(I have decided to add times and dates to my chapters, that's the only thing that has changed in the first three chapters)

Back and Different

Chapter 1: The Talon, a Necklace and Spilt Coffee

1:55 pm Monday

It was a bright, clear day. There were no clouds. People lined the street, walking in every direction. A car slowed as it turned down the street. Its occupant was Pete Ross. He sighed. Everything looked exactly as he remembered.

It had been three years since he had been in Smallville, since he had seen or spoken to Chloe, Clark or Lana. The last time he saw them Lana was going to Paris, Chloe was convicting Lionel with Lex and Clark was still not over his crush on Lana.

Pete was here because he was going to apply for a job at LuthorCorp. One was open and since Lex was a good friend of Clark's, as far as he remembered, it wouldn't be that hard to get the job. And besides, it would mean that he was once again in Smallville, able to see Chloe, Clark or Lana any day.

The interview for the job was tomorrow, so Pete thought that today maybe he could catch up with old friends. He had to go to the Kent's first. He didn't know where Lana or Chloe were living, so he'd need to ask Clark. He hoped nothing to dramatic had happened while he'd been gone.

He looked out his window and spotted the Talon. He suddenly had an urge to stop and pulled into a parking spot.

Might as well stop for a coffee before I go to the Kent's. Pete shrugged. Might run into someone I know. He pushed the car door open, slipped out and slammed the door shut behind him.

Swerving around a small boy on a skateboard, he walked up to the Talon doors and pushed them open. Everything was the same. The Egyptian theme, the aroma of coffee, people bustling around. Pete liked that nothing had changed. It was packed, as he remembered and he looked around hopefully for a spare table. He finally spotted one and squeezed into a table next to a young woman with long, wavy light brown hair and brown eyes.

She seemed to be waiting for someone. She was tapping the table irritably and looking over at the door every couple of seconds.

A waitress came up to Pete's table and he ordered a coffee. Since he couldn't see anyone he knew, he decided he would get it to go, so he could get to the Kent farm quicker. He hadn't seen Clark in a long time.

Pete jumped as a shrill sound rang out from the table beside him. He glanced over to see the woman reach in her handbag and dig around. The sound was her phone. A grin spread across the woman's face as she answered.

"Hey... No, I'm still waiting... What? Look, I'll order it later, there's still plenty of time in the day, okay? Good... Yes, I would love to have dinner at your place tonight. Okay, bye love you." The woman hung up.

"Lois!"

The woman spun around and gave an irritated look at the guy who had called her name.

She doesn't look happy to see him. Pete mused.

"What are you doing here? If you don't want her to know, why'd ya come? She could come in any minute!" The woman hissed as the guy sat down at the table next to her.

"Look, I was passing by and saw your car outside and anyway, I just wanted to show you..." The guy paused as he rummaged in his pockets for something. He finally pulled out a small, golden box. "This."

The guy opened the box and the woman seemed to forget that she was angry. She let out a gasp.

Pete couldn't see inside the box and wondered what was in it. Probably some jewellery. He guessed.

"Oh Jimmy, it's absolutely gorgeous!" The woman squealed, "She'll love it!"

"Yeah I know." The guy grinned. "Okay, I'll go now. But quick question; have you ordered the..."

The woman interrupted him before he could finish. "Smallville already lectured me on it okay. I told him I'd pick it up later. And put that box away. If you want to keep it a secret, you're going to have to put it back in your pocket."

The waitress came with Pete's coffee. He thanked her and went to get up and so did the guy on the next table. The guy turned around just as Pete started to walk, causing Pete to bump into him; spilling some coffee onto the guy's shirt.

"Oh, I am really sorry." Pete apologised quickly.

"Nah, dude it's okay. I was heading home anyway." They guy smiled and the woman stifled a laugh.

2:00 pm Monday

Lois watched in amusement as the guy apologised over and over to Jimmy about the spilt coffee. Again and again Jimmy said that it was alright. Finally, the guy got the picture and left.

"Well, at least I managed to show you the necklace before Chloe got here." Jimmy said after many failed attempts to get the coffee off his shirt with napkins.

"Yeah, but right now you have to leave, Chloe could be here any minute. So put the box back away." Lois told him.

"Right, I know. See ya." Jimmy slipped the box back in his pocket and strode outside, just as Chloe's car pulled up. Lois waited patiently as outside Chloe and Jimmy talked.

Eventually, they kissed goodbye and Chloe came into the Talon and plopped onto the seat next to Lois.

"You took your time?" Lois said dryly.

"Sorry. I can't stay long either, there's a story I need to work on. I kind of have a deadline." Chloe gave Lois a guilty look. "I'm really, really sorry. Can we reschedule? We can even go out to lunch and I'll pay."

"Okay. Yeah, whatever."

"Really? You're sure?"

"Yes. I am totally sure."

Chloe grinned and hugged her cousin. "Thank you so much! I promise next time I will not be late or busy! And as I said, I'll pay for lunch!" Chloe stood up. "I need to get something from the apartment before I leave, but I left my keys inside, can I borrow yours?"

"Sure. Hold on." Lois reached into her bag and pulled out her keys to the apartment. She handed them to Chloe. "Don't lose them." Lois warned.

"I won't. See you later." Chloe hurried upstairs to their apartment above the Talon. Lois chuckled to herself and looked into her half empty coffee cup.

"I'll just go and see what Clark's doing then."