EXT. KENT FARM – NIGHT
A gentle breeze of night air slips between Clark's and Chloe's lips as they separate from a kiss. Caressing her cheek, he wipes a tear from her face.
CLARK
Hey, what is it? What's wrong?
She chokes, relishing in the opportunity to look away afforded her by the clanging wind chimes hanging from the porch.
CHLOE Nothing, I'm just...
She backs away from him, a baby step, pressing the back of her legs up against the chrome of her car.
CHLOE I just realized how much I'm going to miss this, that's all.
He shifts his weight, moving closer to her without taking a step. Smiling, she lays her hand on his chest and lets it rest there a moment.
CHLOE
I waited so long, waited for you...
She wipes a tear from her eye and tries to laugh it off.
CHLOE
Well, it would take the world coming to an end, wouldn't it? Now, that's irony.
CLARK
You need to go with your father, Chloe.
CHLOE
I know, I know. I just... I just think about all those incredible things you can do, and are going to do, and I wonder.
CLARK
Wonder what?
She rolls her eyes... at herself.
CHLOE
It's no big secret that, for a large portion of my adolescence, my entire world revolved around Clark Kent. Now, I realize it really does. The only real difference now is that it's not just my world anymore.
She looks up at him, blinking once, taking a picture of him with her eyes, one that she'll hold with her for the rest of her life.
CHLOE
You're just so amazing. I just want you to know that you were my hero before you were ever a superhero.
She hops up, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down, kissing him passionately. After several seconds, she all at once releases him and turns, opening the car door and getting inside. From behind her, Clark's knees buckle slightly underneath him.
CLARK ::under breath:: Wow.
She shuts the car door and puts the keys in the ignition, but doesn't turn the car on.
CHLOE
You're going to be around tomorrow?
CLARK ::nods:: Yeah.
CHLOE
I'm probably going to be packing all day, but I'll see you at the fundraiser, right?
Clark looks confused.
CHLOE
You didn't forget, did you?
CLARK
No, no I didn't forget.
He lied.
CHLOE
Stick to the truth, Clark Kent. You're a terrible liar.
CLARK
I guess it slipped my mind. Can you blame me?
CHLOE
Well, I've really been looking forward to seeing what you and Pete have prepared. I'm sure it will steal the show, dazzle, and amaze.
He nods, looking unconvinced.
CHLOE We're leaving for Gotham pretty much right after. We'll be driving. It'll be a long trip by U-Haul, but I figure at least we'll be on the ground.
Clark nods.
CHLOE
I'm going to miss you, Clark Kent.
CLARK
I'm going to miss you too, Chloe Sullivan.
She starts the car.
CHLOE
You know, you don't have to be a stranger. Pete tells me you're pretty fast. There's no excuse for not visiting me.
He nods to her.
CHLOE
And I'll write, too. You just have to make sure you let me know where you end up so I know where to send my letters too.
CLARK
Letters? That reminds me...
Clark reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper. He hands it to her. She recognizes it immediately.
CLARK It's the letter you wrote me before running away to Metropolis.
CHLOE
You kept this?
CLARK
I figured you might want it back.
She reads it over again to herself, focusing in on a small section at the end that reads; "I fell in love with you, Clark Kent, and I knew that I would never love anyone the same way again."
The words are as true to her now, staring up at him, as they were when she wrote them.
CHLOE
No, this is yours.
She hands it back to him and drives away.
Folding it back up, he holds it in his hand, watching Chloe's car until it fully disappears down the other end of the driveway. Turning back toward the house, he looks up to see the light in his mother's room still lit.
He heads back inside.
A gentle breeze of night air slips between Clark's and Chloe's lips as they separate from a kiss. Caressing her cheek, he wipes a tear from her face.
CLARK
Hey, what is it? What's wrong?
She chokes, relishing in the opportunity to look away afforded her by the clanging wind chimes hanging from the porch.
CHLOE Nothing, I'm just...
She backs away from him, a baby step, pressing the back of her legs up against the chrome of her car.
CHLOE I just realized how much I'm going to miss this, that's all.
He shifts his weight, moving closer to her without taking a step. Smiling, she lays her hand on his chest and lets it rest there a moment.
CHLOE
I waited so long, waited for you...
She wipes a tear from her eye and tries to laugh it off.
CHLOE
Well, it would take the world coming to an end, wouldn't it? Now, that's irony.
CLARK
You need to go with your father, Chloe.
CHLOE
I know, I know. I just... I just think about all those incredible things you can do, and are going to do, and I wonder.
CLARK
Wonder what?
She rolls her eyes... at herself.
CHLOE
It's no big secret that, for a large portion of my adolescence, my entire world revolved around Clark Kent. Now, I realize it really does. The only real difference now is that it's not just my world anymore.
She looks up at him, blinking once, taking a picture of him with her eyes, one that she'll hold with her for the rest of her life.
CHLOE
You're just so amazing. I just want you to know that you were my hero before you were ever a superhero.
She hops up, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down, kissing him passionately. After several seconds, she all at once releases him and turns, opening the car door and getting inside. From behind her, Clark's knees buckle slightly underneath him.
CLARK ::under breath:: Wow.
She shuts the car door and puts the keys in the ignition, but doesn't turn the car on.
CHLOE
You're going to be around tomorrow?
CLARK ::nods:: Yeah.
CHLOE
I'm probably going to be packing all day, but I'll see you at the fundraiser, right?
Clark looks confused.
CHLOE
You didn't forget, did you?
CLARK
No, no I didn't forget.
He lied.
CHLOE
Stick to the truth, Clark Kent. You're a terrible liar.
CLARK
I guess it slipped my mind. Can you blame me?
CHLOE
Well, I've really been looking forward to seeing what you and Pete have prepared. I'm sure it will steal the show, dazzle, and amaze.
He nods, looking unconvinced.
CHLOE We're leaving for Gotham pretty much right after. We'll be driving. It'll be a long trip by U-Haul, but I figure at least we'll be on the ground.
Clark nods.
CHLOE
I'm going to miss you, Clark Kent.
CLARK
I'm going to miss you too, Chloe Sullivan.
She starts the car.
CHLOE
You know, you don't have to be a stranger. Pete tells me you're pretty fast. There's no excuse for not visiting me.
He nods to her.
CHLOE
And I'll write, too. You just have to make sure you let me know where you end up so I know where to send my letters too.
CLARK
Letters? That reminds me...
Clark reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper. He hands it to her. She recognizes it immediately.
CLARK It's the letter you wrote me before running away to Metropolis.
CHLOE
You kept this?
CLARK
I figured you might want it back.
She reads it over again to herself, focusing in on a small section at the end that reads; "I fell in love with you, Clark Kent, and I knew that I would never love anyone the same way again."
The words are as true to her now, staring up at him, as they were when she wrote them.
CHLOE
No, this is yours.
She hands it back to him and drives away.
Folding it back up, he holds it in his hand, watching Chloe's car until it fully disappears down the other end of the driveway. Turning back toward the house, he looks up to see the light in his mother's room still lit.
He heads back inside.