It's almost disturbing how routine each of my classes are. How everyday I know exactly what is going to happen. Take for instance, the one I'm in right now. History. If I turn around and look in the back left corner I bet I'll find that one boy who wears the same hoody sweatshirt everyday, with his face sideways on the desk, his arms surrounding his head.

I turn around and find whatever his name is, hood up, looking like he's been in that positing for awhile.

It never fails. And any minute now Mrs. Campbell is going to stop teaching to take attendance because everyday she forgets to take it in the beginning of class.

"Oh…I almost forgot…" Mrs. Campbell walks over to her desk and pulls a green book out of one its drawers. "…Let me just take attendance quickly."

Right on cue. And since there is only 10 minutes left in class, Clark is going to get up from his desk soon and make up some excuse to leave class. It's always a lame one but somehow he can pull it off, of course.

Suddenly, Clark stands from his desk and slowly walks towards the door "Mrs. Campbell, I hate to leave your wonderful class, but since the pep rally is in 10 minutes, and I'm playing in the –"

Mrs. Campbell, still flipping through pages of the attendance book, waves him off. "Of course Mr. Kent…go on." I watch Clark smile as he leaves the classroom. A slight cockiness taking over his stride.

Football players are like gods in my school. They can do whatever they want really. And since Clark is the quarterback, he is the top god. Every class that I've ever had with Clark, which is 4 by the way, he always leaves in the last ten minutes.

Maybe it's more disturbing that I actually know Clark's routine.

All of us begin to pack up our stuff, because we know the class is over. Not technically, the bell would signal the class ending. But it's over because we know it takes this woman forever to accomplish the simple task of calling out names and putting a check next to it, and she has never actually finished before the bell. It's become a sort of silent agreement between the class and Mrs. Campbell, that once your name has been called, you are dismissed. Well I guess it's not so much as an agreement, as an understanding.

Sometimes I feel bad for her, that we do this. That we just walk out, regardless of what she has planned. I mean she is a nice woman, and she's just trying to get it all figured out. And I guess it must be stressful to have 30 loud kids who don't listen to you. Maybe I'll actually stay till the end of class today.

"Lana Lang?" Mrs. Campbell quickly pushes her glasses back up her nose while she searches the room.

"Here." I get up and throw my one strap bag over my shoulder, so it rests around my neck and head towards the door.

Well I never said I would…I just said I might.

As I throw my books in my locker, the final bell goes off, sending swarms of kids to pile out of every door down the hallway. I quickly make my way to the gym, even though I know I already have a seat. Cat has gym last period and she vowed she'd get us a front row spot. As I squeeze through the thickening crowd, I see my seat sticking out like a soar thumb because It's right in the front row of the already almost full bleachers.

Cat pats the seat next to her, "Don't worry I took notes of everything that you've missed so far." I laugh and take a seat next to her.

"Ha ha…very funny." Waiting for her to respond, I look around the gym for him.

"You wanna know don't you?" Cat begins laughing and I cringe as I look at her.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Well…" She stretches out the word and turns her head slightly, something she always does when she's about to be honest with me, "…yes."


I put my hands over my eyes and lower my head. "What is wrong with me? I wonder if there is a term for this." Cat puts her arm around me, and laughs. "There is. It's called an obsession." She starts laughing and I join in. It looks like someone's caught her attention, and her face falls as she continues more seriously, "I wouldn't worry though, you're not the only one."
I turn my head slowly to see what she's looking at, and find Chloe entering the gym.

Oh.

"She's so annoying." Cat says dismissively as she shakes her head, signaling the end of that discussion.

I guess I should fill you in. You see before high school, Chloe, Cat, and I were inseparable. Basically I was wedged between the two, with both of them attached to either one of my hips. And there was never a third wheel. But all of that changed the minute we walked through Smallville High's doors, literally. It was as if we weren't good enough, and suddenly she thought she needed something better. So she completely changed. Her dreams of being a journalist tossed out the door for a cheerleading uniform. And it was all for a guy. A Clark Kent to be exact. I'm sorry but no matter how much I cherish that man, he is so not worth changing myself for. No guy is. I hate seeing girls who try so hard to be someone their not just for some boy. I instantly lose any respect for them, and Chloe is no exception. But the saddest part is she and Clark aren't even together. Everyone in school knows that she just clings on to him, and follows him everywhere. And everyone knows he's just too nice to tell her to leave him alone.

So that's the story of Chloe. She dropped me and Cat, her closest friends, for the cool kids, Clark Kent, and a cheerleading uniform. And the fact that I've watched her completely change, has made me realize that it wasn't Cat or I who wasn't good enough, but it was herself. And that's really the saddest part.

The cheerleader's walk on the outside of the gym, and of course, Chloe is on our side. As she nears us, I can tell she's contemplating whether she should say hi or not.

It's so strange how this happens. How this person who used to tell me everything, now can't decide if she should simply say hello to me. How this person I used to know like the back of my hand, is now a stranger.

When you think about it, it's actually really sad.

"Hi" I say plainly as she almost passes us.

She looks over at me, and in the same tone replies, "Hey."

But what's even stranger is I can still read her. I can still tell what she's thinking. And although she only said one word to me, I can tell she's nervous for the pep rally. I guess when you've experienced so much with someone and seen them in ways that no one else has, you never really stop knowing them.

"Why do you still talk to her?" Cat shakes her head and looks at me.

"I don't know." I look back out towards the gym.

"Well she doesn't deserve it."

Cat hasn't forgiven her yet, which I haven't either. The difference is I've let it go. It's not that Cat holds grudges; it's just that she really values friendship. And when it comes down to it, she's still really hurt.

Suddenly the opening chords of that "Louie, Louie" song fills the gym, and I feel myself becoming more giddy by the second.

"I'm having serious doubts as to whether our band actually practices?" Cat looks towards the band perplexed.

"Why? They sound pretty good to me." I say as I watch the outside entrance to the gym, waiting.

She looks at them for a moment before continuing seriously, "No, they're great, it's just they play like the same 5 songs."

I laugh at how she's really thinking about this topic, as the cheerleaders start running across the gym in a criss cross pattern. They eventually run towards the outside entrance and form a tunnel with their bodies and diagonally raised pom poms. As they start shouting Cat suddenly stands up.

"I'm sorry I can't stay here…I know you love these things but I can't stand them." I quickly stand up and put my hand on her arm, stopping her from leaving.

"Cat –"

Suddenly the double doors swing open and like a vision Clark runs through them. The rest of the team follows him out the doors, but as always, I only see him.

"Oh great…" Cat heavily sits back down, "Now I've lost you."

Everyone stands and starts to cheer and clap but I just stand there watching in awe. They run through the makeshift tunnel and split in half, lining up on either side of the gym.

I can't believe it. He's going to be standing on my side.

Half of the guys begin to line up on the court, about 20 feet in front of us. Suddenly Clark jogs out of the formation

Why is he coming towards me?

Clark stops just before us, and kind of leans in while he says "Hey…Lana, right?"

Yes….say yes

I slowly nod my head.

"I thought so…" He stops and give me a to die for smile "I'm sorry again for earlier today, how are you feeling?"

Say good…great. Christmas say something.

I feel Cat kick my foot, but I still don't speak. It's like I've forgotten how.

"Well to be honest Clark…she's been a little out of it all day."

Cat, If I could talk right now I'd thank you profusely.

"I see…" He puts his hand on my shoulder, "well I hope you feel better, and for selfish reasons, make it to the game."

"Oh…" There's my voice, finally, "…I'll defin-"

"Ladies and Gentleman…I present to you the Crowwwwwsssss!"

Damn you announcer.

Clark makes the most adorable face while he points his thumb behind him "I should probably get back there, huh."

"Yeah…probably."

Sure not the most sexy thing I could've gone with, but it's a step up from the nod.

Clark starts backing away, and yells over the crowd, "Well maybe I'll see you later…Lana."

As I watch him return to his position, I feel Cat pull me down to my seat. I just look ahead while Cat's voice becomes farther away. I hear her talking, but I don't understand what she's saying.

Don't get excited. So he talked to you twice today. So what if that never happens. Don't get excited. He was just being nice, it doesn't go beyond that. You Are Not Excited.

What the hell am I talking about? I'm about to burst.