Seventeen.

The next two days were spent keeping Clark busy. From sun up to sundown, he was working the farm, side by side with his father, feeding cattle, mucking stalls, stacking hay bales. After dusk, he was busy with homework, writing in his notebook, watching TV with his mom and dad. Anything to keep from thinking.

The stars were out in full when Clark, finished his history. He leaned back against the couch in the loft, closing his eyes. A car pulling in the drive brought him to the window. It was Pete and Chloe.

When they stepped out of the car, Clark's heart skipped a beat. He watched them walk toward the house. His dad stepped out, talking and motioning toward the barn. Clark went back to the couch. He quickly jotted in his notebook, 'Pete and Chloe are here. I don't want to see them because they'll ask me questions. I can't tell them what I went through for the same reason I can't tell my parents.' He stuffed the book under the stack of school books.

"Knock, knock, are you decent?" Chloe called from the bottom of the stairs.

Heavy sigh, small smile, "Come on up." He stood to greet his guests.

They topped the stairs with uneasy smiles and nervous waves.

"Hey, Clark," Pete came up giving him a fierce hug and pat on the back.

Chloe was next with a gentle squeeze. "I was so worried about you," she whispered. She stepped back with tears in her eyes.

Clark looked around the loft in obvious discomfort, thumbs hooked in back pockets. "Uh, do you want to sit?"

The three reconvened on the couch. Chloe picked up Clark's history notebook. "I see you got your assignments."

Clark nodded, "Yea, Lana brought them by earlier."

Chloe pressed her lips together with a small, "Oh."

"She didn't come up to see me. Gave everything to my mom. She was just doing her civic duty, I guess." Clark was finding his fingers way too interesting.

Pete intervened, "Hey, maybe she just doesn't know how to cope with this 'Clark isn't a superman' thing."

They chatted into the evening, Pete and Chloe not once asking about his ordeal. When they finally left, he was sad to see them go.

Dr James came by two more time before clearing Clark for school. He was apprehensive but excited to be going back.

Sunday, was a lazy day for Clark. He shot hoops, did a little homework, and helped his mom clean out the cellar. Evening brought the stars and the calm peace that came from searching them.

A knock brought him away from the telescope. A gasped and stumble back escaped him when he saw Lex standing at the top of the stair. "Hey, Lex. You…I didn't hear you come up."

"Didn't mean to startle you, Clark." He walked slowly over beside Clark, looking through the telescope, not missing the discomfort evident in his friend. "Their beautiful," he commented, bringing his gaze back to meet Clark's.

"Yea," thumbs in back pockets "What's up?"

"Dr James told me his work was finished so I thought I would come to see you." Lex walked over to the couch, sitting, leafing through the many papers on the coffee table.

Clark nonchalantly picked up his notebook, sat down beside Lex. Lex didn't miss that either. While his curiosity was piqued, he focused on why he was there.

"I found something…" he hesitated gauging Clark's reaction. The boy was silent, looking off across the room, but listening uncomfortably. "Do you remember Dominic?"

Clark nodded still not facing Lex.

"Apparently, my father wasn't his only high paying employer. Dr Kimball also had him on the payroll. When Dominic told him out about the files I have on you, he paid to have my computer quietly hacked. The rest you know." Lex stopped, couldn't bring himself to look at his friend. His best friend…that he couldn't take at face value and ended up hurting in his paranoia.

Clark took a deep, shaky breath, leaned foreword, elbows on knees, forehead on clasped hands. "Could you leave, please?"

"Clark, I'm sorr…"

"Just go."

Lex nodded, pressing his lips together. Patting Clark's shoulder, he left.

After Clark heard the car drive away, he cried.