Author's Note: Italics signify thought or emphasis.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Three days after Clark had been woken by Chloe's call, he had already done a lot of his own investigating. The meter rocks were indeed disappearing. Not only from warehouses and scientific labs around the globe like Chloe had known about, but also in a lot of local spots in Smallville. Clark had checked riverbeds, parts of the woods, even fields he and his parents had known contained the green glowing rocks. Most places had been cleared out.

In a way, he was glad. Less meteor rocks meant less places where he might get hurt or have a reaction. But mostly he was worried. The whole town knew, whether they admitted it or not, that the meteor rocks had a bad effect on some people. Who would be hoarding them? And for what reason?

"Cla-ark."

Zoey was the only one he knew who stretched his name out to two syllables. Clark glanced at his sister across the dinner table, smiling to let her know he was paying attention to her now.

"Do I hafta finish my green beans?"

Zoey stuck out her bottom lip and batted her big blue eyes at him. Clark glanced at her plate, noting that she had eaten most of her food, including half of the offending vegetables. Zoey was a light eater a lot of the time, but she could eat many small portions during the day instead of just the usual three meals. She had eaten a lot today, and Clark knew he could safely tell his mother so.

"Okay, Zoey, but don't tell Mom."

The little girl bounced out of her seat and took her plate to the counter. She was still too short to put her plate in the sink, but she was learning to do chores she was capable of. Taking her plate to the counter after meals, picking up her toys and collecting eggs in the morning were her main responsibilities. Clark was always surprised that her bounciness didn't disturb the chickens.

A soft rap on the door snapped Clark out of his introspection.

"Aen's here," Zoey squealed, hopping on one foot toward the kitchen door.

It was Friday, the day Zoey had invited Aen to come over and watch The Little Mermaid while Martha and Jonathan were in Metropolis for their biweekly night out. Clark caught himself straightening his shirt and moved to open the door for their guest.

"Hi," Aen said softly, smiling at him.

"Hey," he responded.

Oh, yeah, real smooth Kent, he thought.

"Hi, Aen!" Zoey greeted, ducking under Clark's arm to grab Aen's hand and drag her into the house.

Clark moved out of the way and watched his sister pull Aen all the way into the living room. What was it about Aen that made Zoey lose every ounce of her shyness? Clark shrugged at his own unspoken question and closed the door.

He walked quickly into the living room, smiling as Zoey ushered Aen to a spot on the couch that was to the side of where he usually sat while they watched movies. Zoey was explaining to Aen the seating arrangements, and the fact that Momma sat where Aen was when she watched movies with Zoey. His sister then jumped onto the couch to smile at him over the back.

"Can we start the movie now?"

"I have to clean up from dinner, Zo," he reminded her. "Do you want to start the movie without me?"

Zoey shook her head, her blonde curls flying. She bounced on the couch a couple times for emphasis, and Clark noticed Aen watching the whole scene with a happy smile. He smiled at her before chiding Zoey about having her shoes on the couch. Zoey plopped down on her bottom and yanked her shoes off. She was about to drop them on the floor when she apparently thought better of it.

"Wanna come see my room while Clark cleans up dinner?" she asked Aen.

"Sure," Aen smiled at the energetic girl. She glanced at Clark as she followed Zoey to the stairs. "Unless you need help?"

Clark smiled at her again and shook his head. The two females went upstairs, and Clark used just a little super speed to finish the dishes. He threw a bag of popcorn in the microwave when he was done. The machine dinged just before Aen and Zoey came back down the stairs, and he followed them into the living room with the bowl of popcorn.

Aen and Clark sat down, just enough space between them for Zoey to squeeze into. Clark handed the remote to Zoey, movie maven for the night, and turned off the lamp next to the couch.

As they watched the movie, Clark snuck glances at Aen. Her attention stayed on the movie and he reminded himself that this was the first time she had seen it. The popcorn was eaten by the time Ariel, the mermaid of the title, had sold her voice for a chance at true love. Clark glanced at Aen again and was startled to see tears in her eyes.

Clark extended his arm along the back of the couch and lightly touched Aen's shoulder. She turned to look at him, and he mouthed, 'Are you okay?'

Aen smiled, wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded. She turned back to the movie, and after a few moments, Clark did too. When Ursula, the overweight villain of the film, began to grow with stolen power, Zoey scrambled into Clark's lap and reached for Aen's hand. Aen moved closer on the couch so she could hold Zoey's hand comfortably. Clark thrilled at the feel of her thigh against his and reminded himself that not only was Zoey here, nothing could happen with his new neighbor anyway. He wasn't human, and there was no witch, evil or otherwise, that could change that.

As soon as the credits started rolling, Zoey jumped out of Clark's lap and turned on the lamp. She darted to the video player and took out the movie, putting it away. She pulled another video off the shelf and came back to Clark, her eyes big.

"One more?" Zoey asked.

Clark groaned. The movie she had chosen was the longest one she owned, and it was already after nine.

"It's already passed bedtime, Zo," he reminded her.

"Please? Special cuz Aen's here?" Zoey coaxed.

Clark looked at Aen. "Can you stay awhile longer?"

Aen smiled and Clark felt it all the way to his gut.

"Sure," she answered. "I'd like that."

Zoey squealed with excitement, but Clark had some rules to keep himself out of as much trouble as possible.

"First, you need to get your jammies on and get ready for bed."

"Okay!" Zoey raced up the stairs and was gone.

"She likes you a lot," Clark told Aen, although he meant that he liked her too.

Aen blushed slightly and bit her lip. "I like her a lot, too."

Clark knew she was telling him more than just what she had said as well. He couldn't stop the grin that lifted his mouth at the knowledge.

"What's the next movie about?" Aen asked him after a few silent minutes.

Clark gave her a brief synopsis of the fantasy adventure. When he was done, Zoey came bounding back into the room wearing a set of Hello Kitty pajamas.

"Brush your teeth?" Clark asked automatically as she rejoined them on the couch.

Zoey gave him a quick smacking kiss to show him she had. Instead of forcing her way back between Clark and Aen, who hadn't moved apart, Zoey cuddled back onto Clark's lap.

Halfway into the second movie Zoey fell asleep. Clark carried his sister upstairs and tucked her in. Since Aen had never seen this movie, either, they finished watching it together before Clark walked Aen to the door.

"I had fun tonight," Aen said.

We should do it again sometime, Clark wanted to say, but he knew going down that path with her would be more serious than he could ever allow any relationship to be.

"Me, too," he said instead. "Good night, Aen."

"Night, Clark."

Clark closed the door after her, his heart aching from the disappointment he had so easily sensed from her. But making her think he wasn't really interested would be kinder than her knowing he wanted her and not knowing why he couldn't do anything about it.