-1Chapter Six-The Real Kent?

Clark jumped up from his desk and dashed for the door when the bell rang. He really wanted to get away from the pressing stares that Chloe was sending his way. He didn't want to deal with her or anyone else for that matter. He heard Chloe call his name as he ducked out of the classroom and down the hall to his locker. He knew she'd be close on his tail, so he quickly opened his locker and tossed his English book inside. He didn't even bother locking it back as he slammed it shut.

He saw the blonde brush her way through the hallway traffic as he darted down the hall and around the corner. Perhaps she hadn't spotted his quick escape. Just to be on the safe side, he ducked into the men's bathroom. When enough time passed to use it as an excuse, he left the restroom and jogged down the hall into his next class before the late bell. The teacher motioned him over with a wave of his hand. Clark held his notebook loose in his hand and casually walked up to the teacher's desk.

"Are you Clark?" He asked looking down at his roster. Clark nodded and looked over the room. He almost cussed out loud when he noticed the same trio sitting in the middle of the room. "Here's your textbook. Take a seat."

Clark took the book and took a seat close to the front and the door. The tweed jacket dressed teacher stood from his desk and went to the board. "Open your books to page one hundred and thirty seven and we'll work through the first twenty problems."

Clark opened his book and his notebook. He leaned back in his chair and thought about what he was going to do. If Chloe was anything like he remembered, then she wasn't going to give up on talking to him. He really didn't want to deal with anything from his past, yet here he was in Smallville. Even better in Smallville High with his childhood friend. The class passed by quickly, mainly because Clark had completely spaced out.

When the bell rang and jolted him out of his thoughts, he darted for the door. Chloe however was right on his tail.

"Clark!!" Chloe yelled. Pete and Lana joined her side in the middle of the hallway. Clark couldn't just run away without making it obvious that he was trying to avoid her. With nothing else he could do, he turned around.

"What do you want Chloe?" Clark asked pouring as much hatred into his voice. She looked confused by his remark.

"Why did you act like you didn't remember me?" She asked.

"What did you want me to say? Oh Chloe, how I've missed my pathetic dumb blonde best friend forever." Clark said mocking her by speaking in a lovesick puppy voice. Chloe pulled back in shock at his hurtful words.

"Clark? What happened to you?" She asked. The Clark she knew would have never treated her like this.

"It's been seven years, Chloe. If you want to know what happened, do some research." He practically yelled at her. He shook his head and turned back around, going to his locker.

He yanked his locker door open and tossed his lame math book inside. He didn't bother locking it as he slammed it shut and headed on to his next class.

Pete wrapped his arms around Chloe's shoulders and noticed the start of tears in her eyes. That Clark guy was a real jerk. He had obviously meant a lot to Chloe and he was curious to know what happened to the dude. Chloe wasn't one to pick bad people to hang around with.

"Don't worry about him." Pete said.

"Pete, he was my best friend. We grew up together." Chloe said. She tried to fight off the emotion in her voice but she failed. Whoever just heard her knew she was in pain.

"Then maybe you should find out what happened. If this isn't the Clark you knew, then something had to have changed him." Pete said.

Chloe smiled up at him and kissed his cheek. Before Lana or Pete could say anything else she was around the corner and on her way to the Torch for some computer cracking. Pete shrugged to Lana who smiled and walked to her locker. Pete went the other way, he had to talk to the coach.

Clark sighed when he was in his next class and the warning bell rung. He was hoping he didn't have Chloe in here either. He felt bad for what he said and he didn't know where it had come from. He and Chloe had been really good friends and Lois had always been there too. Except when she hadn't and that's where the problem with Clark was.

After his first foster parents, Lois had promised she was going to find a way to take him in. At least get him out of that horrid house. Instead he'd gotten shipped off to anther hell. He was taking it out on Chloe instead of the real person he held the anger for. He rubbed his forehead and looked up at the warning bell. Lana walked in and sat a few seats in front of Clark. When Chloe and Pete weren't close behind, Clark sighed in relief.

The last bell rung and Clark happily got out of his desk and left for the day. He did have homework which he took with him. Didn't mean he was going to do it right away, but that he would eventually tonight. He felt like a drink.

He went to the local café, The Talon and found a quiet and dark seat in the back. A waitress came up and took his order. When she brought him his drink he noticed the tiresome trio walk in. Lana walked behind the counter and pulled on an apron. Chloe and Pete took a seat at the counter. Clark held his head down and sipped his drink. He could hear what they were saying but when his name was mentioned, he focused in on it.

"What did you find out on Clark?" Pete asked. Lana moved around the counter making them some coffee on the house.

"Nothing good. I don't blame Clark for being the way he is. His first foster father was thrown in jail for child abuse, against Clark. His second foster father lost his job and couldn't feed his family. Clark was found on the street, skin and bones. He was then shipped off to Metropolis where he dealt with abuse again. Clark couldn't get into a good home for the life of him." Chloe said.

Pete frowned and sipped his coffee. "Then why is he back and who is he living with?"

"That is the million dollar question. Last thing I could find about Clark was that he was in court before he came here. Nothing else was said about what he did or who he is now living with." Chloe said downing a good portion of her coffee.