Category: Romance
Rating: R
Pairing: Chloe/Clark
Warnings: This chapter is rated R for some sexually explicit conversation.

Summary: Chloe and Clark are at the Talon to talk about Chloe's letter. But first, Chloe's Torch article sparks an interesting conversation.

Clark was very happy to see Chloe walk into the Talon. "Hey Chloe. I was beginning to think that maybe you weren't coming". He had been a little nervous when he arrived 20 minutes late and she was nowhere to be found. Clark was worried that she was too embarrassed to face him. After all, he did invade her deepest, most private thoughts and now they were going to openly discuss them.

Chloe felt a twinge of guilt for making Clark wait and worry like that. "Sorry Clark, I should have called to tell you I was running late. I just got caught up on some research for my article."

In reality, Chloe had found it surprisingly easy to complete her story in the small amount of time she had. She quickly reviewed some notes that she had already compiled and performed a fast search of Luthorcorps "Restricted" 'Project Research Results' database and the article flowed easily from there. But, she didn't want Clark to know that she was almost an hour late because she was trying to think of the right way to tell him that she loved him

Martha Kent walked over to their table holding a tray with two big coffee mugs on it. "Hey kids, here's your order".

Clark looked at Chloe. "I just took the liberty of ordering us each a mocha latte with extra cream. Is that okay Chloe?"

"Yeah that's sounds great. I just had 3 cups of coffee, so a latte should help sustain my caffeine high at least until bed time," Chloe smiled at Martha. "Thanks a lot Mrs. Kent".

"Anytime Chloe," Martha smiled lovingly and placed a mug down in front of Chloe and then Clark. "Here you go sweetheart" she said to him. Then Martha left their table and walked away to take another order.

"Oh yeah, so anyway how's your article coming along? Did you find anything interesting?" Clark asked.

"Yeah", she said, "I discovered some stuff while reviewing the screen tests that were performed by Luthorcorp. The results showed some very interesting side effects to our little libido power drug. I'm finished with the article but had to do some major editing so that my story was appropriate for a high school newspaper. I mean, Principal Reynolds allows me to use my own discretion on the paper but, some of the things I discovered would only be suitable if I were writing for Maxim or Cosmo."

As nervous as Chloe had been about meeting with Clark to talk, she was becoming increasingly comfortable now that they were talking about journalism. They were in her element for now and she was enjoying her intellectual 'home field advantage'. Chloe sat quietly and sipped her latte.

Clark noticed how comfortable Chloe was getting and was relieved that they had something to talk about other than the letter. He also enjoyed watching her get fired up over every new story she was working on. Chloe looked so cute when her journalistic insight was peeked. "What kind of unsuitable material are we talking about?" he asked.

"Well", Chloe began, "Clark, this drug has some awesome side effects," she giggled, "I mean, let's just say that the test group panel who was assigned to test this stuff must have really enjoyed their jobs that week." Chloe felt a little awkward about sharing some of the side effects with Clark but shrugged off those feelings for the sake of journalistic honesty. Clark was a fellow reporter and should be in on all information pertaining to the Torch. Besides, it was going to be fun watching Clark squirm at the topic of sex. "Apparently, this drug enhances a males testosterone levels to the point where they can hold an erection anywhere from 3 to 4 hours at a time. Also, the stimulants from the meteor rock induced hormones will sustain both partners orgasm for at least 2 to 3 full minutes. Pretty intense huh?" Asked Chloe.

Clark blushed furiously and coughed on his latte while moving around uncomfortably in his seat. He was having a hard time looking Chloe in the eyes when she said words like 'erection' and 'orgasm'. But, it also proved to be a very big turn on. Clark's jeans were beginning to feel snug against his crotch.

'Too bad I would die if I took a pill made from kryptonite' Clark thought 'or maybe I could suggest Chloe and I do a test of our own to verify the side effects'. He immediately scolded himself for thinking that way while Chloe was trying to have a legitimate conversation with him. "Uh, yeah Chloe that is pretty intense," he said awkwardly.

Chloe noticed how flushed Clark appeared. His eyes were a bit dark and he was moving around a lot too. Then it hit her. 'Ohhh I'm turning him on!' Chloe realized with great pleasure. Wow, she couldn't believe how easily Clark got aroused but, mmmm, it sure was sexy that her words were the reason for his arousal. This made her want to keep talking.

"Yeah and the report even noted some instances where testers where caught having sex in public places because they weren't able to contain their sexual urges. Apparently along with making for great sex, the drug also makes people go at it like bunnies".

'Why do I do it?' she thought. Clark squirmed and put his hands on his lap. 'That's why." she reminded herself.

Chloe was becoming more turned on by the second while watching Clark react to her talking. She had always been able to tell when Clark was feeling "hot". From time to time since she had known him she would occasionally do things in a passive aggressive way that she knew would make him think about sex. She knew how to turn him on and he had no clue of her intentions.

Whether it be bending over seductively to pick something off the floor while making it look very innocent or sucking on her lollipop in such a way that it had to make his mind wander, it had always been easy to turn Clark on. He always got the same intense look in his eyes and the same flushed cheeks. Chloe could not think of anything better in the entire world than seeing Clark horny.

Clark was confused by his reaction to Chloe's words. Why was he having sexual thoughts about his best friend? I mean he'd noticed her as being sexy before but right now she was driving him crazy with lust. 'I guess it's pretty normal for a guy to get turned on when a girl is speaking explicitly about sex' he reasoned with himself.

"Hello, earth to Clark" Chloe snapped her fingers in front of Clark's face to try and jolt him back into reality. "Clark are you okay?" she asked, pretending to be concerned by his "strange" behavior.

"Uh, yeah Chloe I'm fine." He needed to think of something to say, "I was uhh just thinking about how Luthorcorp is trying to take over every market they can with these meteor rock products. No competitor stands a chance against its power, it doesn't seem fair". Clark smiled big and pretended like he cared about anything right now other than how badly he wanted to change the subject.

He was a little shocked by how candid Chloe could be sometimes. I mean nothing was off limits to her if it had to do with researching an article. But, he admired how confident she seemed in her own skin and was flattered that she was comfortable enough to talk about sex with him. Even if it was causing him to want to forget the entire reason for their meeting, super speed her to his loft and ravage her.

They both sat quietly for a minute or two just sipping their drinks and trading awkward glances. Chloe took one last gulp of her latte and placed her empty mug on the corner of the table.

"Okay" Chloe began, "I think it's time we stop postponing the inevitable and discuss what we came here to discuss". Her belly was doing flips as much because she was nervous as because Clark's demeanor aroused her. "I have some things to tell you Clark and I really want to be taken seriously. I don't want you to think differently of me after this. I don't want this to ruin our friendship," she said with a little bit of a quiver in her voice.

Clark was having more than just friendly thoughts about Chloe right now but wanted to focus on this issue. He really cared about her and didn't want her to continue hiding her feelings any longer. 'If Chloe tells me she loves me, what am I going to do?' He thought.

"Chloe, nothing you say could ever change the fact that you're an amazing person. I would never judge you." Clark placed his hand on top of Chloe's and gave it a quick squeeze. "I'm grateful that you're a part of my life. You've always been there for me even when I didn't deserve it. When I had no reason to expect your friendship, you still offered it. No confession could ever ruin what we have."

Chloe smiled meekly and prepared herself to speak. "Clark, I wrote you that letter over two years ago while you were sick due to that meteor rock exposure on your farm. Do you remember your dad telling you how I stopped by for a visit?" Clark nodded. "Well, I read that letter to you while you were sleeping. I wrote it because it was all the things I'd been feeling that I didn't have the courage to say out loud. I've always been better with written words than spoken ones and I felt that by reading it to you, even if you couldn't hear me, I would be releasing demons or something."

Clark was saddened by the idea that she didn't have the courage to tell him all of those things. "I can't believe that it was so long ago. Why is it that you never just gave me the letter? Did you think I would reject you?" he said, his features laced with sympathy.

"Well" Chloe began, "I knew you would reject me, yeah. At the time you were in love with Lana and I was nothing more to you than a friend, as usual. But still, initially, I actually was considering leaving the letter so that you'd read it once you were feeling better. That way you would know what I was feeling but I would be able to avoid the embarrassing eye contact. But, then something made me change my mind." Chloe stared at her hands and felt some embarrassment wash over her.

"What was it Chloe?" Clark asked gently.

"After I read you my letter, you began to wake up and you had a tiny grin on your face. For a minute I thought that you had somehow heard everything I had said and that you were actually happy about it. But, then...then in your delirium you called out to Lana instead. I guess you thought that she was the one who was with you, or you just hoped it was her." Chloe peeked up at Clark and was moved by the crushed look on his face. She wondered if it was wrong of her to be putting this guilt trip on him.

Clark was overwhelmed with regret for hurting Chloe like that. "Chloe, I am so sorry. I don't remember that and I was probably just rambling in my sleep but I am extremely sad that you had to go through that. You've had to carry that around with you for two years? I hate the thought of how rejected you must have felt." Clark closed his eyes and shook his head and Chloe just watched as a tear fell down his cheek. "All I ever do is cause you pain. This is just another example of how I am so not worthy of your friendship."

"Clark, don't say that! I shouldn't have told you that last part; there was no reason to bring it up. You were asleep and didn't know what you were saying." Chloe was racked with guilt for making him cry. 'Wow, I can't believe Clark cried over this! Just when I think I couldn't love him more, he does something perfect to make me swoon harder. How am I ever going to get over him?' She thought.

Clark continued, "Chloe, thank you for sticking by me after all I've put you through. I see now more than ever how close I probably came to losing our friendship forever." Clark grabbed Chloe's hand again and just held it.

He truly was on emotional overload right now and felt like he had a lot of stuff he needed to sort out in his head. Hearing right from Chloe's mouth that she had been carrying around such strong feelings for him and felt like she was unable to tell him about them because of his relationship with Lana was a rude awakening. Clark knew that when he and Lana dated it had hurt Chloe but he never really understood why. After all, Chloe was the one who ended their relationship (if you can call it that) after she returned home from her Daily Planet internship. Now he was beginning to realize that she had wanted him to give her a reason to stay together. 'I guess hindsight really is 20/20' he thought to himself.

"Clark you've been a great friend to me," said Chloe. "I'm the queen of mixed signals and now I realize that you just didn't know when you were hurting me. I should have been more open with you from the beginning, then we wouldn't even be in this mess." Chloe took in a deep breath, "There's one more thing I need to tell you Clark. The reason you never stumbled on the letter before is because I had thrown it away after reading it to you at your house."

"I don't understand Chloe. What do you mean?"

Chloe continued, "When my dad and I were moving we did a last minute sweep over the house to make sure we weren't leaving anything behind. While looking through Lana's old room to make sure she hadn't left anything I found a piece of paper on her closet floor and just picked it up and added it to the box with some other stuff of hers. I have several pink notebooks at home so the color didn't draw my attention. But, the other day while going through and cleaning out the last few boxes that I'd avoided unpacking I opened up the letter and saw what it was. I was so furious at her for taking it and keeping it without ever telling me that I brought it to school to confront her with it. That's why you found it in my desk drawer, I was just waiting until I saw Lana next and then I was going to get rid of it."

"Chloe, I'm sure Lana wasn't trying to be vindictive by keeping your letter. She probably just thought you didn't want it anymore," Clark said.

"Well, why was she going through my trash anyway? And once she saw it she should have told me. Instead she was probably just judging me behind my back," Chloe responded. "Anyway Clark, don't worry about it. It's all in the past anyway. Now that you've seen it I can just put this all behind me". Chloe smiled at Clark to reassure him that she really wasn't upset.

Clark knew that he really couldn't blame Chloe for being upset with Lana but he thought it was best to keep a positive perspective on it for Chloe's sake. It didn't really seem like Lana to invade someone's privacy like that but Clark barely recognized Lana these days. He was beginning to wonder if he had ever really known her at all.

Chloe decided that she had given Clark enough information for one night. She meant what she had said about wanting to be open with him but their conversation had been dramatic enough without her throwing the "L" word around. Things were finally starting to be comfortable with Clark again and she wanted to take things one-step at a time. She didn't want to get her hopes up but she even thought she noticed some chemistry between her and Clark tonight. Not to mention the fact that she was sure she could turn him on better than anyone else in the world.

"Chloe?"

"Yes, Clark?"

"Would you go out with me tomorrow night?" He asked.

Chloe could barely believe her ears. 'Did Clark just ask me out?' She questioned to herself. She knew she must have looked ridiculous at the moment.

Clark laughed at how noticeably shocked Chloe looked with her mouth hanging open and her eyes twice their original size. The urge to ask her out on a date had just come to him all at once. He had wanted to hug and kiss her all night long and something in him finally snapped making him realize that he had feelings for her. He had romantic feelings for Chloe.

Clark's grin was infectious and Chloe smiled right along with him. "Yes Clark, I would love to go out with you tomorrow."

…To Be Continued.