Obsession Part 3
Chloe sat at her computer, working on the next Torch edition. Clark came in, avoiding looking in Chloe's direction.
"Hi." Chloe rushed to take off her jacket and threw it across the room.
"I'm just dropping some things off and then I got to go." Clark busied himself putting papers away.
"I'm sorry," Chloe blurted out. Clark turned, looking slightly confused. "For spying on you. For Lionel. I'm sorry."
Chloe held her breath, waiting for Clark's reaction.
"You can't take all the blame," Clark sighed. His shoulders sagged and he looked at the floor. "You went to Lionel cause I pushed you away."
"Right. That totally gives me a 'get out of jail free' card. Clark, no, it was wrong for me to do that."
"Then why did you?"
"Because you're…frustrating!" Chloe threw her hands in the air. She sighed as it became apparent she was going off the script planned in her head. "Clark, ever since I've known you, you've been my best friend, but I look at you every day and I know you're hiding something from me. Lionel caught me at a weak moment, offered me everything I ever wanted, and I gave in to all my worst instincts."
"But, Chloe, you got fired from the Daily Planet."
"Yeah, well, after the fairy tale feeling wore off, I realized I did a terrible thing and I told Lionel to go to hell. But when people like that have you, they want to make sure you remember how you're nothing without them."
Chloe hated how easily the tears came. She wanted to tell Clark more. She wanted to share her fears of what the future held. How her dad's career was ruined because of her. The sleepless nights wondering how Lionel would make her life a living hell just for the fun of it.
"Chloe, I'm so sorry." Clark gave her a look of pity.
"No, I deserve it. I deserve all of it. It's my comeuppance for what I did to you."
And then Chloe found herself in Clark's arms. He held her close, and Chloe allowed her tears to fall.
"He caught you at a weak moment," Clark said gently. "We all have them; you saw me at mine in Metropolis. You didn't turn your back on me. You gave me a second chance and I owe you the same."
"I'd like that." Chloe smiled as she looked up at her friend. "So, what do we do now? I mean, we can't just forget everything that's happened."
"Well, you have to understand there are things about me that just won't add up."
"I know that."
"Are you willing to stop digging?"
"Yeah. I mean, I figure you'll just tell me when you think it's right."
Chloe found herself meaning every word. Clark handed her a tissue which she gratefully accepted.
"Okay. I've been dying to ask: what did you think of my Inquisitor article?"
"It gets my front-page approval stamp. Good job, Mr. Kent."
Clark's face broke into the grin of boyish charm that made Chloe melt.
"No red marks?"
"Maybe a couple. No, look…" Chloe pulled out the newspaper copy as Clark let out a loud groan. "See here? You wrote 'the citizens of Smallville have lived in fear of the masked vigilante for too long'. That's an opinion. It would be stronger if this was a quote from someone."
"Ah, you're so right. It was just late at night and no one else was really there. Oh, man! I could have asked Sheriff Adams."
Chloe laughed. "I'm surprised you didn't submit anything the night of the bombing at the Luthor Mansion."
"I did, but Perry White beat me to it."
"Don't feel too bad. Getting scooped by The Pitbull happened to a lot of good journalists."
The moment of comradery was broken as Alicia appeared out of thin air and claimed Clark's lips.
"Here you go. An afternoon pick-me-up." She shoved a thermos into Clark's open hand.
Alicia paid no mind to Chloe, and wrapped her arms around Clark, resting her head against his chest. Clark glanced over at Chloe, his face flushed in embarrassment.
"What do you want to do now?" Alicia asked, her eyes closed, oblivious to Clark's discomfort.
"Alicia, we talked about this; I'm grounded. That means I'm only allowed at school and the farm. Which I need to…" Clark got quiet as Alicia's hands slide down his back. The farm boy froze as Alicia used both hands to give Clark's ass a tight squeeze.
"Someone's got buns of steel." Alicia giggled as she continued to knead him through his jeans.
"Alicia's working for Lionel," Chloe sputtered out, feeling the need to stop the sequence of events happening before her. Clark turned to look at Chloe and Alicia's moved her hands to a more appropriate place. "That's the only way she could have gotten that report I wrote on you."
"I know, Chloe. Alicia told me. She told me everything."
"I would never betray you." Alicia's glare at Chloe held the unspoken words: Unlike some people.
"If you're so protective of him, then why didn't you out me?" To Chloe's satisfaction, Clark's brow furrowed as he thought the matter over.
"I was trying to find the right moment. I knew how much Chloe meant to you." Alicia put a clear emphasis on the past tense.
"Well, then, as long as you know," Chloe said to fill the silence. Alicia's hands began to roam again, causing Clark to jump back.
"Like I said: gotta get back to the farm. Thank you," Clark motioned to the thermos.
"Want a ride?"
"No, no. I got, I got…" Clark stammered as he backed out the doorway. "I'm good."
Alicia's smile faded when Clark left the room. She turned to Chloe. "I strongly advise you leave us alone."
Before Chloe could get a word in, the meta disappeared in her signature green cloud.
At the Kent farm…
Clark used normal speed to rake the front garden. He was glad things were finally clear between him and Chloe. But now, he was uncertain of how things were between him and Alicia.
This changes everything, Alicia had said to him.
Clark shook his head in confusion. It didn't make sense. They should be closer than ever now that Alicia knew his entire secret. She certainly seemed to think they were closer if her spare time was looking at wedding venues. If anything, it was him who was pulling away.
What is wrong with me?
Clark looked up to see Mr. Sullivan's car pull into the driveway. Lana, wearing a pair of sunglasses got out of the car.
"Hi, Lana. How are you feeling?"
"Mild headache, but my vision's coming back. I should be able to come to school tomorrow."
"Glad to hear it. Got a Talon order?"
"No. Actually, I stopped by to talk with you." Lana leaned on the fence.
"Oh. Well, actually I'm grounded so I can't have visitors…"
"Hydration break!" Alicia's chipper voice rang out as she appeared out of thin air. She held a glass of sparkling water with a lemon slice on the rim in one hand and a plate with a lemon bar in the other.
"Alicia?" Clark was surprised to see her after explaining his grounding a dozen times. "What…" his words were cut off as Alicia shoved the lemon bar into his open mouth. Clark found himself holding the rake in one hand and the water glass in the other. Once more Alicia was holding on to him in a tight grip.
"Lana, you need to leave," Alicia instructed. "Clark's not allowed visitors right now."
"Yeah. You got to go too." Clark mumbled through the sweet mouthful. With no place to put either item in his hands, Clark didn't know how to break Alicia's grip around his body. He cast Lana a pleadful look, but it was possible she couldn't see enough details to be of any help.
"But I'm your girlfriend." Alicia looked surprised.
"I'm grounded."
"That's why we're staying on the farm."
"I can't have visitors."
"She's here."
"Lana's leaving."
"Clark?" his mother came out of the house.
"Perfect." Clark choked down the final mouthful. "Mom, I promise, they're both going."
"Why can't I stay? I'll help with dinner."
"Alicia," his mom said calmly as she helped Clark by taking the water glass. "Clark isn't allowed visitors, even girlfriends, for the rest of the week."
With one hand free, Clark was now able to pull Alicia's arms from around him.
"No." Alicia grabbed his arm and there was the familiar tingle. Clark looked around and saw dozens of people dressed in Hawaiian shirts listening to a group of musicians wearing grass skirts and playing ukuleles. Passersby gave him weird stares; he was out of place in his dirty t-shirt, jeans, and work boots.
"Are we in Hawaii?"
"Yep. Your parents are being so unfair. What you really deserve is a reward."
Clark was speechless as someone placed a lei around his neck.
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Martha was furious.
"That boy better be back in five minutes." Remembering Lana was there, she asked in a gentler tone, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Mrs. Kent, I really do need to speak with Clark, though. It's a conversation that's long overdue. I would just need ten minutes."
"Alicia's having a hard time understanding what 'grounded' means. Under those circumstances, Lana, I don't think that's a good idea. But you're more than welcome to come over next week."
Lana left and Mrs. Kent went back into her house. Clark was standing sheepishly in the living room. Alicia was sitting on the couch, a lei around her neck, looking rather pleased with herself.
"Sorry," Clark mumbled as Johnathan came into the living room.
"What's going on?"
"Alicia's having a hard time understanding the rules of this house. Clark is grounded. He stays on this farm."
Alicia rolled her eyes and Martha felt her blood boil.
"Clark put a killer away. Why are you punishing him for that? You should be proud of him. Clark's amazing."
Martha took note of how the girl gazed at Clark in adoration.
"Don't you…" the teenagers were gone in a mist of green, "dare."
Martha and Johnathan looked at each other and waited. Clark again sped in, panting slightly. Alicia reappeared, smirking as she crossed her arms.
"Both of you. On the couch. Now!" Johnathan ordered.
Clark made a move toward the couch. Alicia reached out towards Clark and soon the living room became filled with flashes of green and bursts of air as the two teenagers played tag. To Alicia, it was nothing more than a fun game and she laughed and giggled as she tried to grab hold of Clark. Martha and Johnathan watched, too stunned to speak at Alicia's behavior.
"Stop!" Clark pleaded, holding his hands in front of him. It was the look of desperation on Clark's face that finally convinced Alicia to put an end to her game.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's okay." Clark took Alicia's hand and escorted her over to the couch. Johnathan stood looming over them, his arms crossed and a frown on his face.
"Young lady, I don't know how things work at your house, but here, as we've said before, there are rules we expect Clark to follow. And if you want to be an invited guest at this house, you need to follow them too. Have your parents never punished you?"
Martha watched as Alicia paled slightly. She shut her eyes and snuggled closer into the crook of Clark's arm, whimpering. Clark pulled her closer and shook his head, trying to communicate a subtle warning.
"What is it, sweetie?" Martha asked when the girl began to cry.
"It's nothing. It's fine," Alicia sniffed as Clark held her.
"Hey, you mentioned you're working on a surprise for me. Why don't you spend time on that? That way, next week, we can hang out more."
"You're so smart." Alicia kissed him. Finally, she disappeared, and Clark was left alone on the couch.
"Clark, go to your room," Johnathan ordered, and their son quickly obeyed. "What was all of that?"
Martha didn't respond. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing on end and she went bolting up the stairs to Clark's room. As she opened the door, there was a flash of green mist and her son was nowhere to be seen. Within ten seconds, Clark was behind her.
"I came back as fast as I could," Clark muttered.
Martha let out a long breath. Perhaps it was time to have a conversation with Mrs. Baker.
At the Torch office…
What is going on? Chloe growled as she tried to delete her computer file for the fifteenth time. She kept receiving an error message that the task could not be done. Van's special Torch edition left Chloe wondering about her "potential meteor infected" list. She might have been right about Karen Gallager; it would explain the mansion blackout. But besides Sasha, there hadn't been any other attacks on Van. Of course, Jordan and Lex's powers didn't do much for offensive attacks. With all the mistrust that was still alive in Smallville, it was for the best if she deleted the entire file.
"Hit a glitch, Miss Sullivan?" Chloe gasped as Lionel Luthor was suddenly leaning over her shoulder. "I know a very capable computer technician who might have some familiarity with your setup."
"Really? You tampered with my personal computer? You're so low you're subterranean."
"I think you'll find your personal computer is on loan to the school as the property of the Luthor Corp foundation. For now."
Just when I thought things couldn't get worse. Chloe never thought Lionel would confiscate the computers just to punish her further, but there was no mistaking the threat.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor. No one was supposed to see those files except me." Chloe was sincere in her apology, but that was not enough for Lionel.
"I will not allow information that concerns my son made available to anyone who can hack their way into your so-called personal files."
Lionel turned to leave. Chloe put back on the jacket she discarded earlier as she called after him. "My dad still doesn't have his job back. Come on. I upheld my part of the bargain. I gave you Clark's blood."
"Our business is complete, Miss Sullivan."
"There's got to be something else I can do. My dad shouldn't be the one to suffer. I made the deal with you; not him."
Lionel stopped. Chloe held her breath and was grateful when he turned to face her.
"All right, Miss Sullivan. Tell me: what do you think of Clark's girlfriend?"
"Girlfriend? Don't you mean your little spy? You know, hiring a minor to seduce a teenage boy is low, even for you."
"Is that how she came across?" Lionel took a step closer. "Cold? Distant? Or did you believe she cared for him?"
"Hard not to. She's got her eye on a venue. Tell me, since you're the matchmaker, will you be footing the bill for their wedding?" Chloe saw a small change come over Lionel. She had said something that gave him desired information.
"Tell you what, Miss Sullivan: you keep an eye on the happy couple, and I'd be willing to partially forgive your inadequacy."
"My dad?"
Lionel gave a small, tilted nod that could be interrupted either way. He left without saying another word.
How was that? Chloe texted. She glanced down at her jacket's flowered brooch, which held a small microphone.
Helpful. Good work.