Chloe saw the pensive look on Clark's face and decided to walk over and see what he was in such deep thought about. As she approached she saw what he as staring at and sighed inwardly. Lana had always been able to get Clark's attention, but this time it seemed a little different.
She had at one time hoped that she and Clark would have been more than friends; but it just hadn't worked out that way. After the whole weird time travel incident, Clark was convinced that it was just too dangerous to for him to be involved with anyone. She had accepted that and they were still great friends.
But, she could tell at times that Clark really wanted to be with someone. She saw how he and Lois would banter back and forth, but he would always pull back before anything could happen that he couldn't take back. It was like a turtle pulling its head back into its shell for protection. Chloe could tell right now was another one of those times. You could almost read the emotions on his face the same way he was reading the paper.
Chloe gently placed her hand on his shoulder; the touch breaking him out of his reverie causing him to jump slightly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Are you okay?" Chloe nodded at the picture.
"I guess." Clark was still very glum but gave Chloe a small smile, appreciative of her concern.
"You knew this was going to happen one day," Chloe offered trying to be helpful. She pulled up a chair as Clark turned around to face her. "I know. It's not the fact that she is getting married that bothers me, it's who she is marrying."
"Well she probably doesn't know him like we do." Chloe then continued, trying to sound optimistic. "But, maybe he's changed."
Clark looked at her with an eyebrow raised very skeptically. Chloe saw the look and thought mark one up for nurture. She almost felt like she was a teenager again and Jonathan Kent had just caught her with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar. "You and I both know that isn't true."
Chloe hid a smile as she thought all he needs to do is cross his arms across his chest and the pose will be complete. As if on cue Clark did just that almost as a dare for her to challenge him on the point. Chloe would have mentioned her inner amusement to Clark but she didn't want to upset him further by bringing up that subject since he was already upset. "You can't do anything about it. She's a grown woman who can make decisions on her own."
"But, they're uninformed choices, Chloe" Clark argued. "I just can't believe that she would know about the stuff he does and go through with this."
"Well, they say love is blind" Chloe answered. "Everyone knows Lex is a smooth talker, he probably has her believing that he is just another upstanding businessman."
"Somebody has to tell her the truth." Clark shot back his voice rising slightly as he was getting agitated. Clark raised his fist and was about to bring it down on his desk.
"Whoa….calm down, Clark." Chloe spoke softly. She looked around the newsroom but no one was paying them any attention at all. She lowered her voice as she continued. "I don't think it would be good for you to shatter your desk, might be a little hard to explain."
Clark let him arm fall loosely back to the desk, somewhat more calm. "Just how do you plan on going through with this?"
"I don't know, really." Clark shook his head at her.
Chloe sighed she knew she had to ask this before this plan of his went any further. "Clark you know you are my friend, but I have to ask you this. Why are you being so adamant about telling Lana about Lex?" She paused for a moment trying to figure out what was going on in his head. "It's one thing if you want to do this for Lana's safety. It's a completely different thing if you want to do this entirely for yourself."
Clark wanted to snap at Chloe for suggesting that he might be intentionally trying to break up Lex and Lana. But, he sighed knowing that it was a legitimate question given their history. "I don't want to get back with Lana. That's all in the past. I just don't want her to get hurt by Lex."
"Do you think it's not going to hurt her when you tell her this?"
"It will be better for her to find out now instead on down the line when she is in too deep to be able to get out."
Chloe shook her head. "What makes you think she will actually believe you?"
"I don't know, but I have to try." Clark answered back.
Chloe shook her head. "It doesn't seem like I'm going to change your mind on this." Chloe got up and turned to walk away, but then turned back. 'Just remember, Clark, you can't save everyone, especially if they don't want to be saved."
"I know, Chloe." Clark looked up at her knowing that fact all too well.
"Just be careful, okay?"
"Sure thing." Clark smiled at her as she turned away. She had a very uneasy feeling about this.
