PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Author: CandyCentric
Rating: T
Spoilers: Lockdown
Disclaimer: Yeah, I've got Tom Welling tied up in my basement... ;-) Course not, don't own them & chances are never will. No rights, no money. . . nothing.
WARNING: If you're a Chlark fan, this story already ended for you at chapter 1, if not, then: 'May I present to you:
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT - Chapter 2
"Chloe, you can't be serious."
She looked over at Clark, who had been staring at her for some time now. 'What's his problem?' Shrugging her shoulders, she started digging through her purse looking for the car keys.
Upon noticing he was making no attempt to get in the car and tired of being stared at like a leper, she finally asked, "What?"
"What?", he repeated. How can she be serious? She can't, I'm obviously dreaming. No, I wouldn't dream this, which means . . . I'm stuck in the Twilight Zone. That's it.
Chloe rolled her eyes and laughed. "Yes Clark, what. As in, what's the big deal? Or, what are you freaking out about?"
"What's the big deal?" He again repeated.
"Is there an echo in here?"
Frustrated, Clark let out a small sound, which could only be described as a perturbed growl. "I don't know what kind of game your playing, but I, for one, am NOT amused. I mean, who are you? Certainly not the Chloe Sullivan I used to know, because she never would of even joked at something like that."
"Well EXCUSE ME for trying to help!" She yelled, hurt by his words and mad at the way he was treating her. All because she wanted to help out a friend in need.
"Help?", he exclaimed. "And tell me how, exactly, sleeping with me would help anything!"
Silence.
Seconds passed, during which Chloe didn't move, didn't breathe, didn't even bat an eyelash.
Clark was rightfully annoyed at the whole situation, which he, had gotten himself into. As he noticed the corner of her mouth turn slightly upwards on one side, he slammed the palm of his hand over his face. Fighting the urge to unleash his frustrations by growling into his hand, he mentally tried to calm his breathing. 'Breathe Clark, just breathe. There's obviously something wrong, she . . . what was that?'
Slowly bringing his hand down, he was greeted with a smiling Chloe, who appeared to be half-heartedly trying to hold back a giggle. However, upon catching him looking at her, she broke into full-blown laughter.
'How am I supposed to deal with this?' He watched in bewilderment as her laughter grew so much she had to physically reach her hand out to grab hold of the car, to keep her balance. Irritated beyond belief, he forced himself to keep his voice at a decent level. 'WHAT. IS SO. FUNNY?"
In between bouts of giggles, Chloe tried desperately to respond. "You . . . you thought . . . that . . . "
All patience having left a few giggles back, he yelled: "I thought what, Chloe?"
Finally bringing her laughter under some particle of control, she 'giggled' out: "You thought I was offering to sleep with you?"
Greatly confused, he hesitatingly asked, "What?"
"You did! You thought I wanted to sleep with you!"
Clark wasn't quite sure how to reply to that. "Well, don't you?"
She laughed softly at his reasoning. "Either way, I think that's kinda besides the point."
Clark's nonexistent stuttering problem suddenly surfaced, along with slightly tinted cheeks. "But . . . you said that . . . that you love me. And that we . . . that we're . . . " The entire scope of the conversation & hole he had dug himself into hit Clark like a meteor. "Oh my God." He finished, with his cheeks now burning. He closed his eyes in hopes that this all really was just a bad dream.
Chloe moved a step closer and put her hand on his arm. "You know I love you Clark, but as a friend. I also know you and Lana love each other, that you want to keep her safe. But as your best friend I feel a responsibility to tell you that you can't keep lying to her, and you can't just break up with her without giving her a reason. It's not fair to her, or you. So what I was suggesting . . . " She couldn't help but smile as Clark blushed even harder. "Was that you 'practice', what your gonna tell her, with me, because that's really the only way I see out of this. Then, after that, we can just go from there."
"Oh." Clark wasn't too sure what all he was feeling. The word 'stupid' came to mind, along with surprise, embarrassment, and in some weird way, maybe even . . . disappointment?
"Look, I'm sorry if I offended you, or said stuff you didn't want to hear, but I just want what's best for you, for you to be happy, and I think telling Lana is the best way to do that."
Finally finding some words to string together, he thanked whatever power was up there for letting him know such a great person.
"I know Chloe, and thank you. You've always been such a great friend to me." He grabbed her up in a tight hug.
"You too, Clark." She replied, letting go.
"I'm sorry if I yelled at you."
"Don't worry about it, I think I may have done some voice raising myself."
"And you're right, Lana does deserve better . . . It's just so hard sometimes, but . . . maybe I should tell her." Throwing an arm around her shoulders, he added: "Think ya' might be able to help out a friend in need?"
Not able to let that one pass, Chloe smiled. "That depends, will I have to sleep with you?"
He laughed out loud at her at her question, but felt the need to tease her a bit back. "Only if you want to," he smiled.
"CLARK!", she laughed.
"Kidding, kidding."
"You better be . . . and after all the stress you put me through, I think I deserve dinner."
"Oh you do, do you? We'll just have to see about that . . . "
A/N - well, there you have it ladies and gentlemen. My first series fic. (Yeah, a whopping 2 chapters! Yea) Anyway, hope you liked it, sorry about the wait & keep in mind I truly adore REVIEWS. So, just push that li'l button down there & let me know whether ya' loved it, liked it or think it deserves to be put in the 'Bad Fic Hall of Fame'. Thanks:-)