First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for your reviews! (Sob, sob) This is... the happiest day... of my... well, it really makes my day. And I'm not just saying that. Thanks!

Chapter 6-- If anyone's still reading this, God bless you! You deserve a medal.

Chloe had always been the kind of person who had to keep busy. That made for a good reporter, and she was a good reporter. A great one, even. However, that also made for an interesting friendship. Sometimes her curiosity got the best of her, and she may have crossed the line between the public's right to know and the people's right for privacy a few times-- even with her friends. That's why she consciously told herself to knock before she entered into Lana's room.

She did, however, forget to listen for an answer before she walked in. But they had lived in the same house for a long time now—they were practically sisters, so Lana didn't really care.

"Hey Lana, I was just going to go head over to Lex's. Did you want to come?"
Lana looked up from her computer. "Um... yeah. Just give me five minutes to finish this up. I'll be quick."

Chloe knew from Lana's expression she had interrupted something important. "What is it?" she asked, pulling up a chair.

Lana paused, a little nervous. "It's a list-- a list of reasons why Clark should be completely honest with me."

Chloe was taken a little off-guard by that. "Whoa." She paused, not really knowing what to say. "That's pretty bold."

Lana looked a little scared. "Yeah, I know. But I think it's time. Clark has been a little more tense than usual, and maybe what he really needs is someone who understands him. All of him."

Chloe looked down. "Can you add my name to the list?" she muttered. She didn't mean for

Lana to hear that, but she did.

Lana thought about it for a second. "Yeah. It might work out better if we both approach him at the same time. Let him know he has friends."

Chloe looked up. She knew she had to get out of this. "Actually, that might not be a good idea."

Lana was confused. "Why not?"

Chloe tried to explain without explaining everything. "I sort of did something that I shouldn't have, and Clark found out about it. I apologized to him, but that part of our relationship's a little delicate right now."

Lana wasn't sure why Chloe hadn't told her this before. "What did you do?"
Chloe shrugged, "Betrayed his trust. I think I just need to wait until he believes in me a little more before I go asking him his deepest secret."

Lana shook her head in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me about this before now?"

Chloe thumbled for the words. She thought, "because I didn't want you to think of me as a sell-out," but she couldn't say that. Not without telling her what she did, at least. "Um... let's just focus on getting Clark to tell you his secret first, okay?" She looked at the computer, trying to change the subject. "What's #1?"

Lana looked at Chloe. She wanted details, but it wasn't as if she wouldn't see Chloe again. They did live in the same house. She wouldn't be able to keep it from Lana forever. "Well, Clark's main reason for not telling me everything," she paused, "or so he says, is that it would put me in danger. Well, #1 brings up times I was put into danger without knowing his secret."

Chloe looked at the list. It was long, but she could remember every incident. Then her journalistic cynicism came back. "So, what will you say when Clark tells you these times had nothing to do with him?"

Lana didn't understand. "But they did have to do with him."

"Well, you know that, and I know that, and even Clark knows that, but he'll never admit it. He's going to come up with some lame excuse that is just realistic enough that it might be true, but you know it's not."

Lana knew Chloe was right. The truth was she didn't know what she was going to do. "I guess I'll go to reason #2. The amount of times Clark has saved me. How he's mysteriously always there when I need help. My life would have ended a long time ago if it wasn't for Clark. Don't you think I deserve to know why?"

Chloe took a step back. "Hey, I'm on your side, remember?"

Lana laughed to herself a little. She put so much emotion into this list that her defensiveness got a little high. "Sorry."

Chloe smiled, "Reason #3?"

"Probably the most important reason, but I've been using it for so long, and Clark dismisses it even before I'm done asking a question."

"And this would be?" Chloe asked.

"This would be our friendship." Lana shrugged, "We're friends. Friends tell. I know Clark is scared that we won't accept him anymore..."

Chloe raised her eyebrows.

Lana rephrased, "Okay, that I won't accept him anymore... but I don't know of anything that could make me do that."

Chloe nodded. A few years ago, Lana might not have been accepting, but she had come a long way. She was prepared now.

"And I have always been honest with Clark—always! I don't have any secrets with him. And I know it's killing him inside to not have anyone to talk to."

"Yeah, especially since Pete moved away," Chloe joined in, "and him and Lex getting into... whatever kind of weird fight they're in now."

Lana looked right at Chloe. Chloe knew she was really worried about Clark. Even more so than usual. "If he doesn't tell someone, and someone soon, I don't think he'll be okay. People weren't meant to go through things alone. This isn't just something I want so I can make sense of things—this is something he needs to be whole again."

Chloe laughed a little at that statement, "Lana, I've known Clark for a while, and I don't think he's ever been completely whole."

"Well then maybe it's time that we give him that chance."

Chloe looked at her again.

"Okay, it's time that I give him that chance," Lana corrected, remembering how Chloe wanted to be kept out of it.

Chloe stood up, "Well, good luck." She paused, "And Lana? I really mean that. I really hope that Clark tells you everything. He needs someone right now—someone he can talk to."

Lana smiled, grateful for the support. "Just give me a minute to print this off. I'll meet you in the car."

"Okay," Chloe replied. She walked out of the room, but she didn't get ten feet before she leaned against the wall and almost started to cry. She really was happy Clark had Lana, for Clark's sake; but, after all, she was Clark's friend, too. Clark had lied to her longer than he had lied to Lana. But Lana would know the truth, and Chloe would keep wondering forever.