Chapter 7

Delicious scents assailed them as they walked through the front door of the Kent home. Chloe's stomach let out a growl, embarrassing her. Putting her hand over her stomach, she quickly looked at Clark. He was smiling that devastating smile of his, a dimple appearing in one cheek. Chloe's face turned red.

"Hungry, I see," Clark teased. Chloe playfully punched him in the arm. Clark wrapped an arm around her to draw her in for a hug.

Jonathan watched the playful exchange between Clark and Chloe. He couldn't help but be relieved at the acceptance he saw on Chloe's face. The chemistry evident between the two was very different from the one Clark had with Lana. There wasn't the tension that was always present with those two, mainly having to do with Clark's secret. However, Clark and Chloe had been really good friends for a very long time, even without Chloe knowing about Clark. She was curious, but she had never pushed Clark or made him feel guilty for not telling her. It was good to see Clark in this healthy kind of relationship for a change. He just hoped Chloe understood the ramifications that came with knowing Clark's secret.

"Mom, it smells great and I'm starving!" Clark pulled out a chair for Chloe to sit down, then, he sat down beside her. Jonathan did the same for Martha after helping her put the rest of the food on the table.

After everyone was seated and began to eat, Chloe decided to jump in with both feet. "Mr. And Mrs. Kent, I want you to know that I would never tell anyone Clark's secret. I would die first, and I mean that." Chloe looked directly in Jonathan's eyes to reassure the worry she saw there.

Jonathan drew a deep breath. "Chloe, we wouldn't ever want you to risk your life for Clark's secret. I am concerned that if anyone even suspects that you know anything about Clark, they could hurt you trying to find out. That is what concerns me most." Leaning back in his chair, Jonathan shifted his eyes to Clark. "Pete made the decision to move with his mother to Wichita because he couldn't handle the thought that in a weak moment, he might slip and reveal Clark's secret."

"Dad, I think you're over-reacting. Chloe will be fine. She has been my best friend for years and no one has ever come after her. Why would they choose to do it now?" Clark didn't want to lose Chloe. He was not only trying to convince his father that it would be fine, but he had just gotten through having this same conversation with Chloe earlier.

Jonathan sighed and looked down at his plate. "I don't know, Son. I'm just worried, that's all." He smiled at them. "Eat up. I know you're hungry, Chloe."

Chloe beamed at Jonathan. "Mr. Kent, I honestly don't think there isn't anything we can't handle if we just take this one day at a time and don't do anything different than what we would normally do."

Clark chuckled. Chloe looked over at him puzzled. She hadn't said anything funny. "That sounds just like a statement Dad would make." They all laughed together.

Chloe felt a new sense of belonging knowing Clark's secret. She felt like part of the family.

Chloe dried the last dish and placed it in the cabinet. Clark pulled the plug to let the soapy water out of the sink. "Looks like we're all done!" Clark took the drying towel from Chloe to dry his hands. She was amazed that Clark, with all of his amazing powers, was doing something as mundane as dishes.

Chloe glanced over at Clark's parents. They were at the kitchen table going over some papers. Their heads were close together as they talked in low voices, occasionally smiling at each other. Mr. Kent's body was turned toward Mrs. Kent's with his arm along the back of her chair. Chloe sighed. It reminded her of the earlier days when she and Clark would have their heads together over a story they were collaborating on for The Torch. She had missed that when Lana and Clark had started spending more time together. During his total infatuation with Lana there was a little bit of tension between her and Clark. Probably mostly on her side because Lana had what she, herself,wanted, Clark. At that time, she had hoped that when Lana came back from Paris with Jason, that she would have a chance at her dream. But, that had not been the case. She had resigned herself to always be Clark's friend. She was having a hard time taking in the fact that she and Clark were on 'kissing' terms right now. She was still apprehensive about their relationship, afraid that at any moment, Clark was going to decide again that friendship was what he really wanted. She sighed heavily at the thought.

Clark turned his head when she sighed. "Chloe, is everything okay?" Chloe nodded at him and smiled, though he noticed the smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Want to go for a ride out to Crater Lake?" That would give them the chance to be alone without any interruptions.

"Sure." Chloe hoped they could spend some more time talking. She still had so many questions and only Clark could fill in those blanks.

Clark smiled at Chloe, then, looked at his parents. "Mom, Dad, Chloe and I are going to take a ride to Crater Lake. We'll be back later." Martha and Jonathan nodded and went back to what they were doing.

Clark took Chloe's hand in his and tugged her out the screen door. Chloe giggled as she tried to keep up with him, stumbling along the way. Putting his arm around her, Clark hugged her to his side.

They walked to Chloe's car with arms around each other. Clark opened the driver's side door for her and then walked around the little red bug to crawl into the passenger's side. Chloe started the engine of the car. "Wait!" Clark held up his hands. "I forgot something." Clark got out of the car and disappeared.

Chloe shook her head. He was amazing! Suddenly he reappeared startling a little scream out of her. Clark's smile was wide as he threw a blanket in the back seat. "We're going to need a blanket?" Chloe looked at Clark suspiciously, eyebrows raised and a smile teasing the corners of her mouth.

Clark shifted in his seat so that he could put his arm along the back of hers. "Sure, to sit on." In the beginning, Clark was only thinking of sitting, but the possibilities of the blanket were many. He felt color creep up his neck as he thought about stretching out beside Chloe with no interruptions. The pictures floating in his mind's eye were hot to say the least. Clark cleared his throat and focused on Chloe's face.

Chloe saw Clark's face when she asked the question. It thrilled her that he was thinking of more than just sitting on the blanket. She just hoped that he was willing to talk as much as he wanted to make out. Chloe couldn't believe that thought went through her head! She wanted to talk. Go figure! She had so many questions for her alien best friend.

Chloe pulled out of the drive and headed in the direction of Crater Lake. "Clark, can I ask you a question?" Chloe figured that now was as good a time as any to get the questions out of the way. Then, they could concentrate on something else once they got to the lake.

Clark looked at Chloe. A wrinkle had appeared between her brows. This must be a serious question. He wasn't sure that he wanted to answer any more questions. Right now, he just wanted to kiss Chloe and she was driving, so he settled for stroking her neck and playing with her hair. "Sure," he said uncertainly.

Chloe heard that note of uncertainty in his voice. "Clark, it's okay if you don't want to answer my question. I just wanted to ask it anyway, just in case you can talk about it." She glanced over at him.

Clark squeezed her shoulder in thanks. "Thank you, Chloe. I guess I'm just not used to being open with anyone other than my parents. It feels really strange for us to be having the conversations that we're having. If I can't talk about it now, maybe I will be able to later. So, what was your question?" Clark smiled reassuringly at her.

Chloe took a deep breath. "Well, I was wondering what happened when you ran away to Metropolis. Why did you go in the first place and what were you doing while you were there?"

Clark shifted uncomfortably in his seat, removing his arm from behind her. He didn't say anything for a long time. Chloe glanced over at him when the silence became unbearable. The pain that was written across his face startled her. "Clark, I'm sorry. Maybe you should just forget that I asked." They arrived at a secluded section of Crater Lake. Chloe parked the car and turned off the ignition. Turning in her seat to face Clark, she reached out and took his hand in hers. He was staring out the window as if in a daze. "Clark?" Chloe would have never asked that particular question if she had known she was going to get this response. Drawing in a deep breath, Chloe released Clark's hand and grabbed the blanket out of the back seat. Looking at Clark again, she reached out a tentative hand and gently took his chin and turned his face to hers. "Let's get more comfortable." Chloe tried to capture the focus in his eyes, but he seemed to be off somewhere, but he did nod his head slightly in response to her statement. Chloe opened the door and got out of the car. Clark did the same. She was relieved that he was coming somewhat out of his trance. She hoped that she hadn't triggered some kind of Kryptonian catatonic state with her question. She was really getting worried.

Clark helped her spread out the blanket under a shade tree on thick, soft grass. Chloe plopped down on the blanket trying her best to pretend like their conversation in the car had never happened. She patted the blanket beside her and looked up at Clark. He was standing beside the blanket looking out over the water.

Clark's mind was in overdrive. The emotions of that summer overwhelmed him. The shame and agony of what he had done and being away from those he loved welled up inside threatening to overflow. He thought those emotions were buried. Chloe's question had broken the delicate dam that held them back, allowing them to roll forth in a cacophony that filled his head with their screams to be addressed. Maybe talking about it with Chloe would still the raging sounds in his head. What would she think about him when he told her all that he had done? Would she still want to be with him? Would it scare her away? God, he had so many things in his life that were so abnormal, not human. How could someone…anyone human hope to understand what he was going through. If anyone could, it [i]would[/i]be Chloe. At least, she would try to understand. Clark glanced down at her on the blanket. His eyes traveled from her shining blonde hair down to her bare feet and pink painted toes. She was so beautiful. He couldn't believe that he hadn't seen it before. His eyes moved back up her jean clad legs to finally rest on her face, his eyes getting lost in hers. She was worried but trying to hide it. Clark sighed and sat down, slipped his boots and socks off and sprawled out beside her, resting on his elbows.