'Damn those bird-watchers!' Clark thought spitefully, thinking about how he'd failed the morning's "Birds of Smallville" exam. He had been working so hard in his bird watching class, and yet it had all been in vain. He was heading to the coffee shop to drink away his evil thoughts.

" Hey Clark!" Lana gave him a sweet smile from behind the counter.

" Oh, hey Lana." He answered hardly looking at her.

" What will you have?" She asked slightly perturbed by the lack of his usual adoring gaze.

" Make it tea. Herbal."

" The usual then?" He muttered something in return, but gratefully grabbed the cranberry zinger that she placed in front of him. He was still deep in thought.

'What does Lana know about bird watching?' He thought, spitefully, glowering at her over his mug.

 He was still infuriated that he'd mixed up a wren with a blue jay. He shook his head and took a big gulp from his tea. It was his second today, but he needed it badly.

' Aaaah, tea.' It always cheered him up.

Across the room, he saw Pete and Chloe talking. He walked over and joined them.

" Hey friends!" He said giving them a bright smile. Clark knew they loved his smile; especially Chloe.

" Hey Clark! We were just talking about that kid in gym class who broke his scooter doing 360s." Chloe informed him.

Clark sat down and spaced out, while they continued to talk about poor Bobby Carl.

'Wow, Chloe smiles a lot. Too much. Probably only when I'm around, though.' Clark thought vainly.

'Huh, I never noticed how little Pete blinks when he's talking.' He was obviously very much absorbed in important observations.

" I know! Where did she buy those shoes!?" The conversation continued with very little input from Clark, who sat there looking blank. No one noticed, this being his usual expression.

' What I need now is to sit back and relax. I wish my VCR hadn't eaten my copy of The Incredible Journey. Those animals are a real inspiration. They overcome every obstacle." Clark thought in awe. Shadow was his favourite.

' Dad never let me have a dog!' He scowled bitterly. ' But I always have my ants.' He smiled, thinking of the always loyal ant farm he'd had since 5th grade.  

But a misguided bird brought his lovely thoughts to a screeching halt. The corpse slid off the window, leaving a little trail of feathers.

' Is it mocking me!?' Clark thought enraged.

" Hey Clark, what kind of bird was that?" asked Pete, innocently.

Clark clenched his fists and threw down his chair. 

" I don't think that's funny Pete!" He ran off pouting. How could they be so unfeeling?