CHAPTER SIX
Packing and moving day for Chloe, six weeks later.
"Thank you guys so much for helping out. I don't know how I'd manage with all of Jay's things," Chloe said to her friends.
"Hey, I'd do anything for you to thank you for that theater system. It's going to look great in the living room of our new place," Pete said, wrapping his arms around Lana's waist.
"Well, I'm glad. It's not like my dad needs yet another television."
"Chloe, what are you going to do with all of Jay's old clothes?" Lana asked.
"I'm driving down to Goodwill to donate them. Basically everything's going to charity except pictures, my things, some paintings, the television, the stereo, and my car. I don't want anymore reminders than those," Chloe replied, her voice dropping some to hide the tears threatening to reveal themselves.
"Hey, did you hear the good news about Clark?"
"No, what is it Pete?"
"Well, Clark is going to be the next reporter for the Daily Planet."
"You're kidding! Wow, I'd never believe that could happen," Chloe exclaimed.
"Speaking of reporting, what are you going to do with that degree you got?" Lana asked.
"Well, it just so happens that the Ledger is hiring a new copy editor. It pays pretty well and it's safe, so I'll be able to be there for my son or daughter when they're born."
"You've got it all planned out don't you?"
"Of course Pete. Now, let's get back to work. I want to get most of this stuff done today."
"Okay, Pete and I will start moving some of the furniture from upstairs down here while you go pack up yours and Jay's things. You know, decide what you want and what you don't. I'm just really glad that you have an elevator in this building."
"Well, be glad also that I only have one love seat and a whole bunch of bean bag chairs. He really was a bachelor at heart. Oh, and keep, like, two of them. I'd miss them too much."
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Meanwhile, Clark is in the Fortress of Solitude, remembering his high school days.
This was it. The last day of being in Smallville. Tomorrow, he would be working at the Daily Planet and having a permanent residence in Metropolis. Oh, how he was going to miss his old small town life.
This never used to be his dream, unlike a young blonde that he used to be best friends with. He used to dream of staying in Smallville, taking over the Kent farm someday, marrying Lana. Not going to college, becoming a journalist, moving to Metropolis.
The years went by. Lana and Pete started seeing each other, Chloe left for good, and Lex distanced himself from Clark. They all were happy, as far as he knew.
He couldn't remember everything that happened while they were in high school, only small bits and pieces. Like, the night of homecoming freshman year, falling for Chloe, the tornado, running out on Chloe and the dance, saving numerous lives, watching Pete and Lana get together, and seeing Chloe leave him for good twice.
He hadn't seen her since that day after high school was over. He doubted that he ever would. She probably had a great job offer somewhere other than the Daily Planet. Wherever she had decided to end up, Clark hoped that she was having a wonderful life.
"Hey son," Jonathan greeted his son as he climbed the steps.
"Hey dad."
"Your mom wants us down for dinner."
"I'll be there in a moment."
Jonathan Kent didn't say a word, just left to let his son have some peace. Clark looked around him. There was the telescope that he used to watch Lana with gathering dust in the corner. The couch was covered with a thick film of dust and dirt. It had been so long since he was last in this loft.
Clark sighed and went over to the stairs. With one last glance behind him, Clark climbed down the stairs and left the days of his youth behind him.
Packing and moving day for Chloe, six weeks later.
"Thank you guys so much for helping out. I don't know how I'd manage with all of Jay's things," Chloe said to her friends.
"Hey, I'd do anything for you to thank you for that theater system. It's going to look great in the living room of our new place," Pete said, wrapping his arms around Lana's waist.
"Well, I'm glad. It's not like my dad needs yet another television."
"Chloe, what are you going to do with all of Jay's old clothes?" Lana asked.
"I'm driving down to Goodwill to donate them. Basically everything's going to charity except pictures, my things, some paintings, the television, the stereo, and my car. I don't want anymore reminders than those," Chloe replied, her voice dropping some to hide the tears threatening to reveal themselves.
"Hey, did you hear the good news about Clark?"
"No, what is it Pete?"
"Well, Clark is going to be the next reporter for the Daily Planet."
"You're kidding! Wow, I'd never believe that could happen," Chloe exclaimed.
"Speaking of reporting, what are you going to do with that degree you got?" Lana asked.
"Well, it just so happens that the Ledger is hiring a new copy editor. It pays pretty well and it's safe, so I'll be able to be there for my son or daughter when they're born."
"You've got it all planned out don't you?"
"Of course Pete. Now, let's get back to work. I want to get most of this stuff done today."
"Okay, Pete and I will start moving some of the furniture from upstairs down here while you go pack up yours and Jay's things. You know, decide what you want and what you don't. I'm just really glad that you have an elevator in this building."
"Well, be glad also that I only have one love seat and a whole bunch of bean bag chairs. He really was a bachelor at heart. Oh, and keep, like, two of them. I'd miss them too much."
-------------------------
Meanwhile, Clark is in the Fortress of Solitude, remembering his high school days.
This was it. The last day of being in Smallville. Tomorrow, he would be working at the Daily Planet and having a permanent residence in Metropolis. Oh, how he was going to miss his old small town life.
This never used to be his dream, unlike a young blonde that he used to be best friends with. He used to dream of staying in Smallville, taking over the Kent farm someday, marrying Lana. Not going to college, becoming a journalist, moving to Metropolis.
The years went by. Lana and Pete started seeing each other, Chloe left for good, and Lex distanced himself from Clark. They all were happy, as far as he knew.
He couldn't remember everything that happened while they were in high school, only small bits and pieces. Like, the night of homecoming freshman year, falling for Chloe, the tornado, running out on Chloe and the dance, saving numerous lives, watching Pete and Lana get together, and seeing Chloe leave him for good twice.
He hadn't seen her since that day after high school was over. He doubted that he ever would. She probably had a great job offer somewhere other than the Daily Planet. Wherever she had decided to end up, Clark hoped that she was having a wonderful life.
"Hey son," Jonathan greeted his son as he climbed the steps.
"Hey dad."
"Your mom wants us down for dinner."
"I'll be there in a moment."
Jonathan Kent didn't say a word, just left to let his son have some peace. Clark looked around him. There was the telescope that he used to watch Lana with gathering dust in the corner. The couch was covered with a thick film of dust and dirt. It had been so long since he was last in this loft.
Clark sighed and went over to the stairs. With one last glance behind him, Clark climbed down the stairs and left the days of his youth behind him.