Chloe generously allowed us to stay at her house however long we needed to. And if her dad came home before we could leave, she promised she'd "take care of him".
Sometimes I had to feel a little bad for Mr. Sullivan – raising a daughter who was more comfortable being the head of the household than he was. She could always convince her father to do anything she wanted without sounding too childish or bossy. Plausible explanations that could always slip effortlessly off her tongue and her natural relaxing way of conversing subconsciously made you feel like she really did know what she was talking about, even when she knew she didn't.
Her mother was the complete opposite, however. The woman took even less crap than my father did. They'd actually gotten in a huge argument when Chloe learned my secret. Chloe's parents had already divorced, but Chloe's mother was still convincing her father to move to Metropolis with her so that Chloe would never come into contact with "lunatics" again. Gabe Sullivan eventually gave into his ex-wife's demands, but after Chloe reached college, he moved back into his old house in Smallville.
"He told me he regrets moving to Metropolis all the time. So I know I can get him to understand if you need a few days in hiding," Chloe assured with a wink.
Yes, Chloe was probably the going to be the best mother ever when she finally found a man who would put up with her independent demeanor.
"So what are we going to do about Lex?" Lana wondered as soon as Chloe and I were settled again in the living room.
Chloe sent me a subtle glare and then quickly perked back up and answered, "Well…I think I might have the number of one of my friends who use to be an assistant of Lex's in my phone. I haven't talk to him in a while, but maybe he still works for the billionaire."
"Really?" Lana asked with intrigue, blowing on her streaming coffee mug.
"Yeah…I'm going to try to get a hold of him later tonight. He's probably too busy to talk right now."
We sipped our coffee in almost silence. I didn't feel like talking anyway. I just wanted everything to be over with. I wanted all the horrible worries and fears in my head to go away. It felt so ironic that I was with the people in my life who always knew how to calm my nerves, yet Chloe's knowing body language and Lana's questions couldn't have made me more uptight and on edge.
The rest of the day went by quietly. Chloe pretended to get in touch with her "friend the assistant" who said he would talk to Lex and if everything went okay, Lex might be back in the U.S. sometime tomorrow morning. Lana grinned in satisfication, kissed me on the cheek, and then excused herself to get ready for bed.
As soon as Lana was out of ear shot, Chloe chucked her cell phone, purposefully clipping me in the back of the head.
"Hey!"
She placed her hands on her hips in annoyance. "Oh, shut up. It didn't hurt."
"So? What was that – " I stopped in mid-sentence, realizing how pointless the question was.
"You need to tell her, Clark. You're going to Honduras tonight and, whether Lex comes back with you are not, you are TELLING HER in the morning. Got it?"
I definitely knew how her father felt as I sat there with my hands folded in my lap and my mouth hanging open like the stupid male that I was. "Yes."
"And when you tell you her, you'd better tell her that you forced me to lie for you because lying to her just a few minutes ago and watching her face get so excited and relieved was probably one of the hardest things I've had to do. That girl is the sweetest person ever. I don't even know how you've lasted this long without telling her what you are."
"Ok, I promise I'll tell her. It's all my fault and I know that." I stood, glad that my kneecaps could still hold me up after all the stress they'd been through lately. "I'm just going to go in our room, wait until she's asleep, and then leave. It shouldn't be too long."
"It better not be." Chloe then turned to head up to her room, but then faced me again sympathetically. "And Clark…I really, really do hope you can find Lex. If I happen to come across any more information that might get you a better idea of where he is, I'll let you know."
I smiled. "Thanks, Chlo. Goodnight."
"Goodnight. And good luck."
…….
My heart leaped naturally when I crossed the threshold of the guest room to see Lana, dressed in sweats and one of my Metropolis Sharks t-shirts, fluffing the pillows. I wasn't sure how or why a simple act such as pillow fluffing could make me happy, but Lana always seemed to teach me to enjoy the little things in life.
Including the tiny smile that rose on her lips as she looked up to see me. "What?"
"That's my shirt."
"I know. It's comfy. I like your shirts."
"I was looking all over for that. I was going to wear it tonight."
"…we could share it."
I burst out in laughter as images of the two of us jammed inside one shirt clouded my mind. "You're so weird, Lana Lang."
"Well, then that makes you weird for loving someone who's so weird, doesn't it?" Lana replied, slinking under the covers, but bright and eager to talk.
I grinned as I hopped into the bed as well. "I guess so."
As soon as my back hit the mattress, Lana's warm body wrapped around my chest, causing me to shiver.
Lana giggled. "What was that?"
"A shiver. There was just too much happiness in my body and it had to come out somehow."
"Oh, good." She paused before adding, "I'm glad your body didn't choose a noiser, smellier way to have the happiness come out."
"Lana! What having you been drinking?!" I exclaimed as we both laughed as quietly as possible in order not to wake Chloe.
"Just coffee…and a bunch Clark Kent looove juice." She squeezed me tighter with glee. "I guess I'm just a little too excited about finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Lex is going to be back soon and I know he's going to find a way to overthrough his father. I just know it."
I squeezed Lana back a little, kissing the top of her head. "I promise that if Chloe's friend can't persuade Lex to come back, I'll go and get him myself."
"Oh, Clark..."
"I will."
"I know you would." Lana lifted her head and gazed into my eyes. "Clark, you're just too good to me. You need to stop being to damn good so I can keep up."
I let out a short laugh, running a hand down her sweet face. "But you're too good for me, so it evens out."
"I am not…" She looked away a little shamefully.
"No, you are, Lana." I leaned in, resting our forehead together and waiting until she finally looked into my eyes. "And soon you will see that. I know you will."
She stared into my eyes curiously, sensing the fear that I held deep within my heart. With that one look she could see that somehow I really was not deserving of her.
"I just want you to know that I will love you forever. Even if your feelings change for me. You will always be loved. No matter what."
Lana still held a look of confusion about my words, but she didn't hesitate in pulling my lips to hers in a perfectly united kiss. "You will always be loved too, Clark."