Chapter 3
Chapter 2
Later The Same Night
(Clark POV)
I placed the bag of popcorn in the microwave, shut it, pressed the popcorn button and watched as it whirled to life. I moved over to the counter and peaked into the living room. Chloe was on the floor going through the box of movies I brought in from the loft.
The floor in the living room was slowly being covered with different DVD cases. Her eyes were focused; she held her lip between her teeth and leaned further into the box. I shook my head. She looks like she’s searching for the answers to life in there…
It was definitely an adorable sight. I sighed and moved back into the kitchen to grab a bowl and two drinks. My thoughts drifted back to the night of our first Justice League get together a little over a month ago…
*Flashback*
It was a Friday night and Chloe thought it would be a nice idea to invite the team over for dinner and movies. Something we could all do together in a relaxed setting after facing the latest threat to mankind. I was in the kitchen washing the dishes from dinner when Oliver walked in.
“Come to help with the dishes?”
He chuckled lightly.
“Not exactly.”
I nodded as I moved the plate under the water to remove the suds.
“What’s up?”
I glanced at him and he was looking into the living room watching the guys and Chloe mess around. He cleared his throat and spoke in a casual tone.
“Is there something going on with you and Chloe?”
My hands stilled and he finally looked over at me. The question startled me at first. Chloe and I have always been extremely close, but it’s never gone seriously above the friendship level before. I mean sure, there have been random kisses every now and then, and there was the spring formal back in high school…
But none of those things were ‘serious’ so to speak. I thought about what he was asking and then it dawned on me. Ever since Chloe broke up with Jimmy, we have been spending an abnormal amount of time together…even for us.
We’ve just been hanging out though…doing things we normally do. I furrowed my eyebrows as I started working the dishes again. I didn’t look at him when I spoke.
“Why would you ask that?”
When he didn’t answer me I finished up the dishes, turned off the water, dried my hands and leaned against the counter facing in his direction. The corner of his lips turned up and I could hear the amusement in his voice, even though I could see the seriousness in his eyes.
“Well Clark, I’m obviously asking because I want some kind of answer to the aforementioned question.”
I nodded.
“Obviously. I just meant…why?”
He looked at me for a minute before sighing and crossing his arms across his chest. His voice was low when he spoke.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Chloe lately…”
He hesitated before continuing.
“I’m trying to ascertain if there is a reason for that or if it’s just because…”
I studied Oliver and then spoke.
“I’m not sure if there is something going on between us…why do you ask?”
He shifted and looked back into the living room.
“I would like to ask Chloe out.”
He focused his attention on me and by the look on his face he could see the shock that his statement gave me. I opened my mouth then closed it. I wasn’t sure what to say…he wants to ask Chloe out? But…she’s Chloe…Watchtower…mine…
When I didn’t say anything he took it as his cue to continue. He pushed himself away from the counter so his back was now facing the living room as he spoke.
“Listen, I know that you and Chloe are close, that’s why I wanted to run it by you first. Make sure nothing was going on between you guys before I asked her out.”
He was standing in front of me pleading his case and I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Oliver…there are who knows how many girls in Metropolis…why do you want Chloe?”
He gave me a small smile and shrugged.
“I like her Clark. She has a good heart, she’s beautiful, resourceful, great sense of humor, she knows who I am and what I do and she’s just an amazing woman.”
I nodded.
“Yes, I know that.”
My whole body was tense and the smile left Oliver’s face.
“You’re not okay with it?”
“I’m…I just…she’s Chloe Oliver.”
Confusion crossed his face.
“So?”
I gave him a frustrated sigh and paced in front of him. It was hard trying to explain what I was feeling when I couldn’t even understand it myself.
“She’s…”
I paused and then it hit me. She’s my Chloe…the reason I have a problem with her and Oliver is because in the back of my mind I was hoping that spending all this extra time together would lead to something more than a friendship…
I stopped pacing now that I realized what my issue with Oliver was and I spoke. I straightened up and finally settled down.
“She’s my Chloe, that’s the problem. I’m sorry Oliver…you’re a great guy and it’s not that I have a problem with you…I just…I realized why I’ve been spending all this time with her lately.”
He looked slightly irritated, but before he could say anything I continued.
“Every time Chloe or I get enough courage to finally take our friendship to the next level, one or both of us always backs down. I was hoping by spending all this time with her…showing her I could be there, that maybe this time she wouldn’t walk away from what I think we can have.”
The irritation left Oliver’s face and he nodded.
“You like her…”
I gave him a half smile.
“No…I think I might love her.”
He leaned back against the counter and I watched him let out a heavy breath. It was quiet and the two of us stood there for a few minutes before he spoke.
“I guess I can respect that…if it’s true. If you really mean what you’re saying Clark and you aren’t just telling me all this because you don’t want me to go out with her.”
I shook my head fiercely.
“I mean it. It’s not a joke.”
He nodded and sighed.
“Okay.”
He started to walk out of the kitchen, stopped, turned toward me and spoke.
“Just a friendly warning Clark…I consider you a good friend and I’m beyond glad that you and Chloe finally decided to join the cause, but if I don’t see you stepping up soon and telling Chloe how you feel…you’re going to have some competition.”
I nodded my head. He wasn’t kidding, but that’s okay because neither was I…
Present Time
I furrowed my brows in confusion. A plastic cover just hit me in the shoulder. I glanced down and saw the DVD case on the floor. I bent down, picked it up and then looked in the direction of the living room. Chloe was standing there cracking up.
I smiled and shook my head. I waved the DVD at her.
“Are you angry with me?”
She stopped laughing and frowned.
“No…why?”
I pointed at the box.
“Why are you throwing things at me then?”
She chuckled and made her way into the kitchen holding a movie.
“Sorry. I called your name three times, but you were in la la land. The popcorn beeped and…”
She paused for dramatic effect, while bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“I found the movie I want to watch.”
Her good mood was infectious. I grinned.
“Okay…are you going to tell me what it is?”
She held up the cover like it was a trophy and I groaned.
“Not again Chlo…”
I saw a pout form on her face. I turned, took out the popcorn, and emptied it into a bowl before turning back around to face her.
“But Clark…you said I could pick…”
I watched her pleading eyes and I sighed. She clapped her hands and smiled.
“Yay! Come on. Let’s go…”
She dragged me into the living room where I plopped down on the couch with the bowl in my hands. She put the TV on, slid the movie in, grabbed the remote and sat next to me. I watched her eyes, full of excitement even though she’s seen this movie hundreds of times.
I couldn’t help the warmth that filled me. That night I spoke to Oliver…I was 100 percent serious about what I said and I had fully planned on asking Chloe out…and then Lana came to town. It wasn’t the fact that she was back, because I’m pretty sure I made it clear to her I was only interested in being her friend…
It was the way Chloe reacted when Lana came to town. She pulled away from me. We barely saw each other for the two and a half weeks, which was weird. Especially after all the extra time we’ve been spending together.
It was almost as if Chloe was giving me the space I needed to get back together with Lana, which made me question if she still cares about me in that way at all anymore. I know she used to…but it’s been a long time.
I assumed just because she spent the most time with me and we flirted with each other that meant she felt the same way about me that I did her. But now…well I wasn’t so sure. So, I backed off and now things were at a standstill.
I could see Oliver eyeing her day after day and I knew he was going to move in soon…an elbow in my stomach got my attention. I glanced at Chloe and she pointed to the screen.
“It’s starting. Get your head out of the stars big boy. The Princess Bride is a classic…you know you love it.”
I snorted.
“Yeah, the first five times maybe.”
“Shh…”
I rolled my eyes and placed my arm over the back of the couch. She took that as an okay to move closer toward me so she could lean against my side. I smiled down at her head and moved my arm so it was over her shoulders.
I looked at the screen, but my thoughts were on anything but the movie being played. Maybe she likes things the way they are between us. By telling Oliver not to pursue her a month or so back, maybe I stopped a relationship that could have made her really happy…
I just…I’m not sure I’m ready to give up on Chloe and I… yet…
Chapter 2
Later The Same Night
(Clark POV)
I placed the bag of popcorn in the microwave, shut it, pressed the popcorn button and watched as it whirled to life. I moved over to the counter and peaked into the living room. Chloe was on the floor going through the box of movies I brought in from the loft.
The floor in the living room was slowly being covered with different DVD cases. Her eyes were focused; she held her lip between her teeth and leaned further into the box. I shook my head. She looks like she’s searching for the answers to life in there…
It was definitely an adorable sight. I sighed and moved back into the kitchen to grab a bowl and two drinks. My thoughts drifted back to the night of our first Justice League get together a little over a month ago…
*Flashback*
It was a Friday night and Chloe thought it would be a nice idea to invite the team over for dinner and movies. Something we could all do together in a relaxed setting after facing the latest threat to mankind. I was in the kitchen washing the dishes from dinner when Oliver walked in.
“Come to help with the dishes?”
He chuckled lightly.
“Not exactly.”
I nodded as I moved the plate under the water to remove the suds.
“What’s up?”
I glanced at him and he was looking into the living room watching the guys and Chloe mess around. He cleared his throat and spoke in a casual tone.
“Is there something going on with you and Chloe?”
My hands stilled and he finally looked over at me. The question startled me at first. Chloe and I have always been extremely close, but it’s never gone seriously above the friendship level before. I mean sure, there have been random kisses every now and then, and there was the spring formal back in high school…
But none of those things were ‘serious’ so to speak. I thought about what he was asking and then it dawned on me. Ever since Chloe broke up with Jimmy, we have been spending an abnormal amount of time together…even for us.
We’ve just been hanging out though…doing things we normally do. I furrowed my eyebrows as I started working the dishes again. I didn’t look at him when I spoke.
“Why would you ask that?”
When he didn’t answer me I finished up the dishes, turned off the water, dried my hands and leaned against the counter facing in his direction. The corner of his lips turned up and I could hear the amusement in his voice, even though I could see the seriousness in his eyes.
“Well Clark, I’m obviously asking because I want some kind of answer to the aforementioned question.”
I nodded.
“Obviously. I just meant…why?”
He looked at me for a minute before sighing and crossing his arms across his chest. His voice was low when he spoke.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Chloe lately…”
He hesitated before continuing.
“I’m trying to ascertain if there is a reason for that or if it’s just because…”
I studied Oliver and then spoke.
“I’m not sure if there is something going on between us…why do you ask?”
He shifted and looked back into the living room.
“I would like to ask Chloe out.”
He focused his attention on me and by the look on his face he could see the shock that his statement gave me. I opened my mouth then closed it. I wasn’t sure what to say…he wants to ask Chloe out? But…she’s Chloe…Watchtower…mine…
When I didn’t say anything he took it as his cue to continue. He pushed himself away from the counter so his back was now facing the living room as he spoke.
“Listen, I know that you and Chloe are close, that’s why I wanted to run it by you first. Make sure nothing was going on between you guys before I asked her out.”
He was standing in front of me pleading his case and I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Oliver…there are who knows how many girls in Metropolis…why do you want Chloe?”
He gave me a small smile and shrugged.
“I like her Clark. She has a good heart, she’s beautiful, resourceful, great sense of humor, she knows who I am and what I do and she’s just an amazing woman.”
I nodded.
“Yes, I know that.”
My whole body was tense and the smile left Oliver’s face.
“You’re not okay with it?”
“I’m…I just…she’s Chloe Oliver.”
Confusion crossed his face.
“So?”
I gave him a frustrated sigh and paced in front of him. It was hard trying to explain what I was feeling when I couldn’t even understand it myself.
“She’s…”
I paused and then it hit me. She’s my Chloe…the reason I have a problem with her and Oliver is because in the back of my mind I was hoping that spending all this extra time together would lead to something more than a friendship…
I stopped pacing now that I realized what my issue with Oliver was and I spoke. I straightened up and finally settled down.
“She’s my Chloe, that’s the problem. I’m sorry Oliver…you’re a great guy and it’s not that I have a problem with you…I just…I realized why I’ve been spending all this time with her lately.”
He looked slightly irritated, but before he could say anything I continued.
“Every time Chloe or I get enough courage to finally take our friendship to the next level, one or both of us always backs down. I was hoping by spending all this time with her…showing her I could be there, that maybe this time she wouldn’t walk away from what I think we can have.”
The irritation left Oliver’s face and he nodded.
“You like her…”
I gave him a half smile.
“No…I think I might love her.”
He leaned back against the counter and I watched him let out a heavy breath. It was quiet and the two of us stood there for a few minutes before he spoke.
“I guess I can respect that…if it’s true. If you really mean what you’re saying Clark and you aren’t just telling me all this because you don’t want me to go out with her.”
I shook my head fiercely.
“I mean it. It’s not a joke.”
He nodded and sighed.
“Okay.”
He started to walk out of the kitchen, stopped, turned toward me and spoke.
“Just a friendly warning Clark…I consider you a good friend and I’m beyond glad that you and Chloe finally decided to join the cause, but if I don’t see you stepping up soon and telling Chloe how you feel…you’re going to have some competition.”
I nodded my head. He wasn’t kidding, but that’s okay because neither was I…
Present Time
I furrowed my brows in confusion. A plastic cover just hit me in the shoulder. I glanced down and saw the DVD case on the floor. I bent down, picked it up and then looked in the direction of the living room. Chloe was standing there cracking up.
I smiled and shook my head. I waved the DVD at her.
“Are you angry with me?”
She stopped laughing and frowned.
“No…why?”
I pointed at the box.
“Why are you throwing things at me then?”
She chuckled and made her way into the kitchen holding a movie.
“Sorry. I called your name three times, but you were in la la land. The popcorn beeped and…”
She paused for dramatic effect, while bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“I found the movie I want to watch.”
Her good mood was infectious. I grinned.
“Okay…are you going to tell me what it is?”
She held up the cover like it was a trophy and I groaned.
“Not again Chlo…”
I saw a pout form on her face. I turned, took out the popcorn, and emptied it into a bowl before turning back around to face her.
“But Clark…you said I could pick…”
I watched her pleading eyes and I sighed. She clapped her hands and smiled.
“Yay! Come on. Let’s go…”
She dragged me into the living room where I plopped down on the couch with the bowl in my hands. She put the TV on, slid the movie in, grabbed the remote and sat next to me. I watched her eyes, full of excitement even though she’s seen this movie hundreds of times.
I couldn’t help the warmth that filled me. That night I spoke to Oliver…I was 100 percent serious about what I said and I had fully planned on asking Chloe out…and then Lana came to town. It wasn’t the fact that she was back, because I’m pretty sure I made it clear to her I was only interested in being her friend…
It was the way Chloe reacted when Lana came to town. She pulled away from me. We barely saw each other for the two and a half weeks, which was weird. Especially after all the extra time we’ve been spending together.
It was almost as if Chloe was giving me the space I needed to get back together with Lana, which made me question if she still cares about me in that way at all anymore. I know she used to…but it’s been a long time.
I assumed just because she spent the most time with me and we flirted with each other that meant she felt the same way about me that I did her. But now…well I wasn’t so sure. So, I backed off and now things were at a standstill.
I could see Oliver eyeing her day after day and I knew he was going to move in soon…an elbow in my stomach got my attention. I glanced at Chloe and she pointed to the screen.
“It’s starting. Get your head out of the stars big boy. The Princess Bride is a classic…you know you love it.”
I snorted.
“Yeah, the first five times maybe.”
“Shh…”
I rolled my eyes and placed my arm over the back of the couch. She took that as an okay to move closer toward me so she could lean against my side. I smiled down at her head and moved my arm so it was over her shoulders.
I looked at the screen, but my thoughts were on anything but the movie being played. Maybe she likes things the way they are between us. By telling Oliver not to pursue her a month or so back, maybe I stopped a relationship that could have made her really happy…
I just…I’m not sure I’m ready to give up on Chloe and I… yet…
The BDA! he never nows what to do :/
ReplyDeleteLove the talk between Ollie and Clark :-) Lucky Chloe been the object of desire of to hot men ;-)
awesome update!!!
ppms!
Ana
Poor Clark. Finally falls for Chloe and she start this game.
ReplyDeleteClark is capable of be away to Chloe was happy when she is desiring he decide! I am near to scream!
I hope Clark don't be late and ruin the thing definitely.
I know you want make some Chloe/Oliver. But you are so cruel with Clark. He rejected so times Chloe by Lana and need to pay so high?
I understand perfectly Oliver. He really want Chloe and she ask him for a game. A very dangerous game.
I know there are every day more Chloe/Oliver fans but Chlark was just perfect together. But it's your story, of course.
Very good update.
RedGigant
Clark shouldn't judge her for trying to find answers to life in a DVD... I do that all the time!
ReplyDeleteAlthough, The Princess Bride...? Really?!
It's really cool so far... loving the awkwardness between Clark and Ollie. That's always just... fun!
Gryf-
ReplyDeleteHey! I love the Princess Bride! HaHa. It's one of my favorite books and movie. Although...I guess I see your point, but still LoL.
I'm really gad you're enjoying it so far. This was one of my favorite stories to write. I had fun with it. :-)
-C