wow. Chapter 11. we're almost at the end. only one more chapter after this one. i'm not sure if i'll get it up tomorrow. but it will be up Friday for sure.
a little background about this chapter. it might help to read Chapter 11 of Lilies and Chapter 5 of Something For Lois to go along with this chapter of For Her. there's just some references.
so anyway...i think that takes care of everything. for right now anyway..
Author: Alison
Disclaimer: Characters belong to DC, WB, AlMiles, etc., etc., etc. I only own the story and every cd Keith Urban's recorded. My cat strapped on a helmet and joined the German team in the Luge. They won gold. She won't take my calls again.
Chapter 11
He leaned forward and put his head in his hands as he rested his elbows on his knees.
Why did he do it? Well, he knew why. He just wanted to be with her.
And what was so wrong with that?
He stayed longer than he meant to. He stayed longer than he should have.
But he didn't stay as long as he wanted to.
He helped her search the entire apartment all afternoon and into the evening for the missing photograph. They looked through each picture scattered across the sofa, coffee table and floor. He even tried to make conversation by asking about some of the pictures he touched as he looked. But it didn't seem to help. Because it wasn't there. And he knew it.
No. He knew it wasn't there. But he did know who had it. And so, he mumbled a few words about needing to leave to take care of something, made sure she would be okay, then quickly left.
Maybe he just couldn't stay there any longer seeing her in a panic. She was so upset that it was gone. She was simply devastated.
And it was all because of him. Somehow, in his attempt to make her feel better, he ironically made everything worse.
So, he just didn't think she'd realize it was gone. But he should've known that something like that was more valuable to her than anything else she owned.
He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid.
But as he left her small apartment, he turned back and saw her sitting in the floor, the same as the night he walked in unannounced. He could make it better. He could make her feel better.
And he would.
"So, why'd you lie to her, Clark?"
Her voice was soft. She wasn't trying to be mean. She just wanted to know. And he could understand why.
She sat on the tiny twin bed next to him in the dimly lit dorm room.
"I didn't lie to her, Chloe. I mean…well. I guess I did." He lifted his head out of his hands and looked at her. "But what was I supposed to say?"
"Yeah, I know." She took a breath. "I guess I'm just trying to figure it all out, Clark. I mean, the picture, the memorial." She paused and looked at him. "And Lois said…last night…you surprised her with Breakfast at Tiffany's."
What was she getting at? Did Chloe know something? Did she suspect something?
He sighed.
"Well, that's really it. I guess I just wanted to spend some time with her and…surprise her for once."
Maybe he felt that was the only way he could get through to her. Especially when her defenses were down.
Chloe slowly nodded her head. She seemed to understand, and he silently hoped she did.
She reached into her laptop bag and pulled out an envelope.
"Here. You said you wanted this."
She handed it to him and he took it from her. He gently opened the envelope and peeked inside.
There it was. What they'd been searching for all day. Well, she had been searching. He merely pretended. And he mentally berated himself for it.
"Thanks, Chloe."
"So…how do you plan on giving it back to Lois?"
The ideas had been churning in his head all day. He'd thought of some good ones, but wasn't sure how she'd react. But there was one plan in particular that he hoped would work out. And the mere thought of it made him smile.
"I don't know…but I have an idea."
A confused smile crept across her face as he stood and made his way to the door.
"What kind of idea?"
He stopped and turned to look at her, his hand on the doorknob.
"You'll see." He opened the door and had started to leave, when he turned around. "Oh and Chloe? Could you go by the cemetery on your way into town tomorrow? You know…just make sure everything looks okay. I know we talked about it the other day, but I just wanted to make sure you could still go."
She gave a weak smile and lightly nodded.
"Sure."
He'd almost left. But then he remembered something he'd thought of during his sleepless night.
"And Chloe?" She looked up at him as he stood in the doorway. "I'd really like for you to come with us to the cemetery tomorrow afternoon. I mean…after all, you've kinda had as much to do with this as I have."
She smiled.
"Sure, Clark. I'll just come by the farm after I check things out at the cemetery."
He smiled warmly at her and spoke as he closed the door behind him.
"Thanks, Chloe. For everything."
He shut the door and made his way down the hall and out of the building. He glanced around before super speeding back home.
The lights were still on in the kitchen when he arrived home. He knew his father wouldn't still be up at this hour. He walked through the wooden screen door and that's when he saw them.
There were at least two dozen white lilies in a glass vase sitting on the kitchen island.
He smiled and his heartbeat immediately sped up. Everything was going to be okay after all.
"So, do you want to tell me why I had to sign for those from the Heidelberg Florist?"
His head shot up.
"Mom. Um…" He paused to clear his throat as he tried to think of more words he could say. "I uh… Well."
So, maybe words weren't his strong suit.
She walked closer to where he stood by the island and softened her voice.
"Clark. Why would you order two dozen calla lilies from a florist in Germany?"
Should he tell her? After all, they're just for a friend. You know, to make her feel better. It's just a nice gesture for a friend.
Well…at least, that's what he'd tell her.
He sighed and glanced down.
"They're for Lois. They're just something nice for her after a long, rough week."
He didn't want to see how far her mouth fell. He knew it did. And it was soon replaced with a smirk.
"You know, Clark. You sure have been doing a lot of 'nice things' for Lois lately."
He had? The movie, the picture, the memorial. The lilies. Okay…so maybe he had.
No one had forced him to do any of that. He did it all of his own free will. And he felt strangely comfortable with that.
Because he knew now that everything would be okay.
He smiled as he gently picked up the vase.
"Yeah…I know."
He walked out the door while his mother stood next to the island with a knowing grin.
He knew she knew. But neither were going to say it out loud until he was ready.
Not knowing how super speed could affect a glass vase full of lilies, he opted for taking the truck.
He hopped in, started the engine and made the journey he'd been longing to take for the past couple of days.
He pulled the truck down the main street then turned into the back alley. It was nearly midnight. He figured she'd probably be sleeping after such a long day. Of course, she was probably still tired from last night, too.
Sliding out of the truck, he grabbed the vase and walked to the back entrance, using the spare key his mother gave him to unlock the door. He walked in, through the stockroom and kitchen, then made his way to the swinging door that led to the front.
His heart was racing. He was so excited, so anxious.
He just wanted her to feel better.
Walking up the stairs, he could feel his heart in his chest. Just breathe. Just…breathe.
He tested the doorknob. It was locked. But he'd learned a little trick when Lana lived there. He grabbed the doorknob and gently shifted the door so that the lock popped. He'd never told Lana about it. He'd planned on telling Lois when she moved in, but now…he had second thoughts.
The door quietly opened and he slipped inside. All of the lights were out in the small apartment. He headed straight to the kitchen and set the vase on the island counter where she'd be sure to see it first thing in the morning.
Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out the envelope Chloe had given him earlier. He glanced around and found a notepad and black ink pen by the phone. He ripped a sheet off the pad, grabbed the pen and began to write. He folded the note and stuck it in the envelope, then sealed it. Flipping it over he wrote her name boldly across the front. He checked the lilies one last time before laying the envelope next to the vase.
He stood there for a moment just looking at it. He'd love to see her reaction in the morning.
Sighing, he slowly turned and walked in the direction of the door. But then he saw it. He might not have meant to, or maybe, subconsciously, he did. Either way, he saw her.
The moonlight filtered in through the window. He slowly walked closer to her. She was curled up on her side, the covers wrapped tightly around her.
The closer he got to the bed, however, the more he realized she was crying in her sleep. The tears were streaming down her face as she slept.
His heart sank deeper at that moment than it had all week.
He gently sat on the edge of the bed and put his hand on the side of her face as he whispered.
"Everything will be okay."
He wiped the tears away with his thumb as she continued to cry.
He couldn't leave. Not yet. He'd kick himself if he did.
So, for the rest of the night, he sat on the bed and wiped away her tears.