"It might not be the best idea to continue going to school", Lex suggested.
They were sitting in Lex's study discussing plans of action. Chloe buried her head in her hands.
"No, I have to go", she protested, "There are only two days left. I really want to graduate.
"Chloe, you can still get your diploma. If you still have some tests to take, you can get them done at a later time", Lex explained, "They aren't going to take your diploma away because you missed two days of school."
"I'm finished with my finals, but I've still got one last edition of the Torch", Chloe explained, "I really, really don't want to miss my last two days of high school. I need to say goodbye."
"At the cost of your life? Chlo' I don't want to lose you", Gabe petitioned.
"Clark will be there', she reminded them, knowing it was a weak argument. If someone came after her with a gun, she knew that there was nothing Clark could do, "Please. Nobody is going to hurt me when I'm around that many people. Please."
They spent some time arguing, but Chloe won. The next morning she woke, ate her syrupy breakfast, and drove off in the limo. The day was slow again, but with only a day of school left, there was no work to be done in any of the classes.
The final bell rang, and Chloe walked outside to be picked up by Max. She was staring out onto the road wondering where he was when she felt a blunt object poking the small of her back.
She turned around and saw a man right behind her. Her eyes traveled downward until she saw what was being held above her hips.
It was a gun.
"Move", the man whispered, "And don't make a sound."
Chloe looked around desperately as she walked away. If she yelled for help, he would surely shoot her. Clark was there, talking with Lana.
"Clark", she muttered under her breath, wishing he could hear her, "Help me. Help me."
Clark's head spun around as though he had heard her. She caught his eye.
Clark's heart started pounding as he realized what was happening. The world became blue and silver as he looked to see the object threatening Chloe. He couldn't let the man know he knew what was going on.
"Chloe, how's that article coming along", Clark shouted, as he ran up to her as nonchalantly as he could.
"Crap", the man muttered, realizing that this boy would make a commotion if he saw the gun, "I'll be back, Miss Sullivan." He skulked away, concealing the gun, and Clark pretended like he was clueless until the man was out of sight.
"Oh Clark", Chloe cried and hugged him, "Thank you so much. I don't know how you knew, but thank you."
"I'm going to take you to the mansion", Clark spoke as he enveloped her, "You'll be safer there.
"Chloe, you are not going back to school", Lex instructed, "My father will stop at nothing. You can not stay in Smallville."
"What about college?", Chloe asked, bewildered, "I've gotten accepted to Metropolis U. He can trace me there."
"I'm sorry", Lex shook his head, "But my father with not end this until Chloe Sullivan is gone."
"What do you mean?" Lex didn't respond, and Chloe pressed on, "What do you mean?"
"Chloe, I mean that you can't be Chloe anymore", Lex explained, "We can fake your death. I can get you a new identity, but my father wants you dead. Chloe Sullivan must die."
Chloe was gone by the next day. She never saw the last edition of the Torch, but Smallville's class of '05 opened their papers that morning to read Chloe Sullivan's final article.