Chapter 3

Clark finished his chores in record time. Chloe was supposed to be coming over later in the morning and he wanted to be sure that he was done so that he could give her his full attention. While he was waiting for her to arrive, he decided to straighten up the loft a little. He was sweeping the floor when he heard a car drive up. He quickly finished up sweeping and began to check around to make sure everything was straight. He heard her footsteps on the last few steps and turned around with a smile on his face. "There you are! What took you so… Lana!"

Lana stood at the top of the steps looking sadly at Clark. "I'm sorry, Clark. I didn't realize that you were expecting company. I'll come back another time." Lana turned to go back down the stairs.

"Lana, what's wrong. You came here for a reason, you might as well tell me what it is." Clark's frown deepened as Lana began to cry.

Lana ran over to Clark and clasped him around the waist laying her head on his chest. She was crying so hard that her whole body shook. "Lana…"

"Just hold me, Clark!" Lana started to calm down a little. Clark was the only real friend that she had. He was always there for her. She hated that they had been at such odds since Jason had come into her life.

Clark reached around him to unclasp her hands and moved her a little away from him. "Lana, why are you crying?" Chloe would be here any minute and he didn't want her to think something was going on between him and Lana. He did still care about Lana, but he just realized with surprise that it was only as a friend. Chloe really had filled the void in him.

"Clark, there is something up with Jason. I love him so much, yet he is pushing me away. I don't know what to do." She sniffled as she looked up at Clark.

"Lana, I really think you need to talk to Jason about this, not me. This is something you need to work out between you." Clark was uncomfortable with the fact that Lana was here. Their relationship had not been on the best of terms for the last year. For her to suddenly show up to talk about Jason was kind of weird.

Lana sighed. "I guess your right, Clark. I do need to talk to Jason about this. Well, since you are expecting company, I better go." Lana smiled tearfully at Clark and he smiled back. Lana stood on tiptoes and planted a kiss right beside his mouth.

Chloe crept up the stairs to surprise Clark. As she rounded the corner, she realized that Clark was not alone. Lana and Clark were smiling at each other, Clark's hands her on Lana's arms when she reached up and kissed him. Chloe gasped.

Clark looked up and saw Chloe standing there with disbelief and hurt on her face. "Chloe, don't move." Clark quickly stepped around Lana to go to her. Chloe had already turned around to run down the stairs. With Lana standing there he couldn't go into super-speed to catch her. "Lana, I have to go."

Lana nodded at Clark before he turned and ran down the stairs. She smiled. She was glad that Chloe and Clark finally realized how they felt about each other. She sighed. She better deal with her own problems. She headed down the stairs toward her car.

Clark was able to catch Chloe before she made it to her car. Lana wasn't too far behind him. He waited until Lana drove off before he looked down at her. "Chloe, nothing happened. I promise you!"

Chloe had not looked up at him since he caught up with her. She just had her arms folded across her chest and was shuffling around the dirt with the tip of her shoe.

"Chloe, let's go back to the loft. We need to talk." Clark started to walk back to the barn, but Chloe didn't budge. Clark sighed deeply. Chloe had a stubborn streak a mile wide and it looked like she was going to dig her heels in and not listen to him. She was just going to draw her own conclusions. Well, you know what, he was not going to let her walk away and not listen to what he had to say. He could not go through the same thing that he had with Lana. He didn't want secrets and lies with Chloe. Well, he could be stubborn too. "Chloe, it you don't come with me, I am going to carry you. It's your choice." Chloe still didn't budge.

Chloe was trying really hard to get control of herself. She didn't want Clark to see her tears. But, they just kept coming and she was having a hard time stopping the flow. She felt like her heart had been ripped out when she saw Lana with Clark. She still had so many insecurities when I came to Clark and her relationship.

"Okay, this was your choice." Clark picked Chloe up by the waist and heaved her over his shoulder like a bag of feed.

"Clark, what are you doing! Put me down!" Chloe couldn't believe that Clark was carrying her like this. He seemed to be upset. Well, so was she! Chloe smacked him on the back. 'A lot of good that's going to do, Sullivan.' She muttered to herself. Clark probably hadn't even felt it.

He was climbing the stairs to the loft as Chloe was kicking her legs and telling Clark to put her down. Clark smiled to himself…did he dare…could he stand up to her wrath…oh, what the heck. He reached up and smacked her on the rear.

"Ouch, Clark! I can't believe what you just did. You are so dead." Chloe's tears had stopped in her struggle to get Clark to put her down.

Clark walked over to the couch and dumped Chloe on it unceremoniously and immediately joined her so that she couldn't get away. He grabbed her chin to bring her face up to his. He could tell that she had been crying. "Chloe," Clark gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "I'm sorry that I made you cry. Lana came here to talk about Jason. She was just thanking me for telling her she needed to talk to him. I really didn't expect her to kiss me though. Honestly, it didn't mean anything but friendship." Clark leaned over and brushed his lips softly against hers.

Chloe closed her eyes. "Are you sure it didn't mean anything. Clark, you have loved Lana your whole life." Clark was kissing her chin and working his way down her neck.

"Mmmm, nothing." Clark mumbled against her neck. Chloe sighed and threw her head back to give him better access. Clark took the hint and nibbled and kissed at her neck. "Chloe, you taste amazing." Still muffled. Clark moved up to her ear and took her lobe in his mouth and gently sucked. He whispered, "You are the only one for me, Sweetheart!" He moved back down her neck. He felt Chloe shiver.

Chloe pushed her hands into Clark's thick, silky hair. His mouth covered hers in a kiss that could melt solid steel. Chloe moaned.

"Clark, are you up there?" Martha called up the stairs of the loft. She knew that Chloe was here, but it was awfully quiet upstairs. She started up when she heard a moan. Oh dear, she hoped they were okay. She started to move quicker up the stairs. "Clark!"

Clark heard footsteps coming up the stairs, then his mom's voice calling his name. He immediately broke the kiss. "Mom's coming!" Clark whispered to Chloe. Chloe backed away from Clark. "Up here, Mom!" He called out in the direction of the stairs.

Martha rounded the corner and saw Clark and Chloe sitting on the couch. Chloe was flushed and her lips slightly swollen. Looks like their friendship had taken another turn. Martha smiled knowingly. "Chloe, has Clark asked you to stay for dinner yet?"

"No he hasn't, but I would love to stay." Chloe looked directly at Clark's mom. She could tell that she knew what had been going on before she interrupted them. Chloe blushed.

Clark rubbed the side of his neck. "I was just getting ready to ask her, Mom." Clark was hoping that his mom hadn't figured things out.

"Sure you were, Clark." Martha smiled and turned around to walk down the stairs. Turning back, she said, "Clark, your dad and I want to talk to you for a minute."

"Sure, Mom. I'll be right there."