It was late afternoon by the time we reached downtown Smallville. The bus chugged to a stop just outside of The Talon and passengers, mostly fellow college students, filtered out onto the sidewalk.

"Clark? Clark, can you please tell me where we're going?"

I continued to briskly walk down the sidewalk, forcing Lana to break into a slight jog to keep up with me.

"Clark? Clark!" She reached out and yanked my arm, whirling me around to face her angered face. "Talk to me!"

I looked into her eyes, immediately wishing I hadn't. I knew she'd be able to see the fear and the worry. And it didn't help that the hand she was now holding was shaking as well.

She gave my troubled hand a gentle squeeze, her frown instantly turning into a concerned look. "What's wrong? Why aren't you talking?"

I tried to cover up my true feelings with a smile, but it didn't last long. I finally sighed and said, "I'm just…worried about stuff. There's a lot going on in my mind right now."

"Well, tell me about it. You shouldn't have to keep all that stuff inside anymore." She pulled my other hand up and held it as well. "You have me now."

That didn't make me feel as good as it should have. After all, the fact that she still didn't know my secret was becoming more aware to me with each passing minute and it was becoming harder for me to actually envision telling her.

So what did I do? Played the Avoidance Dance once again. "I thought about talking to you, but I don't want to upset you."

"I think it's upsetting me more that I don't know what's going on, Clark," she informed determinedly. "You really have to learn to trust people. Especially me."

I took another deep breath. "You're right. I'm sorry. We're going to my friend Chloe's house. She's the one tracking down Lex. She called earlier today and told me she had a lead. She doesn't have any classes for the next couple days, so I'm pretty sure she's at her dad's house right now."

"So we're going to stay at her house? Uh, don't you think Whitney will eventually look for us at your friend's houses?" Lana asked with confusion.

"Yeah, but he has to be able to connect me to Chloe first. And that could take a while," I explained, keeping one of her hands in mine as we continued down the sidewalk towards Chloe's.

Lana was silent, thinking over my strategy for a while before speaking again. "What about your parents?"

"I think they'll be alright. My dad doesn't take any crap from the Luthor's. If Whitney comes by the farm, it won't do him any good."

Lana smiled. "Guess I know where you got your stubbornness from."

I grinned with a nod. "Yeah, he's a great teacher of stuff like that."

Suddenly, I felt a little pang of guilt in my stomach. I remembered telling her I'd been adopted while I walking her home one night. And I also remembered that she'd asked me if I knew who my real parents were or where I was from…and I'd told her that I had no idea.

A lie. A lie that, at the time, didn't seem like that big of a deal. But now, it felt huge. I wondered how many other times I'd lied to her and didn't even realize it.

I hoped I wouldn't have to add too many more lies to the already horribly high total before the night's end.

My grip on her hand tightened as we trudged down the road.

…….

"Clark! Wow, I am SO glad to see you!"

Chloe leapt into my arms and I gladly accepted the embrace. "Hey, Chlo."

"How did you know I'd be here?"

"Educated guess."

She backed away after a few seconds, her smile still as bright as ever for, as far as I could tell, no reason whatsoever. She immediately looked towards Lana and nodded in acknowledgement. "And Lana Lang, right?"

I patted Lana's hand, noticing the uneasiness in her eyes. Her face never faltered from its uncomfortable stare, so I decided to fill her in.

"Lana, is Chloe Sullivan. She's like the sister I never had."

Her lips curled up into a tiny, polite grin. "Nice to meet you."

"You too. I'm must admit I'm really glad to see that my brotha from anotha motha finally got hit with Cupid's arrow. I've told him many times that you two look amazing together. Really."

"Thank you," she retorted in a fashion that reminded me a lot of her "night club self" - only hard, protective shell of the girl I loved. "I hope us being here doesn't put a burden on you."

"Oh, not at all. Come on in."

"Thanks," I said ushering Lana as I added, "and don't ever call me your 'brotha from anotha motha' again, all right?"

Chloe laughed and backed away into the familiar house as Lana and I followed. The interior hadn't changed much since I'd been there last – which was surprising concerning my last visit had been some time in grade school.

"My dad's out fishing with his buddies. They hardly ever catch a thing, but somehow they've found a way to justify taking off a whole week from work to live in a one room cabin and talk about getting old."

"Ah, so that explains the lack of burnt food smell."

Lana and I sat down on the sofa in the living room and Chloe sat in the chair opposite us.

"So, what exactly brings you two kids here? Not that I'm not happy to see you. Together." Chloe paused for a second, staring at us as though she were an addict, thinking about grabbing another bottle of pills. "Oh my gosh - I can't stand it anymore. Wait right here so I can go get my camera!"

I laughed and, to my great happiness, so did Lana as Chloe bounced away to her room. "Wow…just as photo-happy as ever."

After Lana's initial smile faded, she looked up at me. "Look, Clark, not that I don't think Chloe's really great, but…you told her my name?"

I swallowed, hoping she would accept my reasoning. "Yeah...I know you might feel a little edgy about it now, but Chloe's not like a lot of people. After you really get to know her, you'll realize it's safe in her hands. In all the years I've known her she's never told anyone my secrets."

And as the words fell from my mouth I instinctively wished they hadn't. I could tell from the look at her face that Lana wished I hadn't either. It sounded as though I trusted Chloe more than I did Lana…which, in truth, I guess I did.

Lana was so sweet though. She didn't break out into a jealous rage or question what kind of secrets I told Chloe, but never told her.

She simply picked up her sad, concerned look, changed it to a small smile and said, "….well, ok. If you trust her, then I trust her too."

Chloe rushed back into the room and snapped the first photo of us together, but the smile I wore on my face was completely fake. I felt dishonest and horrible and unworthy of her love. I still feel that way every time I look at that picture.

Lana seems to like it though. She looks back on our young, fresh faces, grins and says, "Look at those two stupid kids. Remember when we were that stupid, Clark?"

And I remember. I will always remember.