Note: this chapter puts Lana kind of in a crazy place… if you like her, don't take offence… I didn't mean for her to become a jealous girl but it just happened…
Whitney sat down heavily onto the swinging chair. "I really messed this up, didn't I?"
Chloe studied him, his head in his hands. "Not entirely. But I think I deserve an explanation…" she said quietly.
He sighed. "It's him. Kent. Sorry, Clark. He just makes me nervous. Whenever I have something, he takes it away with such ease. When I started football on the Crows in freshman year, I felt like God himself. Nothing could stop me. My life started on the right path and it all seemed to just fall into place. Football, I got on okay at school, and then Lana. She was perfect-" he paused as he saw her flinch but continued on "- emphasis on the 'was' part… and so I thought life was wonderful. Until Mr. Perfect waltzes into Smallville High. He's got a perfect family, his father's not dying, he picks up Lana easy as pie, even though neither would ever admit it, he's super smart, athletic… perfect. And then my life starts to fall apart and his just keeps getting better and better. Seeing him and Lana together made me want to cry. And so when I saw him with you, I snapped. I'm sorry but it just seemed high school all over again. He always seems to get what I have and want to keep."
She sat down beside him. "Tell me about it. In high school, I was in love with two guys… Clark and you. I mean, neither of you would even give me the time of day unless I threatened to break your necks. She made me so mad… I mean, she was my best friend but I still wanted to clobber her when I saw her with Clark or you. It wasn't fair. I did everything to get Clark to notice me but nooo…. she didn't even have to do anything and she'd have guys lined up around the block for a chance to talk to her…it was easy enough for her to get volunteers for any of the million things she set up. You're right, she was perfect…"
He slid an arm around her waist. "We're quite the pair, Sullivan. Quite the pair…"
"Yes we are, Fordman, yes we are… and I'm not going anywhere…unless, of course, you want to get out of here with me for a bite to eat… I'm totally starving and this party food really kind of sucks…"
He nodded. "Sure. Let's go to the Talon."
"Okay but I have to get my jacket…"
They went back inside for her jacket and were in the main foyer, ready to leave when they heard the voice that had held Whitney captivated for so long in high school,
"Whitney, you're not leaving, are you?" Lana asked, slinking up beside Whitney and putting her hand on his arm. "Not after the wonderful conversation we had upstairs. I hope you've come to your senses and sorted out your silly crush on Chloe. No offence, Chlo, but you were never good at the whole flirting thing in high school. You sort of sucked at it, actually…"
Chloe's eyes blazed. "What conversation?" she asked, deadly calm.
"Didn't Whitney tell you? We had a very heart-warming and reconciling conversation upstairs while you were outside with Clark…" Lana replied, batting her eyes at Chloe.
"Oh." Chloe turned her icy blue glare on Whitney. "Did you?"
He shook his head. "No, we didn't. Come on, Chloe… we're leaving." He detached himself from Lana and started away with Chloe.
"What?" Lana shrieked. "No! Whitney, you were meant to be mine!" She lunged towards Chloe, grabbing her by the arm and trying to pull her away. Her nails gouged into the other girl's arm, tightening painfully.
"I don't think so," Chloe replied, as her hand came up and smacked her across the face. "Don't touch me ever again, Lana."
Lana stumbled back, a hand on her cheek, her eyes blazing.
"Goodbye, Lana…" Whitney said, pushing open the door.
They stepped out into the night air hand in hand. The valet pulled up in their car and wished them a good night. Minutes later, they were flying down the road to Smallville.
"So, no more Lana?" she asked, snuggled in a booth with Whitney.
"Just as long as there's no Clark."
"Deal." She tilted her head up to kiss him.
He responded in kind, kissing her deeply and pulling her tighter against him. "Let's go home. We don't have any reason to stay here. It's only going to make things worse and I don't want to wreck this…" he knew he sounded like a whiny baby but he was dead serious. "I love you too much to lose you, Chlo…"
She clutched his hand tightly. "I know. I love you too but we can't just run away from this… from Clark and Lana…" She laughed. "Well, we just did, but we just can't keep doing it because then we'd have it just under the skin of our relationship for the rest of our lives. We have to face up to it. We kind of did. You punched Clark in the face and I slapped Lana. I shouldn't have though. That kind of hurt."
"It was masterful," he said, taking her hand and kissing her palm. "Not that you should make a habit of it but it was pretty crazy watching her being put in her place."
She closed her eyes. "I don't want to think about it…"
He kissed her neck. "Then don't…"
She pushed him away. "Wait, we have to figure this out."
"We'll go back in a little while. Just let me relax for a bit…"
She leaned against his chest. "Okay. We'll relax then…"