struck Clark as odd - Chloe was willingly taking directions from someone else. Suddenly, an unnamed feeling gnawed at him.
Pete and Lana were staring at Clark's tight face as the band played on. Lana knew that Clark was uncomfortable when it came to Trev as she remembered their conversation at his barn. She wondered what in particular affected him at that moment.
Lana glanced at Pete to see if he saw the same three-fold exchange between Trev, Chloe and Clark; and he did. They traded worried smiles and was thankful that Clark was too tall and too preoccupied to see them noticing.
Their set ended with Chloe flushed and ecstatic. The energy from her bandmates and their audience was intoxicating and that's was when she realized she missed this feeling so much. She let out a squeal of joy coming away from her drum set. Chloe found a strong urge to hug the nearest person she could grab. Her arms found Trev's. He spun her around and kissed her.
"My plug-and-play Chloe! It's so great to have you back!" he said encasing her in his arms.
Clark found his breath catch in his throat when he saw Chloe throw her arms around Trev especially when they twirled and kissed. Was he… was he jealous? He had to get away to clear his head. He got up from his seat too quickly that it startled Pete and Lana.
"Clark? Are you okay?" Pete asked as Clark made for the door. "Clark!"
Clark's mistake was to look back when he reached the exit. He saw Chloe run and slow to a halt a little past Pete and Lana's table with imploring eyes that met his distraught ones. His brow creased further but he decided to step out into the sun to speed on home - away from the things that made his thoughts and feelings swim in a million directions inside him.