Premonition
by Lener
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in Smallville.
Chapter One
Chloe leaned back onto the chair in the Smallville Torch's Office and sighed deeply. The bright screen met her eyes with an almost blinding cheeriness, and she fumbled to switch off the monitor.
"Ugh… stupid hands…" she stared in disgust at the cream bandages over both her hands as the previous encounter she and Clark had had with a meteor freak flashed through her mind. A jealous schoolmate a couple of years back had somehow gotten hold of a meteor dagger that allowed her to transport herself back into time and steal the youth from any living being. And I had to be the target of her revenge Chloe rolled her eyes.
She had come out from the encounter with stabbed hands and watery eyes. Clark had only sustained deep bruises from where the dagger had been pierced into the chest. Chloe still wondered why Clark had survived- perhaps Sara had only hit him with the handle of the dagger and not the blade?
Well, Sara was gone now, but the remnants of their last adventure still remained fresh in Chloe's mind, and her bandaged hands (good for nothing- they hindered her typing) were always reminding her about what she'd been through. Well, at least they're good for something. Clark's finally noticed me. Chloe watched as Clark snapped out of his daydream (he had been sitting in a corner of the Smallville Torch Office gazing right into the wall) and looked in her direction, concern etched across his handsome face.
*
"Chloe? You okay?" Clark asked. He'd heard her curse her hands after a few fruitless attempts at typing. Giving up his activity of weighing the pros and cons of Lana and Chloe, he turned towards his friend and a feeling of warmth spread over him as soon as he saw her shiny blonde hair and soulful green eyes. But there was something missing- her smile. Sure, she had on a grin, but Clark could tell it was fake- and faltering. Only her real Chloe Grin could make him feel tingly all over.
"Can't say I'm feeling my usual perky self but I think this comes close to a good substitute," Chloe rattled off in her trademark "more than 10 syllabus" answers.
"Looks to me like you've had enough," he jerked his head in the direction of Chloe's hands.
Sighing, his best friend got out of her chair and grabbed her black leather bag from the computer table. "You're right; I can't even fool a Smallville farm boy. Yes, my hands are bothering me but so what? I can do other things besides typing- let's get to class. The bell's going to ring any minute," she said, and motioned towards the door of the office.
Clark leapt out of his seat and pulled his red backpack easily along after him and sprang to the door before Chloe could reach it. He pushed the handle down and opened the door for her, grinning like a little schoolboy. "After you, Miss," he said.
"Why thank you, my good man," Chloe gave him a real smile, and as she breezed past him he caught a faint whiff of spiced apples and cinnamon. For the third time that day he caught himself staring at her- he could not believe how he never realized that she was so gorgeous. And lately she had spent less time indoors (on the computer) and more time outdoors so that her skin was a delicious golden brown and smooth as silk. The beautiful ethnic print top and leather skirt that Chloe had one matched her hair perfectly, and she looked absolutely wonderful.
Clark's thoughts went back to the time when they had kissed in his loft…
He had been bandaging Chloe's injured hands when all of a sudden he felt like he wanted her and only her. Not Lana- never Lana. And they kissed- he still remembered how wonderful it felt… only now he did not know what to do; where to go from here.
"Clark! Chloe!" both of them turned to face Peter Ross, the one who completed the trio. The broad-shouldered, cocoa-skinned teenager approached them with a grin that spread from ear to ear.
"Pete!" Chloe exclaimed.
"Hey man," Clark smiled.
"You're not going to believe this. Guess what?" Pete burst out, looking first at Clark.
Clark shrugged, and then tried, "Uh… Rachel Bloom asked you out to the dance this Friday?" Beside him he heard Chloe snort, and stifled a chuckle himself. Pete seemed unfazed, and turned to Chloe, saying, "Better!" as though she would provide a more accurate answer. Clark quelled the rising feeling of jealousy in his throat and waited for Chloe's answer.
"Your dad's bought you a new car- a Ford. Model 603, sleek black with leather seats," she said, grinning skeptically.
Clark let out a bark of laughter, "Good one, Chlo!"
Pete, however, stared open-mouthed at Chloe as though she'd grown an extra head. "How did you know?" he shrieked, eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. Chloe brought a hand to her mouth, eyes wide. "I… I… it just came out of my mouth! I mean, the thought flashed in my head and I just said it out loud!"
"Weird…" Clark didn't know whether to laugh or frown.
Just then a voice came from behind Pete.
"Hi, Clark. Chloe, Pete," Lana Lang emerged from a crowd of Smallville High students, dressed in a floral print pink shirt and jeans.
"Hey Lana," Clark replied, smiling.
"Hi, Lana!" did he detect a slight disappointment in Chloe's tone? What's with you, Clark?
"Good morning, Ms. Lang," Pete chirped, charm oozing from every pore. Or perhaps it was because he was so ecstatic about his new car.
*
Chloe watched as Lana opened her mouth to say something.
-What are you doing Friday night, Clark?-
Stunned, Chloe shook her head, trying to clear it. Where had that thought come from? It had suddenly popped up in her mind, just like how the whole thing about Pete's new car had flashed through her mind.
"What are you doing Friday night, Clark?" Lana asked, her large brown eyes gazing up into Clark's.
Oh my god. Please don't tell me Lana Lang just asked Clark what he's doing on Friday night. And please don't tell me I heard her ask it in advance…
"Uh… well, there's the Smallville Dance Night…" Clark stammered, clearly bewildered.
"Will you be my date for the dance?" Lana continued.
Okay this is definitely Wall of Weird material.
Chloe caught Pete's eye and saw him mouth the words 'What's up with her'. She shrugged, equally clueless. Meanwhile Clark was looking at Lana strangely, and Lana oblivious to the fact that he had not given her a definite answer. This is just too weird. Clark never actually asked me to the dance… and it's already Wednesday… it's obvious he wants to go with Lana. He just needs that push. I'm his best friend, Pete's too excited about his new car to care so I guess it's up to me…
"Clark!" Chloe found herself slapping his arm lightly. Both Clark and Lana looked at her, and she smiled coolly. "I guess all the stress of farm chores has gotten into his head. I'm sure Clark would love to go to the Dance with you on Friday, right Clark?"
"Uh… yeah…" Clark's reply was less than enthusiastic, but it seemed to please Lana because she breathed a sigh of relief and gave another perky smile.
"Thanks Chloe! Bye Pete, bye Clark! See you Friday," and then she was off amidst the throng of high school students.
Chloe gave an inward groan.
God what did I just do?
Author's Note: All right!!!!! The first chapter of the sequel to Elixir is here! Sorry if the Ford car thingy didn't sound right. I'm not too good at writing about cars and I was lazy so I didn't check websites and stuff like that. Well, I hope you liked this chapter. Do tell me what you think about it- in a review, of course!