"Not when I have the ring on." Clark says, smiling.
"Are you sure it's safe?" She asks.
"What are we gonna do, Martha? Take him to a doctor?" Jonathon asks her.
"Of course not." She says, looking like she's insulted.
"I won't wear it all the time, just when I want to be like everyone else. Remember when I lost my powers and I played basketball with the guys, and for the first time I was able to play as hard as I could? I lost the game and I still had the most fun I've ever had in my life." Clark tells her.
"Maybe this really is a blessing, then." Martha says and goes back to what she was doing.
"You know what Clark, I can handle the rest of the chores. Why don't you get started on your homework." Jonathon suggests.
The next morning at school, Chloe rushes up to Clark. "Clark! The whole school is talking about how the 'Smallville Crows' star quarterback got kicked off the team! What did you do?" She asks, hitting him on the arm. He pulls her in to the Torch office to avoid people over-hearing.
"I don't want everybody to know the real reason. The coach thinks I'm on steroids." Clark tells her in a disappointed tone.
"What! Your not are you?" She asks.
"No! Of course not!" He asks, shocked at his friend.
"Like I said before, Clark Kent would have to be ON drugs, to be on drugs. So, didn't they give you a drug test?" Chloe asks, confused.
"No. I guess they wanted to save my reputation if I really was on steroids." Clark says, hoping she doesn't ask more questions.
"Wait, wouldn't you want them to give you one since you're not on anything?" She asks.
"Actually, I was looking for a way to get off the team." Clark lies.
"What? It meant so much to you!" Chloe says, surprised.
"I had a change in heart. It just came to me." Clark tells her, this time not stretching the truth.
"Just be careful, you know how important football is to this town." Chloe says with a smile and walks away.
"Clark, I need to talk to you." Lana demands behind him and Clark turns around.
"Nice to see you too, Lana." Clark says, annoyed by her tone and follows her to a corner of the hall.
"Jason told me about the team, and I'm sorry..." She tells him.
Wow, She almost seemed sincere when she said that.
"...But I don't want this to change you keeping me and Jason's secret. He needs this job." She says with a serious tone.
"Is that all you ever want to talk to me about anymore?" Clark asks as his anger rises.
"I just don't want you to blame Jason. It wasn't his choice to kick you off the team." She says, avoiding the question.
"Lana, telling someone about you and Jason never even crossed my mind. You should know that. Why are we always like this? Why can't we go back to being the friends that we were?" He asks.
"You are the one you should ask that. You ruined it with your secrets and lies. How can I be friends with someone I don't even know anymore?" She asks and walks away, ending the conversation. So many things have changed with Lana and him, he isn't even sure if she is the right girl for him anymore.
After school, Clark has Chloe drop him off at Lex's mansion. Clark walks into Lex's office. "Hey Lex." Clark greets him as he's working on his computer.
"Hi Clark. Just on my way to LexCorp, want to take a ride?" He asks, shutting his laptop and grabbing his jacket off his chair.
"Sure, let's go." Clark says.
"I heard about the Smallville football team losing its quarterback." Lex tells Clark.
"You and everybody else." Clark tells him.
"What happened?" A concerned Lex asks.
"The coach thought I was on steroids." Clark tells him, disappointed.
"If you would have told me you took steroids, I could have hooked you up with a friend of mine in Metropolis." Lex says and Clark stops and just looks at him. "It's a joke, Clark." He tells him and they keep walking.
"I knew that." Clark lies.
"So why didn't you make them prove it?" Lex asks.
"To tell you the truth Lex, I wanted a reason to get off the football team." Clark says.
"Wow, didn't see that coming." Lex says, surprised.
"Well, there's my dad disappointed in me at my decision. And as good as it feels to be considered a god around here, it just isn't me." Clark tells him.
"That's understandable." Lex says. They walk out to a black Ferrari 355 spyder. The car bleeps as Lex disarms the car alarm.
"You know what? Out of all your cars, I think this is my favorite." Clark says as he gets in.
"Just give me the word and you can drive it anytime." Lex tells him.
"That's ok. I'm afraid I'll take off to Metropolis again. And turn Lana even farther against me." Clark says.
"Ooh, trouble on the Lana front?" Lex asks.
"You could say that. Every time we talk anymore, it ends up with one of us walking off with a look that could kill." Clark tells him.
"People change Clark." Lex tells him.
"Yeah I know. We were just perfect for each other, and now Lana moves on and leaves me in the dust." Clark says.
"I hate to tell my friend that the love of his life isn't for him, but its time to move on Clark." Lex says. Clark just stares out the window. You can tell from the look in his eyes that he hates to admit it, but Lex is right.