"Come on, Clark. Pick up." Chloe was calling Clark outside the Daily Planet building. They were supposed meet for lunch in ten minutes. He had already missed four lunch dates that month so she wanted to make sure he'd actually show up this time, but she wasn't holding her breath.
"Hey, Chloe, about our lunch date today, I-
"Won't be able to make it? The shock is overwhelming."
"I'm sorry. Bart and I are putting out fires in Los Angeles."
"It's fine. I can't be mad at you, obviously. I just wish you'd take a breather for five minutes."
"I will. Soon. Bye."
And with that, he hung up. "Less syllables, please. You're talking me to death."
Chloe started the trek to the local deli to eat yet another sandwich by herself. God, I need a boyfriend. Maybe I should try . I can just imagine what I'd write on my profile now. 'Hi, I'm a meteor freak whose life is constantly in danger. And I'm looking for love. Unless you're a serial killer. Ha ha.' I'd be an even bigger social pariah than I am now. If that's possible.
Chloe was so deep in thought that she didn't notice she was being followed. Her follower pushed her into an alley and pulled a gun on her.
"Hand over the purse. Now."
Peter Petrelli had made it to Metropolis and was on his to the Daily Planet building, hoping to catch Chloe before she went to lunch. Just get in, talk to her for a few minutes, get out. Don't get hypnotized by her incredible smile and great sense of humor. God, what am I doing?
He sat down on a bench to try and get himself together, the thought of just leaving passing his mind more than once. Until he lifted his head and looked across the street. A mugger had pulled a woman into an alley and had a gun on her. Wasting no time, he teleported across the street and threw the mugger into the wall using his telekinesis.
"Are you all right…Chloe?"