[for Chloe]

[hero_farmboy]

Clark is not nervous. Not at all. That pacing he's doing outside Chloe's apartment building? Totally not nerves. It's just a second date and the first one was the one he was nervous over. This one should be a breeze.

He just needs a minute.

Finally, after taking a quick look around to make sure no one's watching, he takes a deep breath and speeds up to her apartment, knocking lightly on the door.

It's hard to not just walk in.

Comments

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

It's totally cliche and totally stupid, but Chloe's certain her heart just skipped a beat at that knock. Her parents both have keys, the boys are still in California, and Jimmy's working tonight. Which narrows down the options to one person.

Who, it seems, likes to be punctual. She had gotten used to Bart's late-running habits in high school. Chloe isn't used to running on time herself.

She blushes as she throws her sweater on, taking one more quick look in the mirror to make sure everything is in place. Makeup seems clean and not too overdone, the brightly colored headband on her head is in place. All she has to do now is let him in.

"Just a second date, Sullivan," she mutters to herself. "You can do this."

Five seconds later and the door is finally opened.

[hero_farmboy]

Clark grins immediately.

"Hey."

Beat.

"You look great."

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

The second she sees his grin, she starts smiling herself.

"Really?"

Then she remembers: play it cool.

"Um, I mean, you don't look too bad yourself, Clark."

[hero_farmboy]

Yeah, he's sure he looks great in his usual plaid shirt and jeans. At least it's a new shirt. Volunteering regularly in town has its pay offs at Fordman's.

"Thanks," he replies, still smiling. "Ready to go?"

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

"Let me just go get my purse," she answers, hesitating in front of him for just a second before turning back inside.

It doesn't take long at all for Chloe to retrieve her bag from the table and before Clark probably has the time to take a good look of the living room, she's back and beaming.

"Okay. Totally ready now."

[hero_farmboy]

Clark steps aside to let her out into the hallway and lock her door. He takes a step toward the stairwell and then looks over at her.

"So, as I recall, you were wanting proof of just how fast I am," he says. "Interested in taking a little trip?"

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

Chloe laughs, looking at him with surprised delight. "Serious? You bet!"

She places her keys in her purse, hurrying to catch up with him by the stairwell. "Where to then, Clark?"

[hero_farmboy]

"Well, it's not like I can just take you to a movie. On account of there not really being any anymore, so I thought we'd take a walk somewhere."

He raises an eyebrow at her. "Ever been to the Grand Canyon?"

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

"What?" Chloe shakes her head excitedly. "Kinda never been out of Metropolis, actually. Except once, to visit my cousin at an army base in Alaska. But I've definitely never been to the Grand Canyon."

[hero_farmboy]

"Lois?" Clark asks. Please let it be Lois. Not that Clark really cares if Lois isn't around the immediate vicinity, but it'd be nice to know she at least exists.

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

"So I guess family relations aren't so different in alternative universes," she replies. "Yeah, Lois - Lois Lane. Currently backpacking across Europe with her boyfriend. Or at least they were, before..."

She trials off, gesturing to the area around her. "But they're fine. Don't know when they'll be home again, but that's okay in the long run."

[hero_farmboy]

"Not France, I hope. It was in really bad shape when I was there a few weeks ago."

Yes, he was in France.

"Boyfriend? Tell me it's not Oliver."

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

"Ollie?" Chloe laughs. "Like that'll ever happen."

[hero_farmboy]

Clark just smiles.

"We should be on our way," he tells her, holding out a hand.

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

Chloe smiles at him as she accepts his hand.

[hero_farmboy]

In one swift movement, Clark sweeps her up into his arms, gives her one final smile and then takes off.

We'll give Chloe time to blink maybe twice before he sets her down again just inside Grand Canyon National Park.

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

Chloe does blink the moment they come to a stop, shaking her head to snap out of the trance the run seemed to put her in.

She realizes that she's still in his arms and giggles. The giggle continues as she looks around surprised. There's no reason, in her opinion, to let go of him right now. "Oh my god, you did it."

[hero_farmboy]

"You doubted me?" He looks down at her, mostly amused. "I'm hurt."

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

Chloe laughs. "Maybe a little. C'mon, seriously, the Grand Canyon? Talk about your impressive second dates, Clark."

[hero_farmboy]

"I"m not trying to impress you."

Beat.

"Okay, maybe a little, but mostly I just wanted to go someplace nice and there aren't a whole lot of regular date type activities left to choose."

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

Chloe laughs again.

"Riiiight, Clark. Because given the option between smalltown coffee and a trek in the Grand Canyon, you just had to go with the more ambitious of the two?"

[hero_farmboy]

Chloe laughter gets a Clark grin in return.

"Well, I did consider a picnic down by the lake, but I know how you feel about that. Besides," he shrugs, "I thought a grand gesture might be nice."

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

"...and now you're getting corny. Okay, you totally didn't warn me about bad jokes."

[hero_farmboy]

"If I tell you everything at the beginning, what incentive is there for you to stick around and find out what surprises I have up my sleeve?"

[torch-reporter.livejournal.com]

Chloe smirks. "To start? You're kind of a really good kisser."