Author's not:

I think I'm a reviewohholic. Please satisfy my addiction.



"Ok, Fordman," Chloe was sitting on the bad in her room, holding a notebook.

"Who's Holden Caulfield?"

"A very disturbed teenager with a duck obsession"

"Oh well," said Chloe

"Can't say you didn't read the book. Just don't write that on you test paper."

Whitney hesitated for as second or so.

"Ok. How about: Holden Caulfield is a lonely teenager looking for a meaning in a world he considers fake and hypocrite. A world in which values are overlooked and success is the only thing that counts."

"A good start, Fordman, but drop the "looking for a meaning", it's cliche. All people look for a meaning. That's why new age books are so popular. "

"Ok" Whitney agreed. He was sitting on a chair near her desk, facing her.

They did sessions like that for the last two months, ever since Chloe managed to convince Whitney that his only way out of Smallville is through a scholarship, no matter which kind. She found few small colleges who were practically willing to have anybody, one of them even had a bad football team. Whitney's chances looked better than ever.

Whitney and Chloe found refuge at each other's company. They had troubles at start to walk through school, till one day Chloe said, "Fuck them".

Since than, they didn't give a damn. You can only care to a certain level. They talked often. Speaking of their lives so far, disgust with the little town's narrow minds, or just laughing Those talks helped them more than any pill.

Whitney watched Chloe. She wore a skirt today, great legs, he thought.

Chloe, realizing that Whitney wasn't really concentrated, began to talk again.

"Btw, since you already mentioned the ducks."

They went like that the entire afternoon.















The day after Whitney finished his exam to find Chloe waiting for him at the class' door.

"How did it go?" she asked eagerly.

She wore dark blue jeans, slightly tight, a white top, and his jacket above all. Whitney wasn't sure if he grew fond of her clothes alone, or that his general affection to her made her clothes more attractive.

"Good," He gave her his best smile, and wondered what would she say if he told her she looked lovely. Probably snore in disgust, he decided, and dropped the idea.

"I filled about ten pages with Caulfield's crap."

"I really don't know what you have against him."

"He's an ass" Whitney replied. He took her hand.

"Come on, let's see what the Cafeteria has to offer today?"

" Mystery meet and fake mash potatoes" She grinned.

They both sighed. "Haven't they heard about hamburger and fries?" Whitney complained.

"Oh, no" Chloe replied, her severe face.

"It's all a conspiracy, to lower our happiness level even more. The teachers are all into it. They were affected in the meteor shower, and now they want to finish us all. That's why we get homework."

"God," Whitney laughed "I have no idea how you're capable to say those things with straight face."

"Years of practice on the real thing, Fordman. When you deliver crazy theories almost on a weekly basis, you get used to it."

"I believe that," He told her.

He opened the cafeteria door with his free hand.

They arrived just in time.

Lana and Clark stood at the room's center. Both flushed.

"Lana."Clark began.

"Don't "Lana" me, Clark Kent!" She yelled.

"I can't believe you said those things!" She went on.

"All I said," Clark was yelling now "Was that we might talk about something else. Why do we always have to talk about your parents? You were three when they die!"

Lana eyes' were full with rage. The entire school watched eagerly, new people came every minute.

" At least I don't talk about my farm chores all day." She mocked his voice.

"Lana, Dad wants me to chop woods. Lana, Dad wants me to clean the barn. Lana, Dad wants me to feed the cows. When will you realize nobody cares whether you have to feed the cows or not? I don't care about cows, farm boy! I need your attention!"

"And lots of it." Clark murmured.

"What?!"

"I said" Clark stopped for emphasis "That you need lots of attention."

"We're over!"

Lana walked to the door, her head high in the air.

"Fine!" Clark yelled after her. The door slammed.

"You can go after her, you know." Chloe told Whitney.

"This is your chance to get her back.."

Whitney stared at the closed door for a second, than turned to her.

"Yeah" He agreed. "Than I'll have to pretend I'm listening while she goes on and on about her dead parents and how Kent was mean to her and how Nell doesn't really love her. Hell, I had enough of it when I dated her."

"Don't you want her back?" Chloe asked with surprise.

He hesitated.

"I thought I did, really. If you asked me a month ago, I would have said, "Yes, I do want her back.""

He paused.

"But now, I'm pretty sure I don't want to hear any dead parents crap for the rest of my life."