Taking Those Steps Again

By Ryoko Kashino and Kitana Blade Studios

            Hey all!  Well I am going to thank all those who have been so nice as to leave a review and here it goes! Thanks go to: cc4eva, micki, tnick, bluelila, Rbritsmom78, hui, autumngold, disney (lol, weird! my mom and aunt work for Disneyland!!!!!), Perlenoire99, the last reviewer signed anonymous – whoever you are thank you too! Special thanks go to Claudia Green and David Keating. Thank you so much for your kind words and helpful hints!  I really appreciate the time all of you took to read and review my story!  Okay it's near the final! Ha ha! Anyway please don't be afraid to leave a review with your email, hey you'll get something really spiffy! Okay all; enough about the thanks you's!  Well please read and review!  And remember Karma works if you believe!!!!!!  Oh yeah this too; I don't own Smallville but if I did there would be so much more Clark and Chloe romance!!!! Ha- ha read and enjoy!

Chp 3 Monday's are Always the Worst

Clark sat quietly staring out into the evening's starless sky.  This morning hadn't gone as planned.  Really he knew he couldn't be too angry with Chloe, this hole he dug himself.  He knew he had a while to make up for.   He shook his head and he realized how stupid he was.  Maybe he could blame the flannel he wore.  He just shook his head again and semi chuckled at how stupid he sounded to himself, "Sure yeah blame the flannel and all the pretty patterns it has," he said aloud to himself when he heard another laugh besides his own; he looked over to see Pete standing at the top step of the loft.

"What is it you're blaming on your favorite clothing of choice?"

Clark smiled embarrassed that someone heard him, yeah that nailed it, he was stupid.

"I dunno just being a typical teen, trying to blame the problems I made myself on something anything else." During which Clark grabbed his shirt and rolled his eyes. 

Pete laughed. "So tell me what kind of problem is a foot now?"

"Nah, it's just something silly."

"Nothing is ever really silly with you.  You're not all that silly, Clark. It almost surprises me how much more grown up you are, for someone our age anyway."

Pete now sat on the arm of the couch, he was looking at Clark expectantly, "So, tell me Clark, what's the prob?"

Clark took a deep breath and his hands fidgeted as he began to tell Pete the details of the diner experience, "And I really don't know what to do anymore, I tried to fix things.  I know I have to just be friends with Lana. The only thing is… I know Chloe, I just want her.  I dunno why I've never seen it.  I'm so stupid."

"Yes, you do seem to have your work cut out for you." Pete teased.

"Thanks alot, Pete."

Pete's laugh filled the barn and then he looked at Clark, "Look, just tell Chloe everything.  You want to fix things, right? Just lay it all out on the line, but maybe start first by earning some major brownie points with her.  Right now focus on Chloe.  If she's the one you really want, let her know it.  Don't use your usual tactics.  Go beyond anything you've ever done.  Let her know she's special."

Clark nodded.

The busy halls of Smallville High bustled with teens running to lockers, laughter and a few over enthusiastic hoots of football players.  Clark ignored it as much as he could.  He still wasn't in the best of moods.  His talk with Pete had made him feel a little better but he really hadn't gotten any new and wonderful epiphanies over night.  First period was gonna be bad, it was English and he and Chloe were in there.  He banged his head against the frame of his locker.

"Whoa, watch it destruction of school property isn't always the best way to start off a Monday."

Clark looked to see Chloe standing next to him. He smiled sheepishly and got out his books.  They walked in silence to class.  Class was torture, the students were paired off and had to work on breaking down various poems.  Clark and Chloe worked in an odd way. Only talking when they had the answer; both had been stealing glances at each other.  It was weird Clark really couldn't wait for class to be over, not that the next period was gonna be better but he just rather sit through boring quadratic equations than sit in this defend silence with Chloe. 

"UGHHH!" groaned Clark aloud.

The whole class looked over to stare at Clark. He looked up from his paper and around the room.  All eyes lay on him including Chloe's and the teacher's. Clark sank low into his chair and scribbled down something on his paper.  When the bell rang Clark was the first to bolt out of class. 

Chloe sat alone in the torch office.  Clark's odd behavior this morning was still on her mind.  Even in all her time knowing him he'd never acted that weird.  Something was really bothering him.  Okay she knew it was her that he was bothered about.  How could she cause him that much distress? Never had they been this weird around each other after one of their fights.  Poor Pete had been in the middle of them all day.  It was a wonder Pete was still sane.  In P.E. Clark and her got in a small pushing match, which she won by default because she was a girl. Clark ate pavement in the end.  Lunch had been memorable.  Chloe and Clark had bickered over the mystery meat of the day and Chloe got so pissed she threw her lunch platter at Clark.  Good God they were going to kill each other that or Pete would have to pull a Mercutio and curse both their houses.  

Just then one of the doors to the torch office opened.  Chloe still tick tacked at her keyboard. Instead of looking up she pointed to Clark's desk and said, "Leave the article disk on the 'In' pile, I'll spell check it and then paste it into the program, so don't worry I'll still get the torch to the printer via email!"

"Chloe, there are no other articles needed."

"What?" Chloe looked up from her computer and looked at Clark.  He stood there wearing his P.E. Uniform.  She had to hold back her laugh; she nodded and said, "What are you talking about?"

"I came in this morning and did the whole layout.  All the articles were in on Friday night, even mine."

Clark sat at his computer and pulled up the latest torch.  Chloe walked over and stood behind him. Clark got out of the chair and let Chloe sit, she went through each page and it was perfect.  She looked at Clark, for the first time in all of her days in Smallville she was truly speechless.

Clark stood hovering behind Chloe. She spun the chair around and in a low voice she said, "I'm sorry."

"About what?"

"About all of today, and lunch, God I don't know what was wrong with me.  I'm just really sorry!"

"Don't worry its okay. Everyone has a bad day."

"No, Clark, if was just a bad day," Chloe got up out of the chair walking past Clark then turned to face him, "I would've clearly just let you have it in first. I don't know what came over me."

"It's okay, it really doesn't matter, I know, I've probably done worse, so just let's forget it."

"Are you sure?"

Clark nodded and gave her that classic goofy grin. Chloe about melted right there, "Well I guess all I have to do is email it." She finished her sentence with a smile.  Clark smiled again at her, "Well what are you doing after you send off the torch?"

"Nothing, why?" she asked cautiously.

"Well, I kinda need a ride home, my dad needed the truck for some deliveries this morning, and ya' know maybe we could get some coffee or something."

Chloe was signing on as Clark looked at her waiting for an answer, before she knew it she said, "Sure."

Clark's face lit up and he sat on the edge of the desk waiting for Chloe to be done. 

The whole ride and since she'd said yes Clark had been talking non-stop.  Just about anything and everything that popped into his farm boy head.  This was totally strange. Chloe felt like she was in some weird twilight zone episode, half way through a story Clark looked over at Chloe and said, "What's the matter?"

"You're never really that talkative Clark, it's extremely weird."

"I talk to you all the time Chloe. Why is this weird?" His face was clearly concerned.

"I'm so serious. I didn't know you could talk so much.  I haven't ever heard any of these stories you just told me.  I didn't know you liked camping or that you'd been to Metropolis when you were a kid. Where are these tales coming from?"

"I'm kind of doing what you did when we first met.  You just talked and talked and talked.  I honestly thought you never took a breath.  I just want you to get to know me better, you're always saying I'm a mystery, and really I'm not. I'm, well to put it in your words, 'a slow Kansas farm boy.'"

"Clark, you're not slow, you're dense."

"What?!? Well what's the difference?"

"Slow would mean you have a bit of learning disorder and from what I can see you're good in your classes, and dense well it would pertain to that bump three feet above your ass.  I think you're skull is just thick when it comes to relationships." Chloe's tone was so matter of fact Clark knew he was getting teased.

"Thanks." Clark rolled his eyes and stared ahead at the road. Chloe let out a laugh that made Clark laugh at himself too.  She was right; when it came to Clark and relationships well they were like garlic and vampires; they just didn't go together.

The rest of the afternoon they had spent in the Talon drinking coffee and telling each other stories from their childhood.  Chloe had gotten quite a lot of laughs.  Clark was a clumsy fool; she wondered how he lived past ten.  Clark knew most of Chloe's tales but he didn't care.  Her voice was so sweet to his ears.  He was still in his P.E. uniform but it didn't matter.  When it finally came time to take Clark home the ride was a quiet one. 

Clark got out of the car but turned and said, "Hey, Chloe why don't you stay for dinner, I'm sure a home cooked meal is a lot better than pizza."

"Clark, you didn't even warn your mom."

"It's cool; there is always plenty to go around."

"Okay."

 Author's note:

  Okay I know I'm making Clark a little O.O.C. but if he wasn't so stuck on that damn Lana girl he'd see Chloe! Aiieeee! I am so biased! I am going to hell people!