Chapter 14
I'm 19 years old, in an old beat up bar, depressed without the benefit of any alcohol. Serious low point for Pete Ross.
Grabbing my things and leaving a small discrete tip for my glass of coke, I headed out the metal doors that led to a main road. From there I made my trek back to civilization.
I don't really know how I ended up here, Smallville High, without recognizing where I was. By the front door of the school, I examined the building, which must have undergone a significant amount of remodeling since my last visit. From what I understood, the high school students were still attending alongside the middle school students because of the huge damages caused by the last meteor shower of two years ago.
The school was open now in some areas, but not in most so I was careful with each of my steps into the building. Ducking under tarp and such that obstructed the doorway, I was surprised by its lack of change internally. I was a student all over again and this was my playground.
A distinct film of dust carpeted the floor and stuck to my Air Jordan's but I didn't mind. I came up to lockers 2100 through 2108 and noticed without hesitation my locker. 2102 next to Chloe's 2101 and Clark's 2100. "The Three Musketeers." My one was clearly marked with the words "THE BOSS" directly under the number tag line. Vandalizing school property used to be so cool back then.
A little ways down from our lockers was the trophy case. After spotting the engraved Ross accolades first, I noticed Clark's MVP award from the 2005 State Championship. All those years I thought he was scared, in a way he was…of hurting others.
Sometimes I can't help but wonder what that must be like, to be that powerful and to be conscious everyday of holding yourself back. I know I wouldn't be able to take that.
But would Chloe?
I was so sure it was no. I was sure it was a universal no. Yet she was the one person I have always looked to for strength. Even she can not fight it?
Maybe that's why I haven't been able to leave. How can I?
There's still so much hope left in her eyes how can I turn my back on that like a coward?
A leader wouldn't do that. He would weather the storm. When he knows it looks bad he'll stand by it and see it through.
So who am I? Am I a coward?
I ran out of the school, back to the farm.
Destiny doesn't name people to greatness, nor does it banish them from it.
Greatness is won by those who chase it.
I was going to put up the fight of my life.
Destiny be damned.