Disclaimer: see Chapter 1
CHAPTER 14: Misery Loves Company
The flat above The Talon
¨Hi, Chlo´! ¨greeted Lois with a Cheshire cat smile.
¨What´s with that smile? ¨ asked Chloe speculatively.
¨I don´t know, cuz. I just feel happy today. ¨
¨Where were you yesterday? I tried to reach you on the phone several times. ¨
¨Oh! I forgot to ask you, how did things go with Oliver? ¨
¨Lo´, don´t try to sidetrack me, ¨ she warned Lois.
¨I forgot to recharge the phone battery. ¨
¨But you weren´t in Smallville, were you? Because I phoned here and nobody answered. ¨
¨I was at the Kents´, ¨ lied Lois.
¨You weren´t. Neither was Clark. ¨
¨Says who? ¨ asked Lois gravely.
¨Martha Kent, ¨snapped Chloe, raising an eyebrow. ¨Where were you both? And don´t tell me you were just hanging out with Clark because conversation between you two never goes beyond a curt ´Hello´ and a few scathing remarks. ¨
¨Well... there have been some new developments, cuz. ¨
¨New developments? How so? ¨
¨You first. ¨
¨Me first? ¨
¨Yes, you haven´t answered my question. How did things go with Oliver? ¨
¨How are things between you two? ¨
¨Cold, or should I say ´frozen´? Why? Are you no longer interested in Luthor? ¨
¨No! ¨
¨You´re no longer interested in Luthor? ¨ asked a surprised Lois.
¨No! I mean I would never be interested in Queen that way. And, let me tell you... I´m glad you´ve thought things over because he´s not the guy for you either. I got the interview but he appeared to be too flirtatious for somebody who´s already in a relationship. ¨
¨Yes, I know what you mean. When I saw him last he gave me the impression he was ready to move to greener pastures. ¨
¨I´m sorry, Lois. ¨
¨Don´t be. Actually, he´s done me a favour, ¨she added with a slow smile.
¨What? Is there someone else on the horizon? ¨
¨The same person that´s been on my mind for quite a while. ¨
¨The same person that´s been on your mind... for ...quite... a while. And that´d be who? ¨
¨The Green Arrow, of course. ¨
¨The Green Arrow? If I´m not wrong, you thought Oliver was the Green Arrow. ¨
¨Yes, but that was before I kissed him in the alley. ¨
¨Well, taking into account superheroes are very zealous in protecting the identity of their alter egos, I don´t see how you´ll be able to have anything remotely romantic with him if you don´t know who he is. ¨
¨But I do know who he is, Chlo´, because I´ve kissed him again. ¨
¨I didn´t know the Green Arrow was in Smallville. ¨
¨Well... ¨
¨When did this kiss actually happen, Lois? And don´t beat around the bush. ¨
¨Last night. ¨
¨You were in Metropolis, weren´t you? ¨
¨Yes, there was a play I wanted to see. ¨
¨A play? You´ve never been to the theatre in your life, Lo´. And don´t try to sell me you talked Clark into escorting you because I won´t buy it. What were you two doing in Metropolis? Were you tailing me, too? ¨
¨Was there anybody there apart from us? ¨
¨ So you admit you were there because of me. ¨
¨Who else was there? You said ´too´. ¨
¨Lois, tell me you haven´t done what I think you´ve done. ¨
¨What? ¨
¨Did you set me up? Tell me you didn´t arrange the interview with Queen and send Lex after us. ¨
¨Well... I might have dropped a hint. ¨
¨Didn´t I specifically tell you to stay out of this? ¨ asked Chloe fuming.
¨But it worked, cuz. You should have seen him at Queen´s loft. He went ballistic! ¨
¨Lex went to Oliver´s loft? ¨
¨Yeah! He has quite an uppercut, judging by the state of Oliver´s face when we got out of the closet. ¨
¨The closet? ¨
¨Yes, we had to hide somewhere, didn´t we? It was the only way I could convince Clark Lex and you are in love with each other. ¨
¨And he went along with your plan? ¨
¨He felt awful, Chlo´. He wanted to make amends because of the things he told you at The Planet. ¨
¨He must have been desperate to listen to you. Now, please... tell me Lex didn´t see either of you. ¨
¨Don´t worry. He didn´t, ¨she answered thoughtfully.
¨There is something you aren´t telling me. ¨
¨I promised Clark we´d wait. ¨
¨Spill the beans, cuz! ¨
¨Do you trust us, Chloe? ¨
¨I trust Clark but I know you, Lo´. ¨
¨I promised you I wouldn´t do anything to jeopardise your happiness and I won´t. What I can tell you is that our trip to Metropolis was really enlightening. I discovered things about people I know- or thought I knew- which are absolutely mind-blowing. ¨
¨Has this got anything to do with The Green Arrow´s identity? ¨
¨ Oh,cuz. I don´t kiss and tell, ¨ she answered with a smirk.
¨You were around only two men yesterday night, and you´ve already ruled out Oliver. It doesn´t take a rocket-scientist to know who you think the Green Arrow is. Have you confronted him? ¨
¨Mm, ¨she nodded.
¨And what did he say? ¨
¨Oh, of course, he sounded outraged, but he didn´t deny it. It doesn´t matter; I´m a patient woman. ¨
¨Patient? That´ll be the day!¨exclaimed Chlo´with a laugh.
¨I can be patient when it comes to the man I´m planning on spending the rest of my life with, ¨responded Lois seriously.
¨Man, you´ve got it big, cuz! ¨
¨It seems you´re not alone, Chlo´. ¨
There´s still one more chapter in this instalment. Enjoy!