Tainted

Hey All... Here is the next installment. Happy reading! :)

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Part 3

The pain that flashed throughout her face and body momentarily stunned and blinded Chloe. What in the hell was wrong with the world today?

“You spiteful, vindictive slutana ana spat out shrilly. The bright stars that appeared before Chloe’s eyes faded a bit and she was able to focus her green eyes on the perfect, perky brunette who drove her crazy.

“Those whores you call your ‘friends’ had no business shredding my reputation like that!” Lana continued to shout as students began to form around the two women, eagerly anticipating what was going to happen next.

Chloe gazed at Lana steadily trying to calm her notorious temper. Ununatunately she understood why Lana was upset but to take it out on her was going too far.

“Come with me!” Chloe growled as she grabbed Lana’s arm in a vicious grip and hauled her into the Torch office while the students who had gathered around groaned in protest. Clark, who had been mulling over his argument with Chloe, looked up in surprise as Chloe dragged Lana into the room. Chloe slammed the door shut behind her and turned Lana around.

“Lana, believe it or not, I understand why you’re angry with me. My friends shouldn’t have started with you during class and for that I am sorry. Now, with that said…” Her voice drifted off as she hauled back her hand and hit Lana square in the face with her open palm.

“Chloe!” Clark yelled completely surprised by the actions of his best friend.

Lana almost fell backward with the force of Chloe’s slap. “If you ever, ever, hit me or touch me in any way, I promise you that I will take you totally and completely out. Roundhouse kick and all.” Chloe growled as Lana turned angry brown eyes upon the blond.

“You understand! Well, I really am so happy that you UNDERSTAND! Do you know what those sluts have done to me? Everyone thinks I am a prostitute. Lana Lang is a prostitute!” Lana shrieked at the top of her lungs.

“Lana, don’t you think you’re exaggerating a little. I seriously doubt anyone is going to think that you, of all people, are a prostitute.” Chloe voice was filled with derision as she said this.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Lana shouted. Chloe impatiently rolled her eyes. She really did not have time for this.

“God! Do you have to be dramatic about everything?” Chloe yelled as her patience slipped further away.

“My reputation is in shreds and you have the nerve to tell me I’m being dramatic. You know you’re really one cold bitch!” Lana spat out and Chloe’s green eyes became like two hardened emeralds.

“Lana, perhaps you need to take a minute to calm down and think about what you’re saying. Do you really want to do this today?” Chloe threatened softly.

“Lana, Chloe’s right. Maybe you should calm down. It’s not Chloe’s fault that her friends said those things.” Clark said reasonably as he inserted his tall frame in between the two women.

“What? You’re taking her side! You saw what those spiteful whores said.” Lana yelled as she could not believe that Clark Kent of all people did not understand her feelings.

“Keep it up, Lana! Just keep it up! One more insult to my friends and I’ll show just what a cold bitch I can really be!” Chloe threatened as she took a step closer towards Lana. The fact that Clark happened to be in the way did not really matter to her.

“What’s the matter? It’s the truth isn’t it? Are you taking some pointers? Thinking about a career change.” Lana’s voice had softened maliciously.

“That’s it!” Chloe saw red. She scooted around Clark and charged the annoying brunette. Clark, however, managed to grab Chloe around the waist before she could lay a finger on Lana. He had his arms wrapped securely around her as she fought to get loose.

“Let go of me, Clark! Princess Powder Puff is so going down. And I’m not talking about Whitney either!” Chloe yelled as she struggled in Clark’s strong grip.

“Oh! You – How dare you!” Lana roared. She cha at at Chloe but Clark managed to turn around and remain in between the two fighting women while still maintaining a death grip on Chloe. He was surprised by how strong Chloe really was.

Clark decided he had had enough of the two furious women. He effortlessly threw Chloe over his shoulder. Chloe gasped at the new position she was in. Humiliation and the blood rushing suddenly to her head turned her face bright red.

While he held Chloe stationed with one hand, Clark grabbed Lana with his other free hand and forced her to sit in a vacant chair.

“I don’t know what has gotten into you, Lana. Chloe I can understand because she’s always been high strung-” Clark began.

“High strung!” Chloe shouted as she began to pound Clark’s back. “Damn you, Kent, let me go right now!” Chole tried to kick at Clark with her feet but he held her stationary.

“I’m going to take Chloe home! You go to the Talon and calm yourself down.” Clark ordered quickly. Lana’s mouth dropped open in shock. Clark was not going to help her. This was not possible. Clark always helped her.

“B-But Clark…” Lana’s voice drifted off as Clark gave her a severe frown and shook his head.

“I will meet you later at the Talon.” Clark told her as he struggled to hold his squirming best friend.

“Clark Kent! You – You dog shit! Let me go!” Chloe yelled. Clark grinned evilly as his grip tightened even further.

“What you need is to cool down, Chloe Sullivan?” Clark’s evil grin widened as he stormed out of the office, while some students who stuck around stared in shock.

Clark decided to bypass the front door for an outer side door instead. Chloe fought him even harder. Snickers followed her as Clark passed several students. Mortification and humiliation warred with supremacy in her body. How could Clark do this to her?

“Clark, dammit! Put me down!” Chloe screamed. Clark opened another door and Chloe’s nostrils were suddenly assaulted by a noxious chlorine smell. Oh no! He wouldn’t dare! He would not dare!

Suddenly air assaulted her as she felt her body flying upwards and then downwards. Cold water hit her body like a speeding train as she struggled to keep above water.

“Clark – When I – get my handon yon you…” Her voice drifted off as she managed to swallow some pool water.

“Have you cooled down yet?” Clark laughed while Chloe just growled her response. She managed to swim slowly to the edge of the pool. Because of all the clothing she wore it was hard to propel herself up but she’d be damned if she was going to ask the farm boy for help. She struggled for a few seconds when she felt strong hands lift her up and set her on the floor.

Her green eyes glared furiously at the smiling blue-eyed monster that was her former best friend.

“You are soooo on my shit list, Kent! Couldn’t you have dunked your beloved Lana?” Chloe stood up slowly, dripping from head to toe. She tried to get the excess water off but it didn’t work. She was thoroughly soaked.

“Sorry about that but you sort of needed it.” Clark grinned again. Chloe refused to comment on that statement. The fact that it worked made her teeth clamp shut tightly. She was a bit calmer but she would never admit that to him. Clark’s grin left his face as his blue gaze took in his friend.

“Chloe, I’m worried about you. Questionable friends, getting into fights, dating Lex…I know, you told me not to mention it again but I’ve known you since you were eight. I think I’m entitled worry about my best friend.” Chloe stared long and hard at the frown that marred Clark’s handsome features.

“Clark, I know you mean well but really I’m fine. Being with Lex is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He loves me Clark. He loves me so much that he brought my family here to be with me so I wouldn’t have tory ary about them. The girls are more like sisters than just friends and my dad, though a bit shocked by them at first, has come to see that they really mean well and care for me.”

Clark paused to study her long and hard. Chloe was always one to take care of herself but he always got the feeling, no matter how hard he tried to include her, that she was lonely. And that wasn’t the case anymore. In fact, Clark was the one who felt like he was on the outside looking in.

“If you knew what they were really like –“ Chloe had gone on but stopped at the sudden gleam in Clark’s blue eyes.

“Okay! Show me!” Clark said cheerfully. Chloe’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. This was not what she had anticipated. Clark Kent hanging out with her friends.

“Ah – Clark, I don’t think that is such a good idea.” Chloe shook her head. The more she thought on it, the more she realized that Clark and her friends just didn’t mix.

“Why not?” Clark asked not understanding Chloe’s hesitation. Was she ashamed of him?

“Clark, I don’t think your parents are going to like you being around my friends. It’s bad enough your dad got on your back about Lex. This would really send him over the edge.” Chloe said as she wiped her face off as water dripped from her hair, into her eyes and down her cheeks.

“You let me handle my dad. I promise you he won’t be a problem. So what do you say?” Clark grinned yet again. Chloe realized she was fighting a losing battle. Clark was as stubborn as Lex and once he made up his mind there was no convincing him to change it.

Stubborn men! Shit! Lex! She had to tell him about tonight! Fuck!

Chloe rushed past Clark and towards the door. She needed to see Lex immediately.

“What? What is it?” Clark asked as quickly beat her to the door. Chloe looked at him strangely.

“How’d you --- Never mind! I have to go have a nice talk with Lex and try to convince him not to kill me.” Chloe joked but the look Clark was giving her said he took her words to heart.

“Clark, I was joking. Lex would never hurt me. He’ll yell quite a lot but he would never hurt me.”

“I know.” Clark said a bit uncertainly. “But I meant what I said; give me a chance to get to know your friends.”

Chloe couldn’t believe she was even contemplating this. Perhaps he could help. He’d helped in the past on her freak cases. He could be useful here.

“Okay! Since your dad paid a visit to my friends this morning, I assume you know where they live. Meet me there around six. Is that all right?” Chloe almost rolled her eyes at his beaming smile.

“Great! I’ll see you at six.” Chloe gave him another long look before she turned and exited the pool house shaking her head at the crazy day she was having. Her fight with Lana, Clark Kent, her friend’s, her friend’s friends, Lex and the anticipated argument they were definitely going to have, and a serial killer that they all had to stop…

Good Lord! What next?

TBC...

So what do you think?