A/N: I could just swear. At least at this point I know what happened. I'm writing ahead, as you all should know by now, and I think I saved over my original chapter 5. Because, while I was going to back-read a little bit, I noticed that the chapters jumped again. I may just have to create templates for my chapters and not use "Save As". I guess my saving grace this time is that I noticed before I posted this time. Oy! The worst thing is that I'm not sure this is as good as what I first wrote. :(


Chapter 5

He looked at me blankly for a moment. "Excuse me?" I opened my eyes because that wasn't the response I had expected. He actually rubbed his finger in each ear to make sure he didn't have a wax plug in there or something. I would have laughed if I hadn't still been freaking out.

I decided to try again. "This morning, I woke up different…"

He looked at me with a small smile on his face. "Chloe, are you sure you're feeling okay? Maybe you caught the flu or something and that's why you feel different."

I looked at him and frowned. "You sound just like my father. Clark, if you want to hear the story, you have to let me finish." I swallowed hard, feeling rather nauseous. "I don't think I can repeat myself."

He looked at me in concern. I wondered if my face had turned green to match the sick feeling in my stomach. But he nodded and pantomimed zipping his lip, locking it and throwing away the key. I would have laughed, but that response was not available to me at the moment.

I took a deep breath. "When I woke up, I felt really different… I thought it was the meditation evening, but I didn't even want my morning's coffee. And then I came to school and everyone started bombarding me…" I trailed off. How could I possibly explain all this?

"Bombarding you?" Clark asked gently, still holding my hand gently.

I focused on that hand… on the feelings that Clark's touch engendered in me. I needed something solid… so that I didn't feel like I was losing my mind. "With their thoughts, Clark. I was hearing things I wouldn't have even guessed at and it felt like everyone was shouting in my head. That's why I nearly fainted. I couldn't handle it."

When I looked up, I was afraid Clark was going to be sick. "You can… can read thoughts?" He looked at me, and I could tell he was terrified. "Have you read mine?"

At least I could reassure him on that score. I shook my head. "Clark, you were the calm in the midst of that terrible storm. If I focused on you, everyone seemed to melt away and it was all quiet. It was such a relief."

Clark looked relieved as well. But then he turned thoughtful. "Then why did you avoid me all day?"

I barked a totally non-humorous laugh. "Clark, I'd just frozen time. You were passed out on the sofa because of Willow and Trinity. And they had just told me I was the Goddess of the Sun. How could I possibly explain that to you, let alone Lana or Pete? But if you hadn't been in school… I may just have gone mad." I started to shake a little. "Clark, sometimes it's like I can't turn it off. It's like everyone is crowding in on me and I want to scream at them to respect my personal space."

At this point, I wasn't even looking at him. How could he possibly understand? He wasn't afraid that people would think he was some sort of mind-reading freak. "This just happened today?" he asked gently. I could only nod miserably. "Chloe, you can't expect yourself to be able to control such a power as soon as you get it. That type of control takes awhile to develop and you haven't even had four hours yet. Don't be so hard on yourself!"

I looked at him in shock. This was definitely not what I was expecting. "What are you talking about? I invaded the minds of nearly all the student body and faculty. How could I not be hard on myself?"

He smiled and I felt vaguely reassured. "Well, let's put this to the test. Did you purposefully try and read anyone's mind?" I shook my head slowly. "Did you try and get it to stop?" I nodded, starting to feel a little more hopeful. "This is the kicker, so pay attention. Were you planning to use anything you learned this way in your journalistic endeavors?" I shook my head vigorously. "Exactly. The Chloe I know has an insatiable curiosity for everything around her, but she wouldn't stoop to using such an effortless way of gaining a story. For you, the chase has always been 9/10s of the fun."

I gawked at him. How did he know that? He hardly paid enough attention to the world around him to get his articles in on time. I always had to harass him. So where did he get so observant and wise all of a sudden? But the guilt was still there. "Clark…"

He looked at me sternly. "Chloe, stop beating yourself up over this. Here's some more questions to help you determine the guilt level you 'should' be feeling. As the day wore on, were you able to block others out more easily?" I nodded. I really didn't feel like I had to say anything anymore. Clark was taking the lead and I was almost relieved to let him. "At the Talon, were you actively hearing anyone's thoughts?" I shook my head again. "So now you see, you grew into your control and you placed it on yourself almost without thinking. You'll backslide occasionally, but you can't run before you learn how to walk."

His smile of approval melted all the guilt. I finally felt like I wasn't some sort of monster. I had to give him a huge hug. "Clark…"

He hugged me back and I could still hear the smile in his voice. "Chloe, you have always been there for me. You're a stellar human being and you should never feel guilty for something that was thrust upon you." He pulled back slightly. "Who're Trinity and Willow?"

I smiled. "They call me their sister and it really feels like they are. Trinity is the Goddess of the Moon and Willow is the Goddess of the Earth. There are three others: Vinny, Fran, and Destiny. They've explained the situation to me."

He looked a little worried still, somehow concerned. "And you're sure you trust them?"

I thought about it for a moment because to answer the question too quickly would give the impression that I was possibly being gullible. I shook my head. "I do, Clark. I would trust them with my life. I may not necessarily agree with their viewpoint, but…" I shrugged.

He nodded and smiled. I think we were both relieved in some way. But then the smile slid off his face and it kinda' freaked me out. He looked at me seriously… I'd never seen him look so serious before. "Why did you tell me all this, Chloe?"

I knew what he was feeling. He was wondering why I had burdened him with all this knowledge. I felt a little bad. He probably didn't want to know that one of his best friends was a super human. "Clark, I couldn't lie to you. You'd already seen too much and if I had tried to cover it up, you would have been even more determined to find the truth. And if you had found out about my powers another way, would you have still trusted me? Plus… You're my best friend, Clark. I had to tell you."

Clark looked as if I'd struck him a mortal blow. He got up in one swift movement and moved to the barn opening. "You're such a good friend, Chloe," he choked. "Much better than I am."

I came up to his side and grabbed his hand. Apparently, our roles had suddenly been reversed and I was now the comforter. "Clark, you're the best person I know. You have the biggest heart and always feel personally responsible for when people you know are in danger… which by the way, I think is a little over the top. It's not your fault that crazy things happen in Smallville."

He looked down at me and I was shocked to see the tears swimming in his eyes. He stared at me for a long while, but I'm not absolutely certain he saw me. Then he straightened his shoulders and his focus was definitely entirely on me. "Read me, Chloe."

I gasped. Of all the people I knew, Clark was the one that guarded his privacy most fiercely. "Clark… You don't have t… I'm not even sure I c…" I was frustrated that I couldn't seem to complete an entire sentence.

He shook his head and grabbed my other hand. "Chloe, I've wanted to tell you for so long… but it's such an incredible story…" He seemed to be at a loss for words. "I should have trusted you like you trusted me. I've known you for four years and have kept it from you, but you had something crazy happen to you and I get the news within 24 hours." He smiled sadly. "You deserve to know."

I opened my mouth to protest. I couldn't lie and say that I didn't want to know. He knew better. "I always figured you'd tell me when you're ready."

He took a deep breath. "I'm ready now, Chloe. Your new power just makes it easier… Just try not to think of me too differently."

I was worried now. What could it possibly be? Had he killed a man? What unspeakable crime could he have possibly committed that would change my opinion of him? But to deny him this was to deny him the release of an open secret. I couldn't do that to him. I nodded slowly and he sighed in relief. "I've never done this on purpose, Clark. Just relax and we'll see just how much control I've got over this thing." I looked deep into his eyes… but I had to say one more thing. "Clark, I'll never stop loving you…"

He looked a little shocked, but I wasn't really available for conversation. I concentrated harder than I ever have before in my life. I could feel sweat springing up on my forehead as I hit hard against the brick wall that was Clark Kent. But suddenly it was like I jumped over the wall and suddenly I was inside of Clark.

The first thing I encountered was his fear. Fear that he'd drive me away. Fear that I might accidentally let slip his secret. Fear that he was too different for anyone to ever accept. But I slowly sunk deeper into his thoughts and a curtain lifted so everything was showing like the movies first done in TechniColor, but it was still strangely silent.

I saw the meteor shower from above and it was horrible. One crashed right in front of a truck, causing the driver to swerve and accidentally tipping the car into a rollover. Inside, I saw younger versions of Martha and Jonathan Kent and I held my breath. I knew they made it through the accident, but it certainly looked severe. Then I saw a small pair of bare feet outside of Martha's window and a dark head with the most beautiful face looked through the window. Clark! I thought in shock. What was he doing out there in the middle of nowhere? Were his parents killed in the meteor shower? But then I saw him wrench Martha's door open and I felt myself gasping for air. Excuse me? Most meteor related mutations didn't happen for years or, at the minimum, months after first exposure.

I saw Martha wrap him in a blanket and carry him along as she and Jonathan investigated the huge trail into a cornfield. It was huge and I was afraid of what could possibly be hiding at the end. What was there wasn't what I had expected. It was a little mini-spaceship. And Toddler Clark was reaching for it. My mind whirled. Did this mean he was…?

I didn't even get to finish my thought as the world started to speed up. Now it was snippets of scenes that were going too fast for me to even make mental comments to myself. Mr. Kent showing him the ship in the storm cellar. Clark stacking the jocks' trucks freshman year. Clark pulling my coffin directly from the ground using only his bare hands. Clark setting that fire in biology class… with his eyes. Each incredible feat that he'd ever done rushed past my eyes. Finally, things went dark and I heard a voice explaining that Clark was the last survivor of a place called Krypton.

The visions cut off so suddenly that I couldn't see anything for a moment. Then Clark came back into wavery focus, but my legs would no longer hold me up. I started to slide toward the ground, but Clark quickly swept me up and laid me on the sofa… What is it about today and me laying on sofas? I asked myself blurrily. It didn't have anything to do with anything, but I was hardly in charge of myself at that point.

Clark knelt in front of me and he was smoothing my hair out of my eyes. Such a sweet gesture, I thought as I started to feel more like myself. I felt like I'd just been through the Iron Man marathon. And he was even "letting" me in, I thought warily. The girls had been right that he was different, but they had no idea how different. I sat up shakily.

Clark tried to push me gently back down. "Chloe, take it easy."

I gave a strained laugh. "Clark, with the amount of near-miss fainting I've done today, I need to sit up for a minute." He still knelt before me and I smiled at him gently. I brushed back his hair and left my hand on his cheek. "I don't blame you for not telling me," I said softly. I tried to put all the understanding and forgiveness into my words and my eyes.

Apparently, it was too much for Clark. He burst into tears and clutched me around the waist as he cried. I soothed his hair and made murmuring sounds. This poor boy had been put through hell by trying to keep his secret. It had been eating him alive. I knew that the Kents had meant well, but it had forever set him apart. I actually cried some tears for him myself.


A/N: Well, it's still fairly long, but my memories of my first attempt I liked better. But no use crying over spilt milk, right?

Johnny Superfecta: I got excited because it's not often I find someone that can find my quotes. Fabu! And don't worry too much about the other goddesses. I'm staying true to that part of the original. And it's extremely hard to not write Lana mean. What is it about that character?

spaceboi's pixie: The jocks… Well, I've watched "Smallville" from the beginning and the jocks tend to have a jerky streak. So who better to have a conflict with in a coffee shop?

Markmark261: As always, you are my hero. I will be updating those tense errors soon. You weren't necessarily supposed to recognize the other goddesses. I did take them directly from KentCharm's original. Also, I know my use of apostrophes drive you crazy… but I was taught that if you shorten a word, it's appropriate. Thanks, though! ;D

BabyC2003: I hope you continue to like it. And I really appreciate the positive feedback. Thank you!

KentCharm: I'm so glad you approve of where I'm going with this. I like how you were going to go, but I wrote such a powerful chapter a little bit in the future that we'll just have to see… ;D And I totally understand about the being busy part. Starting this new job has really kicked my can!