Chapter Five:

For a few moments Clark couldn't even speak. All he was aware of was that his heart pounded in his chest, his mouth felt incredibly dry and he was racking his brain to think of the perfect way to logically explain to her what had happened that night. Nothing came to mind and he could only look at her helplessly.

Chloe just regarded him. He looked utterly panic-stricken. She walked slowly towards him.

"It all makes perfect sense now. All those inexplicable things I just put down to coincidence or just pure mystery, it was you. Why you kept disappearing the way that you did, one second you were there and literally the next you weren't" Clark dragged a deep breath into starved lungs.

"What are you going to do?" his voice was quiet. She looked at him quizzically.

" Come on Chloe! You've come across the story of the century… you publish this, you'll make the front page of every newspaper in the country" Chloe rolled her eyes.

"You think I'd publish this?" her voice rose in amazement. He shrugged.

"Why not?" Her jaw dropped when she realised that he was being serious.

"Because you're my best friend, that's why! Clark what do you take me for?" she exclaimed.

"I remember the look on your face when you were affected by that truth serum last year" he told her and she shook her head.

"Your friendship means far more to me than a front page headline Clark" she assured him. He looked at her as though he didn't believe or trust her and that rankled.

"You still don't believe me do you?" He didn't respond, he turned his back to her instead and she felt her throat close up as tears crowded the backs of her eyes. She stared at his back and willed herself not to cry.

"I would never tell anyone what I saw that night Clark," her voice was choked, husky. Clark turned around and looked at her.

"You know that's almost exactly what Alicia said. And she didn't keep her promise" he watched Chloe's eyes widen at the accusation.

"Maybe she thought it was something someone else should know, so you wouldn't have to go through what you do, alone" Clark clenched his fists.

"It wasn't her decision to make. Chloe you have no idea what you've let yourself in for!"

"Then why don't you tell me? I want to listen, I want to help, you just have to take that all important first step and trust me" He sighed loudly and just shook his head.

"It's too much. Pete couldn't handle it, that's why he left, he couldn't trust himself to keep my secret and it tore him apart. I won't put you through the same thing, I can't"

"Wait a minute. Pete knew?" Clark looked at her and nodded.

"He's known for a couple of years now" he admitted and if at all possible Chloe's eyes widened.

"He never let on," she murmured to herself. Then she looked at him again.

"I already know what you're capable of doing Clark. Why won't you tell me the rest? Do you honestly think that I can't handle it? I've told you about my mother, couldn't you afford me the same respect?"

"Trust is something you earn Chloe, you've told me that many times before,"

"And here we are, back on the trust issue" she snarked, folding her arms. The necklace was still in her hand and she tightened her grip on it. Then she opened her hand and looked at it.

"The stones look so pretty in the light don't they Clark?" she looked up at him to see his eyes on the necklace.

"What do the red meteor rocks do to you exactly?"

"Who says that they do anything to me at all Chloe?" she sighed harshly and held out the necklace to him. He eyed it warily.

"Take it Clark. If it doesn't do anything to you then for God's sake, take it" she snapped. He didn't move, his gaze flitting carefully between her expression and the necklace. To touch the necklace, feel the kryptonite smooth away all his troubles, his pain, was overwhelming. He took a step backwards. He turned and walked towards the window instead.