Summer's End

Rated: G

Archive: A Small Drop of Ink, FF.net, XMMFF, LJ. Anyone else want it?

Summary: Chloe and John have to say good-bye.

Disclaimer: As always, not mine. Chloe belongs to Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Tollins-Robbins. John belongs to Stan Lee, Marvel Comics, and 20th Century Fox.

Author's Note: This was suppose to be a drabble, but turned into a small vignette. It's the fourth story in the Chloe/John saga, which includes "Sparks", "The Warmth", and "Safe in Your Arms".

John Allerdyce leaned against the bridge's railing, absently flipping his lighter open and closed. "You sure you've gotta leave next weekend?" he asked as his hazel eyes stared intently ahead.

Chloe Sullivan stared down at the water below them, which made small ripples in the street lamp light. "Yeah. I don't want to, but school starts back in two weeks."

Closing his lighter permanently, John straightened up and looked at her. "Then don't go. Stay here."

"Then how would I ever be a reporter?" Chloe laughed as her green eyes met his. When he didn't answer, she became serious. "Promise you'll write?"

"Yeah, whatever," he shrugged, a strand of brown hair falling into his eyes.

"John."

He sighed. "Sure, but don't tell anybody."

Even though his statement left her extremely curious, the intrepid blonde had to repress her urge to ask questions. After dating the fire- controlling mutant for a summer, she had learned that there were some things he wanted to keep hidden. Instead, she smiled as she motioned locking her lips with an invisible key. "Don't worry; you're secret is safe with me."

John turned around and glanced down at the small creek. He didn't know why Chloe's leaving was bothering him so much. Normally, he could just forget her and move on. That wasn't the case with her, though.

After a quiet moment, he turned his attention back to her. "You gonna write back?"

"Now that's a silly question," Chloe answered. She stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around him. "If I wasn't going to write back, I wouldn't have given you my address." She cocked her head to the side and grinned. "Besides, you're unforgettable."

He chuckled as he pulled her closer. "That's true. How could you ever forget John Allerdyce?"

Leaning her forehead against his, Chloe sighed. "I'm gonna miss you. I don't want to go back to Lana and her whining about Clark's disappearance." A month earlier, Chloe had finally told John the whole story about Clark and Lana, and Clark just deciding to leave Smallville without a good-bye.

"Hey, if she ever bothers you, let me know, okay?" John lifted her chin to meet her eyes.

Chloe nodded. "Okay."

With that, they said nothing else. Instead, they shared one last embrace in the lamplight.