-1Chapter Thirty Six-Addiction

Clark looked up at Chloe from the couch. She was staring at him with disappointment. Her best friend had turned to drugs for help instead of the people who cared about him. She knew the farm was hard work but it wasn't his career. A little dust on the tractor wasn't going to kill him.

"How pissed are you?" Clark asked trying to read past her disappointment.

"I'm more upset, Clark. Why didn't you come to us when it got bad?" She asked.

"I did. Lana's been sacrificing her weekends to keep me from failing. Pete fixed up the barn when it got shot up. I have Chloe, but I need to do this myself. I can't always come to you guys," Clark explained.

"Clark, Lana loves you. Any time with you is not a sacrifice," Chloe tried to reason.

"You have to understand Chloe," Clark tried but his voice was weak and his body tired.

"Understand what, Clark? That you're killing yourself to keep a farm on its feet. It's just a barn, a broken tractor, and noisy chickens! It's not worth your life," Chloe yelled trying to get it sunk into his head.

Clark's anger spiked and he rose to his feet, "It's not just a barn. My great great great grandfather built that barn by hand. That broken tractor was fixed by my father more than I can count. Noisy chickens; my mother loved waking to those chickens." His hands shook, whether from anger or the drugs. Chloe's expression sadden as she finally understood his death wish.

"I miss your parents, too." She said her voice cracked with emotion.

"This farm has been in my family for generations. I can't fail my father and my grandfather by letting this place rot," Clark pressed his palm to his temple trying to ease the throbbing. Chloe enveloped him in a tight hug.

"It's still not worth you taking drugs," She whispered into his ear.

"Don't tell Lana," He pleaded.

"This secret can kill your relationship. What if it had been Lana who found you?" Chloe asked, knowing Lana had almost come.

"Please Chloe. I can't lose Lana too." Clark begged. His emotions were on overdose. He actually felt like he was going to cry.

"I promise," She agreed against logic. "I won't stand by and watch Lana get hurt, again. You have to stop these injections and get better."

"Alright, but I should do this alone," Clark said pulling away from her hug.

"No, I'm going to help," She said folding her arms across her chest.

"I know but these drugs can hurt you," Clark said. At her confusion he explained. "They increase my strength and speed. I can lift that tractor over my head. For your safety, I need you to leave."

"I can only imagine the damage to your body," Chloe said in awe as she imagined him holding a tractor over his head. Clark watched her as she made a decision. Risk crushed bones or trust Clark? She believed in her best friend and as much as she wanted to stay and help him, fear compelled her to choose option two. "Once you're better, explain all this to Lana. She's really understanding."

Clark nodded and walked her to the door. "I will be checking in on you," She said as he opened the door.

"Wouldn't expect less," He responded, pleased at his victory. She stepped out onto the porch.

"Get rid of those drugs, Clark," She said.

He nodded and closed the door. She sighed and headed to her car. Lana was wanting to know what happened and Chloe had the car ride back to think of something that wasn't necessarily a lie.

Clark headed back to the box and picked up the empty needle. He felt a bead of sweat travel down his cheek. He reached down and picked up a bottle of green liquid. He could feel the vibration of anticipation. His body wanted the drug.

He thought of his promise to Chloe and let his hand fall to his side. This drug was his solution and everything was working out fine. So what if he had a mishap today. The only thing that got hurt was the tractor and he could fix that. He may have made a promise to Chloe but he had a choice.

His hand shook as he stuck the needle into the bottle. As he drew the liquid into the needle, he thought of how careful he'd have to be next time. Chloe had walked in on his rare seizure. Every now and then the drugs would react and he'd fall to the ground unable to control his movements. Everything he loved was worth it. He didn't regret reinserting the needle and injecting the serum.

Chloe didn't see any change with Clark other than the blood shot eyes and paleness. He seemed to be avoiding her. Pete hung out with Clark but instead of chilling at the Talon, they went over to play video games at a teammates house.

Chloe had a feeling Clark was still taking the drug. Yet when she searched the house and barn, she couldn't find them anywhere. Either he was smarter about it or he really did quit. He just didn't act like he had quit.

Chloe wasn't the only one, Lana as on his trail now. She would make sure he got rest but he never looked better. His homework was always done but he never seemed to study. He was always on time, except for their one date that didn't happen. All she knew was that he had an accident in the barn that caused him to miss their date.

Since then he was there for her physically, which was something she wanted. Emotionally, Clark Kent was absent. She'd tried getting him to talk about their relationship but he avoided it. He avoided it like the plague. She believed he was afraid she was going to break up with him. She just didn't know what to do anymore. She was slowly losing him and she didn't think she could take anymore.

The final trial of their relationship occurred at school. She had overheard Clark demanding more from Max. Later that day she'd gone to find him and ask him about what she'd heard. She found him inside the gym, injecting himself. She watched as he jerked and his veins pulsed, clearly through the skin. She closed the door and ran, tears in her eyes.

Chloe found Clark at the barn. He was tossing bales of hay like it was nothing. Lana had been right about what she saw. She marched into the barn and slapped him as hard as she could.

"You promised you'd quit. Now Lana knows and she's heartbroken. How could you?" She yelled, venting her anger.

"Chill, Chloe. This is my deal, leave me to it," Clark demanded, glaring down at her.

"I will not chill when I know my best friend is killing himself and throwing away everything he cares about," Chloe continued to yell.

"Don't even act like you care. All I have is this farm and Lana. Where were you?" Clark yelled.

"What are you talking about? I've been here for since you've gotten back," She was confused, her voice almost back to normal volume level.

"Lana has been here for me, and Pete has been here for me. Where were you?" Clark asked still pissed.

She reached out to him hoping to calm his anger, "I've always been here for you."

"Don't lie to me," Clark pulled away from her touch.

Chloe noticed the green of his veins and the redness in his arm. He must have just injected himself. With a fresh dose, moods or anger spikes were common. Chloe tried again. "Clark, I'm here for you," She spoke softly reaching for him again.

He snapped and jerked his arm from her grip. The force of his strength sent her flying across the barn and through the barn door. He looked shocked as she laid motionless, surrounded by shredded wood.