Part 11

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Clark barely made his Friday deadline and was eager to give his assignment to Chloe before the 3pm cut-off. He imagined her busy typing away the latest issue as he approached the office.

The Torch room was empty.

With a look of consternation etched on his face, Clark slowly placed his stuff down on a chair. He looked around the room for traces of previous activity to no avail. Slowly, he made his way over to Chloe's desk and placed his folder and diskette in her in-tray as was their S.O.P for article submission. Just to satisfy his curiosity, Clark placed his hand at the top of the apple green i-mac. It was cold. Chloe had not been to the office yet. That was so strange of her to not be around for publication crunch time.

Worried, Clark turned on the computer. Normally, Chloe would bite his head off for snooping around her work but Clark had to dispel his suspicions. On the other hand, maybe it was just a case of bad timing. Just when he really wanted to talk to Chloe, the opportunity never presented itself. But that thought got tossed out the window as Clark couldn't believe what he saw. Nothing. There was no new file on PageMaker. Chloe had not started on the layout for the next issue.

Clark sat down in dismay. He had hung around Chloe and the Torch long enough to know how press schedules and deadlines go. He knew that if nothing was proofread and laid-out by this afternoon, then it doesn't go to the printers on Saturday and nothing gets circulated on Monday morning. As Clark mulled over it, his worry turned to exasperation. How could she do this? How could she neglect the Torch?

Just then Pete entered the room and Clark's rising temper abated.

"Chief not here I see." Pete said taking in the quiet Torch chambers. He similarly deposited his work on Chloe's desk. With one look at Clark, Pete knew what was on his mind. "You noticed, too, huh?"

Clark could only nod his response as he continued to stare at the blank page before him, irritation written all over his countenance. "I can't believe she's not here."

"You said it. Lately, Chloe's just so out of it."

"By now she'd be screaming, barking commands and gulping down her third cup of coffee just so that the Torch doesn't fall behind production. Pete, she hasn't even started with the front page when at this point in time she should be right about the spread."

"We don't know, Clark, she might just be working on her laptop at home. It does make you think, she goes M.I.A. just when her lovey-dovey's in town."

For a split second Pete thought Clark was going to burn him to cinders with the look he threw. But when Clark returned his gaze at the computer, Pete saw a troubled friend.

Clark had been trying to get in touch with Chloe since Wednesday. He actually had butterflies in his stomach that morning as he waited for the bus by the dirt road. Clark now saw Chloe in a new light and he was eager to see her cheerful smile. He was also ready to face her wrath for ditching her at the Talon. But when he boarded the bus, his hopes were dashed seeing an empty seat beside Pete.

In the hallway, he'd look around and fail to spot her flippy hair or get a chance to talk to her. Her pit stops at her locker would rival any F1 race. Chloe would be uncharacteristically barely on time for her classes and first out the door when the bell rang; so much for passing notes and trying to catch her attention. She seemed to be giving him the cold shoulder and he somehow understood why.

If only she would give him the chance to explain. Clark was ready to burst with this newfound feeling towards Chloe and he really, really wanted some time with her. Somehow, their paths would just not cross.

To aggravate things, Trev was always close at her heel. In some of their mutual classes, they actually sat beside each other already. They'd come in together and likewise bolt out the door together. At lunch he and Pete had saved her usual spot and even bought her favorite soda before the line ran out of it only to find her already seated a few tables down and in deep discussion with Trev.

After school was no different, he and Pete would catch her at the Beanery with the rest of her gang, Mike and Gene, talking and laughing. At night Clark could only get her machine. He didn't bother to leave a message because he'd rather speak to her directly. Besides, he kept his hopes up for the next day.

However, Thursday and this morning was the same story. But there was no story ready for this Monday's Torch.

"Hey Clark," Pete decided to break Clark's sullen mood, "I miss her, too."

Clark's eyes softened for a moment before he exhaled heavily. He then straightened on the chair, grabbed a pencil and started going through the stack of papers on the desk.

Pete was alarmed. "Clark-man what are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing? These articles have to be edited before they go in."

"I know; but that's not your job."

"Well, someone is clearly not doing hers."

Pete could only shake his head. "You're asking for it."

Clark had to pause and close his eyes for a second. "Pete, if you don't want to help then I'd ask you to leave me to concentrate on the Torch." Actually, if he could be left alone, he'd be able to read, edit and lay-out the next issue in thirty minutes.

"And who made you the new editor?"

The two boys turned to the voice they heard at the door. "Lana." They said together.

Pete moved towards her. "Finally! Someone who could help me dissuade Clark from going through his suicide mission."

"I was just going to submit my contribution, Pete." She explained and walked towards Clark who has taken over Chloe's desk. "Clark, where's Chloe?"

Not looking up from what he was reading he replied, "Our beloved Ms. Editor is not here and I don't want to miss an issue, else the school board is not going to be too happy."

Lana gave Pete a puzzled look and he could only shrug and throw his hands in the air in response. It was not everyday you get to hear an irate Clark Kent.

As if on cue, Chloe dashed into the room with a hurried "Hi guys!" and rummaged through her desk for a book. Finding what she was looking for, she started her way to the door but Clark stood and blocked her way.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked looming over her.

Pete and Lana could clearly see how stressed and weary Chloe was.

"Clark, please," Chloe said softly, "I have to go. Trev's waiting for me."

Clark's jaw tightened and he glared at her. "And just like that you'll forget about the Torch? Where's your sense of responsibility, Chloe? Go ahead, drop everything! Never mind deadlines, or the hottest story, or your name on the by-line; forget about everything you worked so hard for, what you poured your life into. You'll let go of all that? And I thought you love the Torch, that you're dedicated to your work? You were just going to leave, just like that?! Chloe, how could you?!"

Throughout Clark's tirade, Chloe just stood there motionless. And in the silence that followed, a restrained sob escaped her before she pushed him aside to exit the room.

Pete and Lana were equally shocked with what they just saw.

Clark turned to Pete. "Did she just walk out on me?"

Pete let out an exasperated breath, "Learned from the best."

Clark was about to make a retort when Lana spoke up.

"Clark," she said in a concerned voice, "you just made Chloe cry."

Their words were like a bucket of ice water poured over him. Like the idiom could really apply to him. Realization hit him and he felt ashamed of what he just did. In frustration he raked his hands in his hair and rushed out the door after Chloe.

He found her down the hall crying in Trev's arms. The intensity of the distress he caused her evident in the violent shake of her shoulders, the muted wails, and the way her body crumpled as Trev held her tightly. Clark could hear Trev try to calm Chloe down as he led her further away from the Torch room.

Clark felt terrible and foolish. He wished he could take that all back, hoped that he just didn't lose Chloe and her friendship with this stupid mistake. Angry with himself he was about to punch the wall when he remembered his place. He wished he had the same restraint a few minutes ago. Clark now feared that what he had with Chloe and what they could have was just as abandoned as next week's Torch.