Part 10

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The blur that whizzed by Hickory Lane cleared to reveal Clark Kent slowing down to a jog. He stomped his way up the barn to flop down on the worn couch. Head in his hands, eyes pressed tight, he tried to make sense of what has happened in the past two days.

He was escorting Chloe to her locker before heading to the Torch room when he got introduced to her ex-boyfriend in the most unexpected way possible. The vision of Trev kissing Chloe burned in his memory and it brought back the anger he felt at that moment. The sight of their passionate, hungry lip locking offended him and he pictured himself prying Trev away from Chloe and slamming him against the lockers. His family taught him restraint very well and was thankful that was present else he would've regretted the consequences.

He also regretted walking out on his best friend twice in succession. First was yesterday at the Torch room when he couldn't understand his emotions at the sight of Chloe gushing over a pair of silver dress shoes; second was just a few seconds ago when he didn't know how to handle the discovery of her hidden talents and blatant display of affection towards another guy. At both times the emotion that gave the heaviness to his chest, the throb at his temples and the cold chill up his spine didn't have a name. Now it did. It was jealousy and he had a hard time accepting it.

Trevor Collins. He revealed to Smallville the hidden part of Chloe of Metropolis. But who was Chloe Sullivan? Clark feared that he didn't know anymore. Was she always who she said she was? Or is the real one this 'Sully' that instantly jumped out of her? Has it been all a front? Hasn't she been honest with him? All that time….

He had to break his line of thought. Again, how could he cast the first stone? Of all people, he was the one hiding an alternate self. The guilt bore down on him and added to the ones already on his shoulders. How dare he accuse Chloe? How could he think like that of his friends? Clark reminded himself that he believed in his friends and others bests. He debated with himself; Chloe must have her reasons and it was not right for him to judge.

However, he can't dismiss the fact that Trev threatened his friendship with Chloe. With that guy around does that mean they will hook up again both as a best friends and as a couple? It took him back to the time Chloe felt he was outgrowing her as a friend. Now he understood where she was coming from.

Clark wished there was something he could hate about Trev other than the fact that he was closing in on Chloe. Much to his frustration, he found none. The guy was perfect for her, they matched - wit, personality, musical talent and boldness. Furthermore, he also thought they looked good together. Clark remembered how happy Chloe was in Trev's arms and it brought a fresh pang that surged throughout his body. She was better off with him. Trev clearly had more going for him; he was the one with the money, the fancy stuff and the adventurous spirit that suited Chloe.

Clark shook his head; he was acting the jealous boyfriend when he had no right to. He fought the urge to fight and win Chloe back. How could he if she wasn't his in the first place? But was she still Trev's? Though she said broke it off due to distance, she didn't seem hesitant to close the gap between them.

The floorboards creaked as Clark started to pace the loft. He felt sick to the stomach, the anxiety tore at him. Thinking he had enough for now, he tried to blank out his mind and poured himself to his chores instead. But it did not help at all.

That dinner he was uncharacteristically silent. His parents' concern prompted him to share the problem hoping to learn from their experience.

With wisdom, Jonathan Kent looked him in the eye and told him to love people for who they are and not for who they were or who he wanted them to be. The tenderness in the look his mother gave his dad when he said this showed it was a lesson learned long ago with the benefits in plain view.

To love someone for who they are.

The revelation lifted a burden off his shoulders and sparked a renewed fire in his heart. The smile that broke eased the lines off his face. The breath he exhaled brought with it all the day's weariness. Clark was invigorated with clarity and a new sense of direction. Determination and excitement coursed through his veins eager to run its course in the days ahead. He now knew what to do; it's getting to it that might prove a test.

Finally relaxed after a long, rollercoaster of a day, he lay down on his bed looking up to the ceiling. Clark's thoughts drifted to a blond-haired best friend whose smile had a certain charm only she possessed. It could weaken his knees like no meteorite could do. But he never dared to show her out of embarrassment or fear of being the subject of her cynicism and derision. She had a way with words that could both soothe or sting and she used it without hesitation. Yet it is her own brand of snark that made her endearing.

His father's words made him reflect on who Chloe was in his life and the results surprised him.

Clark always considered himself a wide reader. Having superspeed had its advantages in devouring book after book. But with Chloe around, she challenged him to out wit and out talk her in anything. She goaded him to use all that stock knowledge and think out of the box. She made him use his brain so unconventionally, to think environmentally, globally and sociologically that it sometimes made his head spin. He enjoyed the mental and verbal sparring as it removed the dullness from small town life.

She zinged - there was a liveliness to her that showed in her flamboyant ways. The flair of her arms, her voice sometimes lacked a volume control, her quick-paced walk. Clark smiled noting that she was always an interesting part to his day.

He told her before, and it still held true, she was the only thing constant in his life for the past year. Well, save in the last two days. Chloe's trustworthy, supportive and caring nature made her a valuable friend. The threat of losing that and not be given a chance to explore if it could go further made Clark realize how much she meant to him.

Then the memory of his first kiss played in his mind. He didn't see it coming. First he was looking out the loft window telling her about how his father built the loft for him. When he turned to glance at his guest, the look in her eyes alarmed him. Next thing he knew, soft warm lips pressed against his. What started out as an abrupt touch was quickly turned into sensory overload as Clark felt Chloe's mouth taste every bit of his. His enjoyment and the physical reaction that her act brought caught him by surprise. He started to voice his protest but got electrocuted from head to toe as their tongues touched in a flutter.

Neither of them have talked about it ever since. She had kissed him again at Kyle's trailer out in the woods. They weren't particularly alone and his sense of propriety wanted her to stop. Tonight, Clark wondered if he could ever experience again with Chloe the passion of their first kiss. He admitted, she held a special place in his heart and vowed he'd do something about it.

He turned to his side and hugged a pillow. It made him think of all the times he was able to enfold Chloe in a similar fashion - it was only on occasions when he rescued her from an emergency or homicidal schoolmates. Clark decided that it shouldn't take a crisis for a chance to hold her in his arms, squeeze her body gently to assure him of her presence, breathe in her sweet scent of peaches, and whisper softly into her golden hair.

Clark drifted to sleep and in his slumber he uttered a name that now had a fresh meaning in his life … "Chloe."