Chloe awoke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee, feeling happy as her mind reeled back to times when Clark and she had only just started dating, and she ended up staying the night…she always remembered waking to the smell of Martha's coffee. Today was no different, she stretched from the sofa, suddenly aware that Clark wasn't with her, making her way to the kitchen she looked towards the barn through the small window, spotting Clark and his mother sat holding one another just inside the barn.
She stood contemplating whether or not to disturb them, finally coming to the conclusion that she best leave them and give them some space, they hadn't seen each other in months and she knew how much Clark was missing his mom…even though he wouldn't admit it.
She was quickly pulled from her thoughts when Cleo voiced from behind her.
"Morning Chloe….what you looking at?" Cleo asked sitting herself onto a stool.
"Oh hey Cleo, nothing really Clarks out there with his mom, thought I'd give them some space" Chloe explained joining her at the table
"Cool…look I just wanted to say thanks, you know, for everything, I know it must be annoying having three teenage girls running around the house when you're used to having this place to yourself"
"I must admit, it was pretty strange at first…the one thing I do miss though is having the bathroom to myself" Chloe laughed as she took a sip of her coffee, holding the mug warmingly in her hands.
"I can understand that…but really thanks for letting us stay here, I know we aren't family like Rikki, but we do appreciate what you have done for us, me and Emma" Cleo professed, smiling warmly towards Chloe, receiving one just as sincere, when Clark and Martha walked into the kitchen, breaking their moment of sentiment.
"Morning you two…what are you doing up so early?" Martha stated, still trying to compose herself, after her breakdown in the barn just moments earlier.
"Well, you know the smell of Martha Kent's fresh coffee couldn't keep me down for long" Chloe joked as she lifted her cup of coffee into view, taking another satisfying sip.
"I just heard people moving around down stairs and with the jet lag still haunting me I decided I couldn't sleep any longer" Cleo answered, watching Clark move to Chloe's side and lightly kiss her on the cheek, whispering something she couldn't quite hear in her ear, making Chloe turn red and giggle under his touch…Cleo immediately feeling jealous of their closeness and connection. Wishing more than anything that Lewis could be here with her, her mood suddenly shifting to that of contentment, to a more lonely appeal.
Her mind drifted back to Australia and the time she missed spending it with her boyfriend Lewis. They had only just recently gotten back together after an agonisingly long break, which was caused mainly by a person all of Rikki, Emma and herself would much sooner forget than mention…Charlotte. Though, since Charlotte was out of the picture, Lewis and she had been going stronger than ever, but most of all she was missing swimming around the reef with him, missing their day trips to Mako Island and their evenings by the moon pool.
The others must have noticed her sudden change in mood and lack of concentration, because before Cleo noticed Chloe was by her side and asking if she was alright.
"Cleo…you ok?"
"What…oh, yer…I…I'm fine, thank you, excuse me a minute, I'm sorry" Cleo stammered as she rushed out the front door and vacated to the swing chair on the front porch.
"Maybe I should go and see I she's ok" Clark offered, as he referred to the two women stood before him.
"No, I'll go…I don't think the Clark Kent charm is going to prevail in this case, I think this is a job for a woman, sorry babe" Chloe stated simply as she leant towards Clark and kissed him lightly on the lips, making her way outside to speak with Cleo.
"Cleo are you alright…do you want to talk about it?" Chloe soothingly asked as she took a seat besides the young girl, noticing a small tear run down her cheek and her quickly wipe it away, thinking Chloe hadn't noticed.
Cleo didn't say a word; she only gave a small, melancholy nod, moving slightly so Chloe could sit more comfortably besides her.
"What is it hunny? What's wrong" Chloe asked sensitively, not wanting to make the young girl more upset then she already was.
"It's nothing really…I'm just getting all upset over something silly…I'm just missing home I guess" Cleo explained, constantly thinking how stupid she must look to Chloe…crying because she is missing home…how lame.
"That's not silly…it's ok to miss home, heck I know if I was halfway around the world away from home, I would be feeling upset too…don't you dare feel stupid ok?" Chloe firmly stated, taking Cleo's hand in hers.
Cleo looked up at Chloe, amazed at how this woman knew exactly what to say to make her feel better about herself, it's like she could tell what she was thinking.
"Thanks Chloe…but it's not just that, sure I'm missing home terribly, but there's…someone that I'm missing more" Cleo shyly said, just above a whisper as she all of a sudden became very aware that she was saying she was missing her boyfriend more than home itself.
"Oh really? And who is the lucky boy holding the pleasure of calling you his girl?" Chloe teased, lightening the mood, watching Cleo's cheeks burn with embarrassment, enjoying taking the whole 'big sister' thing all the way, feeling slightly sad that she never had a little sister of her own to chat with about trivial things such as boys.
"Well, his name is Lewis McCartney and he is the sweetest boy I have ever met…I mean we have been best friends for like ever, but he has always been special to me and well…I love him…and it's so hard being away from him like this" Cleo expressed her words gaining more enthuse with every word spoken about Lewis, her heart becoming giddy at the thought of seeing him again.
"Lewis…" Chloe tested as she looked up thoughtfully "...I can work with that…so…what's he like? And he better be treating you right babe, coz if he isn't well he's just…a…a stupid boy!" Chloe built up and let down, getting carried away in her thoughts.
Cleo felt herself genuinely laugh at the cue of Chloe's words, for the first time since arriving, she felt as though things weren't so bad, after telling someone how she was feeling and finally being able to talk about Lewis to someone who actually wanted to listen unlike Rikki and Emma who have tired of hearing about him…they have enough of that back home.
Cleo continued their conversation discussing all the things they get up to back home and gussing over Lewis constantly, happy to have someone willing to listen and even enjoy hearing about her life. In return she listened to Chloe drool over past memories of her and Clark, Cleo sat intently listening to the almost fairytale story that was Clark and Chloe's relationship and everything it entails.
Well...What do you think so far? I am open to some suggestions for the next chapter...what would you all like to see happen next?
Which character do you want to see Clark use his powers again??
Cleo?
Emma?
Rikki?
Let me know :D