Whitney pulled up to the front and handed the valet the keys as he and Lex entered the mansion. It was packed. So many people chattering and smiling and waving. He and Lex were chatting with some of his old friends when Cara's piercing voice shouted out,
"Lex, darling!"
She threaded her way through the crowd and hooked an arm around his. "Sorry, Whitney, I need to borrow him for a moment… there's this person I want him to meet!" They left and he continued talking to Brad and Scott before excusing himself to find Chloe. Usually she would love something like this… lots of people, stories to be found out, changes to see… but he couldn't find her anywhere an hour later. He went upstairs to the balcony overlooking the large room but still couldn't find the beautiful blond.
"Whitney! I've been looking for you everywhere!" Lana's voice said as she appeared beside him from nowhere.
"Lana," he said, surprised. "Where's Clark?" he added automatically.
"C'mon Whit… we're not attached at the hip…" She placed a hand delicately onto his arm.
He gently detached himself. "No, just by law. Just like I am. With Chloe. Remember? Have you seen her anywhere?"
She shook her head. "I really wanted to talk to you, Whitney. You can't run away on me again. We need to talk."
"About what?" he asked distractedly, scanning the room below again.
"About us silly…"
"There is no us Lana… Not since you decided that Clark was the man for you…"
"That was so long ago… I was just a girl. And now I am a woman… a woman that realizes that she screwed up and wants to make it up to you…" She brushed against him seductively.
He pulled away, angry. "Look, Lana. If you didn't understand before, get it now… I. Am. Married. To. Chloe. Sullivan. She's my wife… get it? You're married to Clark. So I'm going to go find my wife and you can do whatever you want but I never want to hear that again, okay? Okay." He spun around and stalked down the stairs and out into the gardens. God! What was wrong with her? Didn't she get it?
Chloe sniffled and wiped her eyes, trying not to smear the nice job the cosmetic people had done for her. It had been rather nice to be pampered but all she wanted to be right now was with Whitney back in their Metropolis apartment, in front of the fireplace, curled up together.
"Chloe? Chlo?"
She looked up. Clark was standing in front of her with his hands in his pocket and a tortured look on his face, just like when they'd been in high school and he'd come to her with a Lana problem. "Hey Clark."
"Where's Whitney?"
"I don't know…" She sat up straight and patted the spot beside her.
He sat down, making the chair swing back and forth. "Are you enjoying the party?"
She shook her head sadly. "Not really. You?"
"I can't find Lana anywhere… it's like she's disappeared."
"I know what you mean," Chloe replied, sighing. "Whitney was supposed to be back in time for this and he isn't. It's the first time he's broken a promise to me…" Tears welled up as she thought of all the reasons he might be late but she blinked them back. "I mean, I know he'll try but I wish he were here…"
"Well, I'm here if that helps any…" He put an arm around her and she leaned into him, feeling comforted, like the old days…
"Thanks Clark. That means a lot to me…"
"Yeah…" he trailed off and she looked up. He had the look on his face that he used to get when he was around Lana. "Chloe… there's something I want to tell you…"
She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Clark, no, don't. Please don't. You'll wreck it."
"No I won't…" He leaned forward to kiss her.
They heard the steely voice to Whitney at the top of the stairs. "Get away from my wife, Kent," he said through clenched teeth as he descended.
Clark stood up, angry. "She's upset, Whitney. Want to know why?" he taunted.
"Clark don't…" Chloe said, standing up too. "Whitney we weren't doing anything…"
Whitney looked from her to Clark who wore a smirk. "Really?" he replied, not really believing it.
"Really…" Clark said sarcastically. "Maybe if you treated her better-" He didn't get to finish his sentence because Whitney's fist was slamming into his face. He flinched back then punched Whitney back, knocking the ex-football player backwards before tackling him on the lawn.
"Whitney! Clark! Don't!" Chloe screamed, chasing them.
By now the news of the fight had spread throughout the house and people were coming out to see. Lex and Cara came running up to Chloe.
"What happened?" Lex asked.
"Are you okay?" Cara asked at the same time.
"Clark was taunting Whitney about being a bad husband and Whitney hit him. And, well…" She gestured helplessly to the two men wrestling on the ground, throwing the occasional punch.
Lex nodded, a frown on his face. He went in and with the help of Pete, pulled the two apart. Lex held Whitney back as he struggled to get at Clark. Pete was dragging Clark backwards, towards the house, saying things like, "Get a hold of yourself, Clark! What's wrong with you?"
Lex held onto Whitney a little longer until he was sure that Whitney wasn't going to chase down Clark to beat him to a pulp then let go. "I'm sure you two want to talk," he said to Chloe, turning and striding back towards the house.