_Chapter 11_
Clark felt good the next morning after his talk with Lana. She revived some of his optimism. He even scolded himself a little for giving up so easily. He left the house early, heading straight for the truck and was surprised to see Pete standing there waiting for him. No word from anyone in three days and then two visitors in less than twenty-four hours.
Interesting.
“Lana told me you might go see Chloe today.” Pete started, not wasting any time with small talk this morning.
“I was just heading out…”
“I don’t think that would be such a good idea.”
Clark let out a short confused laugh, but Pete remained serious, “What’s going on here Pete?”
“I think Lana is being a little overly optimistic about the situation.”
“But last night she said Chloe was doing better.”
It was Pete’s turn to let out a sad little chuckle, “I think it would be closer to the truth to say that Lana’s getting better at being around Chloe.”
“Pete-- you’re freaking me out. What are you talking about?”
“Should I describe to you what our visits are like?” Pete’s voice was harsh on the words, “Lana twitters on and on to Chloe about business at the Talon, local events, town gossip. Nervously jabbering for an hour straight without even taking too long to pause between sentences. Worried about what Chloe might talk about if given the chance, I’m sure. Not that she really has much to worry about; Chloe spends the time staring out the window, or watching Lana like she’s got two heads. Not that I can blame her, Lana acts so obviously strange and uncomfortable around her.”
“I don’t understand…”
“Chloe is not herself, Clark. She’s different. During those visits I watched her. It’s like she’s living inside her head or something. Like none of this matters to her anymore,” he finished, gesturing around them vaguely.
“She’s been through a lot, it’s going to take some time…”
“Maybe you’re right, Clark. I hope you’re right.” They paused for a moment, letting the conversation linger around them. “I tried to talk with her yesterday, alone,” Pete began, more subdued now, “I started getting all choked up, you know? I was trying to tell her how it felt, how hard it was not knowing where she was all those weeks. How it seems even harder now that she’s back, but out of our reach somehow. Like the Chloe we know is still missing.”
“You told her that?”
Pete nodded. Clark was impressed and horrified that Pete had laid out all that honesty on someone who probably wasn’t ready. Chloe needed to be comforted, not confronted.
“She looked right at me and said, ‘I’m sorry Pete, but I think that girl you knew was beaten right out of me.’ And then she smiled in this casual, strange way like she had cracked a joke. It was awful; like she didn’t even care we were worried. Like she didn’t even care about what had been done to her. As if it was all old news and something more important had already started to occupy her mind.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” Clark asked, frustrated. He found this confrontation with Pete strange, and more than a little disturbing.
“Because it’s hard to be around her, Clark, and not just because she looks beat up or because it’s hard to know what to say, but because she doesn’t want us there. Maybe you’re the only one she told outright, but maybe that’s a testament to how much she respects you, or once did anyway.”
“I can’t believe you’re giving up on her so easily.”
Clark couldn’t hide the disbelief on his face. He had the strange sensation of not being able to catch his breath. Pete began nodding his head slightly. A little ‘huh’ escaped his lips as if to say, I thought you’d understand what I’m getting at but I guess you don’t. His look was one of disappointment and he turned to walk away, leaving Clark standing alone, unsettled and confused.
“Pete…” he called after him, his tone apologetic.
“I’m not going to visit her anymore, Clark, and I think you would do well to stay away too. She already told you once. Don’t make her do it again.” Pete called over his shoulder as he got in his truck.
Clark stood there staring after him. Lana the voice of hope vs. Pete the voice of doom.
Clark didn’t make it to visit Chloe that day.
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