Chapter Six

Principal Kwan dropped Chloe and Clark off and they walked along the gate, looking at the rides set along the walkway to attract attention. Chloe looked at the carnies bolting down the last support beam for an octopus-looking thrill ride called "The Hurler"; It basically spun the riders in their seats as the arms spinned around.

"That ride is from last year, but with a gross name," Chloe said, walking with him. Last time through Smallville, the ride was called "Octo-Pods". "I liked it though. I'd need someone again to make sure I was ok afterwards. I was so dizzy."

Clark looked at Chloe and she was smiling at him.

"Yeah," Clark said. "I remember. I said not to ride two times in a row. But did you listen?"

"No, Clark," Chloe said with a secret smile. "I didn't listen." The first time she didn't get dizzy enough. The second time did the job and Clark had to hold her: hold her up when they got off the ride, and had his arm around her waist while they sat on a bench. "Luckly for me you were there."

"What's a friend for?" Clark said easily and looked ahead. He missed Chloe's beaming smile falter and fall into a frown.

"Yeah," Chloe said, trying to sound chipper. "So Kent...going to ask anyone to the carnival? Did anyone ask you?"

"Umm," Clark mumbled, taken aback. "I haven't thought of anyone specifically," He said, lying; he wanted to ask Chloe out, but he knew, KNEW that he'd say "Let's meet up at the carnival and hang out with Pete" like he did last year. "And no one ever asks me out."

"Tell me about it," Chloe grumbled and kicked a rock. "We're the Dateless Wonder Twins."

"Yeah. I asked Pete what was up with that, and he just laughed and laughed." Clark kicked a rock and winced; it shot off. Luckily, Chloe didn't see the rock zoom away. However, somewhere, a farmer was knocked unconscious by the rock pelting him.

"Same here," Chloe said, grabbing a rock and throwing it into the vacant parking lot. She subversively made sure the girls knew Clark was taken, but it also killed her dating chances. 'Not that I want to date anyone else,' she thought. 'But it would be nice to make Clark jealous.'

"Watch out," Clark reached and held her arm; he kicked aside shards of a broken bottle that was in Chloe's path.

"Thanks, Clark," Chloe said in a hushed tone and he blushed. She swooned; she felt a bit dizzy like when he held her after the Octo-Pod ride. 'Mental Note number 342: Clark is IT,' she thought, looking up at him. "I don't think the thick soles of my boots were a match against that thin glass," she couldn't help but snark. He laughed. She walked closer to his arm. while they approached the main enterance.

"Clark Kent and Chloe Sullivan, Smallville Torch, to see ...Beppo," Clark announced to a portly security guard and a scraggly carny.

"Assertive," Chloe whispered and she leaned in close to Clark. "I didn't have to coach you. That's a welcomed change." Clark made a face and Chloe smiled.

"I'm Clovis," the carny drawled out while a security guard unchained the front gates and let Chloe and Clark pass through."And ya' all are late."

"Really?" Chloe looked at her watch. "Just two minutes late."

"Late is late," Clovis said. "Follow me."

Chloe and Clark looked at each other with raised eyebrows, hunched, dropped their shoulders at the same time and followed Clovis. They walked a few feet behind him. Chloe was used to seeing farmers around town with their overalls; she thought the smudges of dirt were badges of noblity. However, Clovis's overalls were beyond soiled: they were dirty, sweatstained, had food, oil, and blood spots ground into the fabric. Chloe guesstimated the last time they were washed was in the early 1970s, at least. She offically hated overalls now. She elbowed Clark, getting his attention from a poster on a circus tent. He leaned in.

"Clark, I swear if you ever wear overalls...," she started to whisper. But she thought of Clark in just overalls; Clark doing hot sweaty farm work in the Sun, bailing hay, feeding the cows, roping the horses, cleaning the stables, all in slow motion, the muscles in his arms flexing, bulging. She envisioned him grabbing a huge water bucket, lifting it, and pouring the water over himself, washing off the sweat and grime. He shook his head, sending out splatters of water. He wiped his face and chest and arms slowly. 'Mmmm,' Chloe thought, 'Easy on the eyes.'

Chloe licked her parched lips, vacantly staring off into space while Clark waited for her to finish what she was saying.

Clovis took a left turn and Clark followed him.

Chloe kept thinking about a drenched Clark, a muscled Clark who needed to take off the soaking overalls with her help and walked right into Clark's chest.

"Oof!" Chloe said and was jolted out of her daydream. She looked up at Clark dreamily. Then she smacked his chest several times. "Watch where you're going, you behemoth!"

"You didn't turn," Clark said, giving her a confused look, rubbing his chest for no reason. "He turned, I turned, you went straight." He pointed at Clovis up ahead. "And what about me and overalls? You sorta got all quiet."

"Oh, that," Chloe said, wiping her warm brow. She composed herself and she walked with Clark. "Just...just don't get them dirty like that guy's."

"Umm," Clark said. "Oooooooookay."

Joe Young was Beppo's owner and trainer. He peeked into Beppo's bedroom and saw the chimpanzee enjoying "King Kong" on Turner Classic Movies. Joe chuckled at the memory of Beppo disgustedly throwing a DVD about a chimp in a hotel, "Dunston Checks Out" out the window somewhere between Tampa and Jacksonvile, Florida while the caravan rolled north.

"Beppo, my man," Joe said cheerfully. Beppo looked over and smiled. He liked Joe. Joe was nice and playful and got him the best liquor. Beppo lightly shook his glass and Joe filled it with brandy. Yes, Beppo liked Joe a lot.

"Beps," Joe said, going to the door. "We have an interview with some kids for their school paper in a few minutes."

Beppo looked incredulously at Joe. Didn't Joe see he was busy? That he was watching what he felt was the greatest movie he seen since they bought and watched 'Citizen Kane' in Gotham? Beppo shrieked and tossed a banana at Joe.

"Whoa!" Joe ducked the banana and heard it splat above his head. "What the hell, Beppo?" Joe looked at his chimpanzee. Beppo never acted with any anger or malice. The chimp grabbed an apple and pointed at the television screen.

"Beppo...," Joe said with a firm voice, ready to dodge the apple. "I understand. But it's too late to call off the interview." Beppo flung the apple high and Joe scampered out of the room. He shut the door. "Watch the movie and just do a quick wave to the kids, thats all," Joe yelled through the door. Beppo gave his shriek of agreement to Joe and went back to the movie. It was getting good. The blonde was now tied to the pillars, a gift to Kong.

"Wait here," Clovis said. He stopped in front of the Beppo's deluxe motor home and knocked on the door.

"Nice set-up," Chloe remarked, "None of the other trailers are new or large like this one."

"His 'Majesty' is the star attraction," Clovis sneered. Clark looked at Chloe.

"I thought Beppo was a likeable animal?" Chloe said innocently. She wanted more info.

"He ain't no animal," Clovis ventured. Chloe looked at Clark this time. "And he ain't no man."

"What do you mean?" Clark asked.

"Nuttin'..." Clovis said with a look that ended the conversation. Joe opened the door.

"Hello, I'm Joe Young, owner and trainer of Beppo," Joe said and welcomed Chloe and Clark into the house. Joe looked at Clovis and shook his head. Clovis hrrumped and walked off.

"Beppo will join us in a bit," Joe said to Chloe and Clark while they sat at a table. "I'm going to get you some drinks. Soda ok?" They both nodded and Joe left the room. Chloe checked the micro-cassette recorder's batteries. They were fresh.

"Say my name," Chloe said to Clark, clicking the recorder on. Clark rolled his eyes and she jabbed the machine at his lips. She did this every time when they went on interviews together. "Say it!"

"Chloe."

"And say it louder," she directed. He did.

"And once more, softly," Chloe smiled. Clark obliged. She re-wound the ninety minute cassette and played it and heard Clark's say her name three times. "Works," She said with a smile and took out the cassette and put a fresh one in.

"Jeeze," Clark said. "You must have that one cassette filled with me saying your name over and over."

"So?" Chloe said, slipping the cassette in her front pocket. Her defenses went up: It was nobody's business, especially Clark, what she did with that particular cassette. "I have to see if the recorder works. You know, if it picks up changes in tone. Its important."

"Ok," Clark said. "At least it wasn't like last week when you made me do the push-ups and say your name."

"Oh yeah," Chloe said with a grin. "Umm...well, I needed to hear if the recorder picked up ragged breath, but you weren't helpful at all. You did all those push-ups without getting bushed."

"Fifty push-ups are a breeze," Clark boasted.

"Mmm-hmm," Chloe said, fidgetting in her seat, thinking of Clark in overalls, doing push-ups, and saying her name.

"I could do a hundred easy if you had asked." Clark idly tapped his pen.

"Maybe I will." Chloe said. 'Oh yes, I will,' she thought. "Where's Beppo?" Chloe asked when Joe walked in with a tray of drinks and sat at the table with them.

"Umm," Joe stammered. "He's watching a movie."

Chloe and Clark looked at each other. She actually pouted.

"Joe," Clark said, "we're here to interview you, but we really need to see Beppo to get a real grasp of the story." Chloe looked at Clark, amazed that he was saying exactly what she'd say.

"Plus we need pictures," She added and lifted her digital camera.

Joe nodded and got up. He worried that Beppo would throw another tantrum. He walked to the bedroom door and knocked while he opened it. Beppo watched Kong carry the woman into the jungle. "Beppo?"

Beppo shrieked. He didn't want to be interrupted; the movie was getting better and better.

The shriek scared Chloe and she grabbed Clark's hand and ducked her head into his arm. He put his arm around her shoulder. For a few seconds Chloe felt safe with Clark's touch. But she knew it wasn't professional. She leaned back in her chair and looked at Clark. "Wasn't scared. It just surprised me," she said and he just nodded at her.

"Is there a problem, Joe?" Clark asked.

"No..." Joe said down the hallway. "Its just that Beppo is really into his movie, kids."

Nothing, NOTHING made Chloe mad more than being called a kid. Chloe growled. She growled when she was mad or something wasn't going her way. Clark winced; He had often made her growl. "Look, we need to see him to get this story complete," She said firmly. She got up, went past Joe, and walked down the hallway. She peeked into the bedroom. She saw the chimp lounging on the couch, taking a drink of something burgandy colored. "Beppo...Please come out Beppo," Chloe pleaded sweetly.

Beppo knocked back the drink and looked at the doorway. A Blonde. A Beauty. A Girl. He looked at the screen, at Fay Wray in Kong's hand, and looked back at the girl in the doorway, infatuated. He smiled, bobbed his head excitedly, turned off the television and cartwheeled over to Chloe. She clapped at his trick. Chloe was surprised that the chimpanzee was so tall, just a few inches shorter than she was and very muscled for his species. 'Maybe he is a forerunner for...'

Chloe didn't complete her thought; Beppo hugged her.

"Oh...hello," Chloe said down at the balding head of the chimp. Beppo hugged tightly and she looked at Joe. "Umm, pretty affectionate, isn't he?"

"He usually doesn't do this," Joe explained with an uneasy grin, and moved in on them. He tugged on Beppo's shoulder but the chimpanzee shrugged at his hand. Chloe tried to step away. But the shift in her balance made her and Beppo tumble to the floor. Beppo shrieked happily again.

"A little help?" Chloe said, this time looking at the person that she knew would help her in any situation: Clark. He moved from his chair to her side in two of her blinks and and pulled Beppo off. Clark was surprised that he had to put some effort into it. Beppo sniffed at Clark and smelled no fear, unlike the fear he smelled on Joe or the girl. In Beppo's mind, Clark was Chloe's mate. A mate he had to defeat. Beppo looked at Clark. Clark easily lifted Chloe to her Doc Marten boots.

"If it's Thursday," Chloe said with a smirk, "It must be 'Clark Saves Chloe Yet Again Day'." She plucked at nothing on his shirt and Clark smiled at her. Beppo shrieked: He didn't like Clark one bit.

"I guess he wants to start the interview," Joe said with a nervous laugh.

"Yeah, I don't want to waste any more time, too" Chloe said. Clark guided Chloe to one side of the table, and Joe sat with Beppo on the other side. They began the interview.