Tainted Love Series, story 6: This is How it Goes (2/2)
Chapter Two
So I’ll try to hold on
While you try to let go
Don’t tell me it’s gone
Cause baby I’ll know
Clark set her on her own feet once they were in the loft. “Here. Sit. I’ll be right back.”
She didn’t have time to protest before he sped away again and she slowly sank onto the sofa, resting her head in her hands.
Less than five seconds later he’d returned carrying a steaming mug of coffee. “Here.” He held it out to her and the smell alone was enough to make her craving kick in once more full-strength.
“Thanks,” she murmured, not meeting his eyes as she took the mug from him and quickly took a sip.
Clark gazed at her, sitting down on the couch beside her. He felt her tense and he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Relax, Chloe. It’s just us, okay?”
Tears prickled at her eyelids and her hands trembled around the mug. He carefully reached out and took it from her before she dropped it, setting it on the table.
“Lex called me earlier. He told me about Lionel firing your dad,” he said softly.
She still didn’t look at him, simply nodded, unable to speak.
“I went by your house and saw that you guys had moved.”
“How’d you find me?” she whispered, her voice strained.
“Smallville’s really not that big of a town.” He paused, gazing at her. “Chloe, why didn’t you say anything?”
Chloe stood up and moved away from the sofa, leaning against the window frame and staring into the distance.
He watched her wrap her arms around herself, and waited, hoping against hope that she might open up to him and let him help her.
“I couldn’t,” she whispered finally.
Clark slowly rose to his feet, but didn’t get any closer to her. “Why not?” he whispered back.
“Because after what I did, I didn’t deserve to have someone comfort me. Especially not you.”
He sucked in a breath, the pieces suddenly falling into place. Why hadn’t he put two and two together before right then? “Chloe…” He moved toward her slowly.
“Please, just…don’t, Clark. I know what I did.”
“Did you tell Lionel my secret?” he asked.
“No,” she answered without hesitation.
“Then there’s no harm done, Chloe.”
A short, choked half-sob escaped her lips. “No harm done? Are you kidding me?”
He winced a little.
“My dad lost his job. We lost our house…I got fired at the Daily Planet. The Torch is gone, we’re not friends anymore. I’d say there’s plenty of harm done, Clark.”
He closed his eyes.
“All because of my jealous stupidity,” she finished in a whisper.
Guilt washed over him and he hung his head for a moment, not responding.
She slowly turned to face him, her eyes filled with tears. “This isn’t what I wanted.”
“I know that,” he whispered, meeting her gaze. “It’s not what I wanted either.”
She bit down hard on her lower lip. “I just wanted you to love me,” she admitted.
The soft admission tugged at his heart and he stepped toward her. Wordlessly he wrapped his arms around her and she let out a shuddering breath. He rested his chin on top of her head. “I never meant to hurt you, Chloe. That’s the last thing I ever wanted to do.”
“I know.” Her voice broke and she began to cry softly as he held her. “Everything’s falling apart and I can’t stop it.”
“Shh,” he murmured, tightening his arms around her just a little. “Come on.” He guided them over to the sofa, cradling her in his arms as he sat down.
“I’ve screwed up so bad, Clark,” she whispered.
“We all make mistakes, Chloe. But you can’t keep holding in all this guilt. Have you been eating? Sleeping?”
She didn’t answer and that was answer enough for him.
“You have to start taking care of yourself,” he said firmly, resting his hand on her back. “If you let this kill you, he wins, Chloe. Do you want Lionel Luthor to have that kind of power over you?”
“He already does.”
“He does if you let him.”
“Clark, he’s taken everything.”
“No. Not everything.” He pulled away and gazed at her, his hands on her upper arms. “You’ve still got me. And Pete. And you still have yourself.”
She lowered his gaze.
“He’s trying to break you, Chloe. And if you let him, he will. Do you really want that to happen?”
Chloe closed her eyes.
“Do you?” he asked, shaking her just a little.
“No,” she managed to choke out.
“Then this stops right now.” Clark pulled her back into his arms. “You’re far too strong for this. And I’m not gonna let you give up.”
She nodded wordlessly against his chest, resting her head on his collarbone.
“You’re not alone,” Clark said softly. “We’re in this together. We’ll face him together. Because that’s what friends do. And we are friends, Chloe.”
“We are?” The uncertainty in her voice nearly broke his heart.
“Always,” he said seriously, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“Why are you doing this, Clark?”
He was silent for a moment. “Because sometimes…we all need redemption, Chloe.”
~Fini~