A/N: In apology for all those that look forward to my updates, I am doing a special updating special this weekend. Not only do you get a submittal early this afternoon (well, earlier than normal), but I am also planning on updating tomorrow or Sunday. I'd say it was reliant on whether I got enough reviews, but ya'll are just so great at that already that I can't even use that as a lure!


Chapter 6

It didn't take too long for us to get a hold of ourselves. Clark seemed a little embarrassed, but for some reason he was holding my hand. I honestly didn't feel the need to fight him about it. We were smiling at each other. It was one of the most perfect moments of my life. Of course, my curiosity wouldn't allow me to rest in that perfect state for long. "So, Clark… Could you give me a quick rundown? I saw a lot of stuff, but…" I trailed off and shrugged. I wasn't sure how to explain it.

"You need me to put it in context?" Clark smiled as I nodded thankfully. It was like he was the one reading my mind… "OK, the quick and the dirty is that I'm the last child from the planet Krypton. I don't know if it's just me or if everyone from Krypton had these powers, but there really isn't anyone I could ask."

"What about that voice?" I interrupted. "It seemed like it was still around."

Clark got really grim. "Oh, Jor-El is still around, but he and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things. That's why he branded me."

"Branded?" I gasped. How could anyone do that, let alone a disembodied voice? He quickly unbuttoned his shirt and showed me the raised welts on his otherwise perfect chest. Without intending to, my hand reached up and caressed the lines. I hurt just thinking of what he went through. "Oh, Clark!"

Gently, he took my hand away and buttoned back up his shirt. "It doesn't hurt, Chlo. It's just a constant reminder that Jor-El wants me to rule the world for some unknown reason." We fell silent for a few minutes while I tried to wrap my mind around the idea of Clark ruling anyone. Clark recovered first and shook his head. "It doesn't matter what my biological father wants, Chlo. We were talking about my powers." He smiled, and I could tell that he'd just pushed the pain into that private part of him that none of us got to touch very frequently. I felt so bad for him, but realized that he wouldn't appreciate my empathy at this precise moment. "For as long as I could remember, I've been extremely strong and could move really fast. Faster than anyone could follow with their eyes. Freshman year, I developed heat vision and x-ray vision."

I looked at him in shock. X-ray… "Clark, you've never used that x-ray vision on me, have you?"

He looked at me and blushed a little bit. When I would have started ranting at him, he interrupted me. "Chloe, it's not like I had a lot of control over it when it first started. I was learning, just like you were today."

I had to give him that. What had happened today at school could have been considered the height of privacy violation. It wasn't what I'd wanted to do and I didn't relish the thought of returning to school on Monday to be bombarded again. I nodded. "Okay, Clark. You get a freebee on that one, but…"

He held his hand up with three fingers raised. "Scout's honor," he said seriously. I could have laughed. I had totally forgotten that he and Pete had been in the Boy Scouts of America. I even vaguely remember Clark getting his Eagle Scout award… the youngest to achieve that in Smallville. But before I could totally recall the ceremony, he was continuing and I had to pay attention. "And after Lex's car hit me, I discovered that I was darn near invulnerable."

"But I've seen you cut and bleeding…" Those had been some of the worst times of my life. Clark was always there, but when he got hurt, you knew something really bad had happened.

He shrugged. "There was once where my powers got sucked into Eric, but I had to take them back after he went crazy. And then when me and Mom got sick… And… when Mr. White was in town." He looked at me and smiled. "It seems like my powers aren't super permanent, but it has to be extreme."

I looked at him hard. "But Clark, I've seen…"

He held up his hand. "I know, Chlo. That's usually when I've been exposed to meteor rocks for too long. I have like an allergy to them or something."

I laughed. "Clark, you should be getting hurt more often with all the stunts you pull and the amount of meteor rocks around!"

"Not really. Lionel Luthor seems to be collecting them for some reason, so there aren't as many as there could be." He looked at me and a sudden shy smile crossed his face. "The last thing…"

"Last thing?" I goggled. The list was pretty massive so far and he had more?

"Yeah. I seem to levitate sometimes… especially when I have dreams about flying. But it never lasts for long. I usually come crashing down on my bed. Mom and Dad have threatened putting my mattress on the floor." He laughed. "It's great when it's in my dreams, but I…" He shuddered.

"You're still afraid of heights?" I giggled for a minute. The thought that anyone indestructible would be afraid of heights seemed ludicrous.

"Don't laugh, Chloe." He tried to look severe, but I knew he saw the humor in the situation. "I don't know what my problem is, but I haven't been able to work through it yet. But I seem to be able to jump really high." He shrugged. "Hey, it's progress…"

"So now we know," I said with a pleased grin. "My best friend's an alien."

"And mine is a goddess… or something like it." Clark wasn't giving in on the goddess term, but I didn't blame him. "Goddess" made me feel like I expected people to start worshiping me or something.

I felt so close to him right then. There were no secrets. Nothing to keep us… I grimaced as an image of Lana floated in front of my eyes. I got up from the couch. I couldn't stand being so close to him when he'd never have the same feelings for me. "So, was Lana really upset?" It popped out before I could censor it and I wanted to bite my tongue.

"She was a bit. Your friend really got under her skin. I'd never heard her be so angry before." He didn't look as distressed I thought he might have. That seemed odd to me, but I wasn't going to say anything about it. Her awful thoughts about me were really coloring our relationship. In a way, I was glad. It felt really awful to want to compete with your best friend about a guy who also just happens to be your best friend.

I sighed and looked out the window. It was just turning to dusk and it painted the wheat fields a brilliant crimson. It really was beautiful. "I didn't mean to set her off…" I said softly.

Clark came up beside me and put his arm across my shoulder. If I didn't know that he was totally infatuated with Lana, I would have thought he was putting the moves on me. "She's been… different… lately." The pause was drawn out, but neither of us really seemed to want to break it. But at least I lasted longer than Clark. He heaved a huge sigh and asked a question I really didn't want to answer. "Have you read her mind?"

I didn't know what to say. Do I answer honestly and tell him that the love of his life really had a soul the hardness and color of coal? I moved away from him. I couldn't really lie to him now, but I really didn't want to look at him. "I did. I didn't mean to. I still can't control…"

Clark was too fast to let me get away from him. The next thing I knew he was standing in front of me and tilted my chin up with his finger. "Of course you didn't, Chloe." He smiled and I melted. How could anything in the world be wrong with that smile residing within it? "I know you too well. As much as you might have gotten a little thrill with it at first, it would have taken all the fun out of your investigative journaling. I'll bet that's a reason you want to get rid of your powers."

I could only gape at him. I knew that he knew me better than anyone on the planet… especially now, but how could he know that? I tried to collect myself. "You're right, Clark. I hate this facet of everything. I feel so bombarded all the time… unless I'm with you." This time I managed to smile at him.

"I wonder why…" he said slowly.

I could only shrug. Seemed like I was doing a lot of that lately. "Not a clue. But Trinity mentioned there was something different about you. They probably don't know how different."

His eyes got guarded again and I could have cursed my careless tongue, but it did veer him away from the Lana mind subject. "You're not going to tell them, are you?"

I was so exasperated, I could have smacked him. "Clark! You should know me better than that. I'd rather die than tell people about your powers. But it's not like you're super-secret guy. Nine-tenths of the inmates at Belle Reve know you have powers." I wasn't sure he believed me… and I found that really distressing. Hadn't I just told him my biggest secret of all time with all the trust in the world? Did I ask him to promise not to tell anyone ad nauseum?

Some of my attitude must have leaked through because he grimaced. "Sorry, Chlo. I've just been guarding my differences my entire life and my parents freak out when someone learns my secret."

I narrowed my eyes. "Who else knows your secret, Clark?"

His eyes shifted to the side and he sidled away from me. "Ummm, my parents…"

I wasn't letting him get away from me on this one. I took his hand and it was my turn to firmly place him on the sofa. "Clark, I knew that. Who else?"

I could tell that Clark would put this off as long as he possibly could, but I wasn't giving up. Thankfully, he already knew how stubborn I could be and I didn't have to prove it all over again. Finally, he sighed and I knew I had won. "Pete."

"Pete!" I shrieked in disbelief. "Pete knows your secret? How could you tell him and not me?"

Clark looked at me mournfully, but I wasn't going to be taken in by those beautiful puppy dog eyes. I stood and gave him my "You better tell me now" look, complete with raised eyebrow and hands on hips. Another sigh echoed in the barn. "He found my spaceship and I had to tell him."

Both my hands clapped to my mouth in excitement. "Can I see it?" I asked breathlessly.

"Sorry, Chlo. I destroyed it last summer… which is why I went totally AWOL and my mom was in the hospital. It was…" He grimaced and stared off into space. Obviously he wasn't still having problems with his folks, but the pain was as new as if it had happened yesterday.

I didn't want to increase his pain, but I had to know. "How'd you destroy it? If you're indestructible, I would have thought it would be too."

"Lionel made a key out of kryptonite. It hurt the ship as much as it hurts me and it exploded. The shockwave crashed my parents' car and Mom lost the baby." A tear rolled down his cheek.

"So that's why you were hiding in Metropolis." I thought about that time. It had been an extremely dark time for me. I had been working for the Planet after promising to deliver information on Clark to Lionel Luthor. I had found Clark for Lana, which had burned my very soul. But I did have one very specific question. "So, why were you acting so odd?"

He blushed. "You remember the class ring?" I nodded. What was so important about our cheesy class ring? "It had red meteor rock in it…"

Suddenly the pieces clicked. "And instead of hurting you it… What? Changes your personality?"

He nodded, smiling at how brilliant I was. "Pretty much." Suddenly, his eyes narrowed. I wondered what exactly that meant for me. "Nice diversion, Chlo."

I opened my eyes wide with what I hoped was innocence shining in them. "What do you mean?"

"Chloe Sullivan, you know exactly what I mean." He frowned at me. It wasn't the first time he'd resorted to using my full name and I was just happy I'd never told him my middle one. "What did you read from Lana?"

I blushed. I so didn't want to get into this, but that face told me I had to spill… at least most of it. I shrugged to make it seem nonchalant. "I dunno. She seemed to think we were having some sort of competition or something. And then all that stuff about being obsessed with you…" I snapped my mouth shut. I had no idea why I'd told him that last part. But the worst part was that he doesn't seem so surprised… and that irritated me. "But I'm not," I added for good measure. "I mean, we had our chance freshman year."

He grimaced. "I know, Chloe." He stared at me for awhile and I wondered briefly if I had a bit of pastry on my mouth or something. "So she's competing with you internally for… me?"

I laughed, but even I could tell it was forced. "Yeah, but don't go getting a big head, farm boy." I thought about my ruined friendship and could feel a headache forming. "I mean, I can sort of understand because she's always been the center of attention."

He looked at me, but didn't come near. It was a darn good thing because the tears were threatening to well up and one touch from him would cause them to spill over. "She's always been a little jealous of you, Chlo. I can't blame her… not really."

I could only stare at him. Why would he think it would be natural for Lana to be jealous of me? Suddenly, I realized that it was totally dark outside. "Oh, man! My dad is going to freak out, Clark. Would you mind calling my dad and telling him I'm on my way?"

He smiled and captured my hand before I could dart down the stairs. "How about you call him and tell him you're staying for dinner? It's not like it hasn't happened before."

Joy burst from me. He wasn't being harsh about what I'd said about Lana. I felt like the world was my oyster. "That would be great, Clark!" We walked down the stairs together, but when we hit the ground, I followed up on an impulse. I gave him a huge hug which he returned. I would have loved to just stand like that for awhile, but I knew that couldn't happen or he'd get suspicious. I just felt incredibly lucky that this powerful alien that was the most wonderful and special person in my life was my best friend. I broke the hug and headed toward the house. "I like this, Clark. I feel like we're so much… closer." I tossed it over my shoulder like a throw-away line on a television show. I didn't want to make it seem too serious or anything.

Behind me, I could have sworn I heard him respond. "Me too, Chloe." But he was perfectly normal as we entered the house, so I must have been imagining it.

------

The next morning, I woke up with the sun again. I just laid in bed for a little while. I could revel in the fact that I knew Clark's secret and he knew mine… and we were still as close as ever, if not more so. Dinner had been awesome. I absolutely love the Kents. They always make me feel like part of a big happy family. Not that my dad doesn't, but there's something so homey about their house… Maybe it was because Martha was there all day. I didn't really want to analyze it. I loved my dad, but he wasn't… I throttled the thought silent. I absolutely refused to think about it any further.

I woke up feeling even more energized than normal… but also more confident. I grabbed a yellow sundress I'd found two summers ago but had never had the guts to wear to school. Why not? I thought happily and threw it on. It looked amazing! If nothing else, this goddess thing really cut down on my prep time before school. I grabbed a sweater on my way downstairs. I didn't plan on wearing it because I didn't feel any sort of chill, but maybe my confidence would cut out like Clark's powers…

Dad was in his usual spot and I kissed him on the top of his head. I avoided the coffee pot again and just got some fruit out. But before I could get more than a couple of bites, I heard a honking coming from outside. I strolled to the window and saw two Toyota Priuses, one red and one light blue, in my driveway. They were stuffed to capacity with my sisters. I waved and they responded enthusiastically. "OK, Dad. Some friends are going to drive me to school today!"

He looked up to respond and I thought his eyes were going to bug straight out of his skull. "Chloe, what are you wearing?"

I laughed. "Dad, you were with me when I bought this two years ago!"

"But…but…" I knew he was having a coronary, but it wasn't like this was scandalous attire.

"Daddy, I gotta' go! My friends are waiting." I kissed his cheek quickly and tripped out the door before he could think to say anything new. I dashed out in relief. Daddy just wasn't used to his little girl looking like a woman. And while he wasn't comfortable with it, I certainly was feeling it. I had to smile that Fran was driving the red one. She seemed slightly out of place in that car, but the color fit her to a T. But she already had Vinny and Destiny in it with her, so I turned to the blue car. Willow was patiently sitting in the back seat, which I thought was very nice of her. As I slid into the front seat, I looked at Trinity. She was wearing the exact same dress I was except for in black. "Oh, did you get the memo?"

Trinity laughed. "Darling, you're so cute. I'm not surprised. You're the Sun Goddess and I'm the Moon. We're the closest."

I was a little taken aback by that. In some ways, I'd felt most comfortable with Willow, but she was right. There always seemed to be some sort of connection between the two of us. I smiled. "That's nice to know," I said softly.

"Freakin' her out again, Trin," Willow laughed from the back. "But if you don't get moving, Chloe's going to be late for school."

"You mean you don't…" I trailed off. Of course they didn't. Just because I'd met them there, it didn't mean they were students.

Trinity waved her hand, easing my embarrassment. "Occassionaly, we do attend school. It keeps us up to date." She smiled as she eased the car out of my driveway. "It's most convenient when one of our number has to complete her education."

Willow shrugged. "But we haven't had to do it since 1892. Your school is so much nicer than Destiny's boarding school." We laughed as we drove down the road. I felt carefree and secure. It sure was nice to have people to share these experiences with. Clark had a tough childhood, but now we had each other. As much as I was connected with these girls, I felt an even greater connection to Clark. It must be due to the fact that I'd known him longer…


A/N: How do you pluralize a car name? I've done the best I could, but I don't know… And this trails off weirdly, I'm sure, but I wanted a bit of a break. After all, it's a full five page story right now!

As another side note, I'm sorry about the history lesson at the beginning. I just can't seem to help myself. Clark had to do some exposition when he revealed the "secret" to Chloe. Maybe I didn't have to spell it out so entirely, but I just can't seem to help myself sometimes. ;D

iluvsmallville1: I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to update… and you're one of the reasons why I'm doing my extra special updating this weekend. ;D And Shhhhhh! That's a secret! ;D Mainly because some people here haven't watched the season yet. But I just couldn't resist Clark crying. He's a mostly sensitive guy and they always have him playing the "real men don't cry" card. Men are allowed to cry, darn it! ;D

BabyC2003: I'm so glad you still like it. Sometimes I wonder where the story is going to go, because while I do have an outline, the story totally has a life of its own. Sometimes I swear I'm channeling Chloe!

markmark261: Thank you, as always, for the proofing notes! You're such a lifesaver for a perfectionist such as I! I may not get them incorporated as fast as this chapter, but I'll be trying! And I'm glad you liked the chapter. I think that Clark, when you take away his need for deception, has a load taken off of his mind that allows him to concentrate on what he wants to express rather than what he wants to hide.

spaceboi's pixie: Never fear about the spelling. That's why I write in Word first before I submit a chapter. Otherwise, it'd be totally scary! I'm just really glad you like my work. Does my heart good! ;D