Part 1

Pete had no trouble spotting Clark from the crowded hallway on route to the Torch office. Clark was one of the tallest, if not THE tallest one in school. "Hey guys, wait up!" He caught up with them when Chloe stopped at her locker. "Have you heard about the new guy? All the girls in my class were talking about him like he's some babe magnet!"

"Whoa, Pete," chided Chloe closing her locker. "I didn't know you were interested in men."

Chloe's mischievous grin and Clark's stifled snicker was met by Pete's glare. "It's not that! It's just… my chances to land a date this week has nose-dived. He just transferred from Metropolis. This guy is a son of a LutherCorp exec who recently got assigned to the Smallville plant." Pete expounded as they started on their way.

"That would explain the sudden transfer to Smallville high." added Clark. "But what's all the hoopla on the dude?"

Pete continued with a disgruntled look plastered on his face, "Quoting the girls, 'killer looks, infectious smile, a bod to boot.'"

Chloe couldn't stop the smile that beamed across her face as she mentally drew out the description. "Sounds like someone I know."

"… and I heard he's a god on the guitar." Pete finished with a huff.

"Yeah right, we're suckers for a guy with a six stri…." Chloe's admonition was cut abruptly bringing Clark and Pete's strides to a similar halt as they turned to look at Chloe.

"Chloe? You okay?" Clark had never seen her that pale before, her eyes were wide as saucers. She didn't seem to be breathing as she stared at something dead ahead. Clark and Pete followed her stare and saw an unfamiliar guy sauntering towards their frozen friend.

Decked out in a white buttoned-up shirt and black slacks, the guy was clearly overdressed for Smallville high. His dark hair's style could be copied from an old 60's Beatles' album cover but it completely suited him. His smile unabashedly showed his pearly whites and his sophistication was just oozing as he walked towards the trio.

What happened next was something Clark was totally unprepared for. All Clark knew was that this unmistakably good looking guy was headed towards their way. The next minute, the guy reached out his right hand to touch Chloe's cheek and kissed her full on the mouth. Clark was jolted with what he saw and was similarly jolted by the hundred emotions trying to get at him. First he was taken aback by this guy's upfront manner, next he wanted to defend his friend from being sexually molested, and then he felt something he's never dealt with before. Territorial. All of that went blank when he saw Chloe close her eyes and kiss the guy back!

Luckily, when the school bell rang Chloe and Mystery Guy broke the kiss. Clark felt his blood go cold and his hands formed to fists. The guy tucked Chloe's blonde tresses behind her left ear and gave her a wink before he continued on his way.

Clark's flaming eyes followed the guy as he disappeared at the corner but was quickly brought back to reality to catch Chloe. Clark wrapped an arm across her shoulders to steady her and he felt her lean towards him. She was trembling and visibly flushed. "Who was that?!?!"

It was Pete who answered, blinking-out what he just witnessed. "That was HIM."

"Trevor Collins…" Chloe supplied as she found out she could breathe again. Her knees had turned to Jell-O and she was thankful Clark caught her. It felt good to be in his arms to steady her after that whirlwind of a kiss. Mortified was how she felt as she realized it all happened before her best friends. In front of Clark! She turned to look at Pete then to Clark but quickly averted her eyes when she saw the quizzical looks on their faces that begged for an explanation. The words couldn't come out of her mouth, not with the way Clark looked at her. Normally she could read him like a Torch article that needed editing, but the friend holding her was a complete stranger and it scared her. But they deserved her honesty. "…my ex-boyfriend."