Velocity Part 6

At the Torch office…

Chloe hustled down the hallway. She was running late. To forget her sorrows of her father's dismissal the night before, Chloe spent most of the night watching old reruns instead of working on the next Torch issue. Chloe felt some relief when she entered the room to see Clark already sitting at a desk.

"Morning, Clark," Chloe said breathlessly as she waited for her computer to start up.

"Morning. What's the rush?"

"We're behind schedule, if you haven't noticed. Since Pete's been MIA, we have no photos for the next issue."

"Got 'em."

"What?"

"Got 'em. Look."

Chloe walked around to peer over Clark's shoulder. He brought up an array of images needed for the upcoming issue. One photo was needed for the upcoming cheerleader tryouts. There were several photos of wanna-be cheerleaders, not in uniform, but playfully posing as cheerleaders in the hallway. There were other still images from around the school that could be used for the filler articles. But the best photo was for the most boring article covering the new gym equipment. It was of Coach Quigley, standing beside the old gym mats. He was blowing his whistle and pointing to the door, as if dismissing them for good.

"Awesome. What about the teacher of the year article?"

"Submitted."

"Lunch menu?"

"Typed. The Torch is on schedule."

Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. Clark had come through for her. But he didn't look satisfied with a job well done. "You don't look too thrilled."

"Didn't sleep. A lot on my mind."

"I regret not getting you the extra shot, then," Alicia said as she entered with two Styrofoam cups of coffee. The happy couple exchanged a morning kiss, and Chloe felt a small twinge of jealousy.

"Nice earrings." Chloe commented, reminding the other two she was in the room.

"Thanks." Alicia took a seat on Clark's lap.

"Well, since you got us up to speed, it looks like we can spend the rest of the day brainstorming about next issue's headliner."

"I got a headliner for you: Identity of Smallville Shooter Revealed."

"You didn't?"

Clark nodded, but he looked anything but triumphant.

"Are you serious?" Alicia asked.

"Where's the article?" Chloe demanded.

"I didn't write it, Chloe. I didn't write it because you can't print it. And you can't print it because I don't have proof."

Chloe's disappointment flagged only a little. "We'll get it. If you know who it is, that's a huge lead. Emergency session after school? Oh, wait, I can't. As much as it kills me, I can't. Tomorrow?"

"Sure. But at the barn. Not here."

"Deal." Chloe felt a sense of pride at Clark's accomplishments. She always knew Clark could accomplish anything if he applied himself. But Clark still had a frown on his face.

"Clark, I got to hand it to you. You really came through today. You did an amazing job."

"You're amazing," Alicia said.

But Clark was distracted from their praise as someone else walked into the room.

"Pete!"

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

The sight before Pete was infuriating. Clark was surrounded by Chloe and Alicia, who were singing his praises.

It was as if no one had cared that he had left. When he returned home last night, all he got was a yelling showdown between both parents. Yelling at him for avoiding "home" for weeks and yelling at him for not telling anyone where he had been.

And here were his so-called "friends" not caring that he had been gone.

"Pete!" Clark rushed forward to hug him. "You're all right! Where were you?"

"Does it matter?"

"We were about to release the bloodhounds. You gave everyone a scare." Chloe gave him a hug.

"I didn't mean to. Look, Chloe, I'm sorry. I know I didn't get those pictures you needed…"

"Don't worry about it. Clark covered for you." The bell rang, signaling for everyone to start walking to class. "And that's my cue to run to the other side of the building. We'll catch up, though. During lunch?"

"Where'd you go?" Clark questioned as Chloe made her exit." I must have looked at every hotel in Metropolis."

"Me? Hide from you? With your powers? Impossible. Face it, you didn't try to find me," Pete sneered.

Clark looked slightly wounded by Pete's hostility. "I did. It's just…there was no ransom call and I learned about your parents. Everyone kept saying you just needed space. I believed them. But if you weren't back by tonight, believe me, I was going to start tearing apart the town."

"Lucky me."

"Listen, I'm sorry to hear about the divorce. That can't be easy. If you want to talk about it…"

"Oh, what would you know?" Pete flopped down into the nearest swivel chair. "You'll never have to worry about your parents divorcing. Your parents are perfect."

That put perfect Clark Kent at a loss for words.

"Um…well, if I don't see you before then, we'll catch you at the basketball game this weekend."

"Go Crows." Alicia playfully pumped her fist into the air. She gave Clark a peck on the cheek and then went off to her class.

"Like there's any point to me playing," Pete muttered under his breath as his blood boiled.

"Pete?" Clark came back into the Torch office.

"I should just face it: I'll never be as good as you. I can't even be as good as my mortal brothers."

"Um…" Clark took a step back as Pete rose to his feet. He advanced on the giant towering above him, being forced to look up.

"These problems my parents have been having, they've been having for years. But they stayed together for my brothers and sisters. I'm not worth the trouble. I'm never as smart as they are, or as talented as they are, or as ambitious as they are. I'm just Pete, the scrawny, little screwup!"

"That's not true. You're great at a lot of stuff."

"Like what? I'm okay at hoops. I'm a decent photographer. But I've got nothing going for me! And you! You could have it all if you just wouldn't hold back!" Pete shoved against Clark with all his might. Clark could have easily stayed in place, but he allowed Pete's force to push him back. This emboldened Pete to keep talking.

"You know what the real funny thing is?" Pete gave off a hysterical laughter. "The best part, the best part of being your friend all these years was I got to be the cool one! For the first time in my life, I got to be the winner. I got to be the best player. But I know the truth now. You were just laughing at me like everybody else. The truth is, I've been living in your shadow for years, and I'll never be able to escape it because as far as shadows go, you're the dark side of the moon!"

The silence between them was broken only by Pete's panting for breath. Clark stared at Pete, mouth agape in shock.

Pete swallowed, realizing what he had just confessed aloud. "Clark, man, I didn't mean…"

"Um…" Clark glanced around, avoiding eye contact. Without another word, Clark left the office.

When Pete was alone, he slammed his fist onto the desk. Everything he just confessed was the truth, to an extent. But not one he ever meant to say aloud.

Why? Why did he say them?

"Okay, let's give this a try," Sarah said. She held out her hands. Swirls of light began to twist to form a glowing orb.

"What are you doing?" Pete asked, backing away from the glowing display.

"False memory. I'm creating a dream you'll believe about where you've been." Sarah dropped her hands, and the orb flew off.

"And now, as ordered from above, an experiment. Scary voice wants you to share with Clark what you're feeling. I might not know the details, but I can tell you resent him a little bit. Actually, a lot. I'm detecting unresolved emotional issues." Rays of red and black light swirled in her hands again, this time forming into the shape of a bird.

"What for?"

"I don't know. But, once you hear the word 'crow', that was your mascot, right, you'll be inclined to share all those feelings with your friend."

"Sarah, please don't do this."

"Sorry, Petey. Don't got a choice." As with the orb, Sarah dropped the light figure. It flew off, towards the back of Pete's mind.

"Yes, you do," Pete insisted. "Sarah, let me help you."

"I really am sorry. You seem like a nice guy. You're actually the only person who offered to help me."

"I can help you," Pete insisted. "You just got to tell me how."

"After what I just did, you still want to help me?"

Pete nodded.

"Sad thing is, I don't have the faintest idea." Sarah sighed. "You're going to wake up soon. Do us both a favor, and enjoy the sun, okay?"

At the Talon…

Lana had mixed feelings about the empty Talon. On one hand, it was nice for her first day back to be easy. On the other, the fluctuating amount of customers was getting infuriating.

"Okay, let's get this insurance appeal written, shall we?" Chloe said at the counter, where she had set up her laptop to help Lana with her hospital bill. The insurance letters had been confusing, but as Lana understood it, certain services were only partially covered that should be completely covered. Chloe willingly volunteered to help with a written appeal. "Ooh, can I get the blueberry muffin?"

"Ummm…not yet. Mr. Wallace usually gets the blueberry today. It's odd, but he should have been in here by now."

"Fine. My stomach will press on."

The empty coffee house allowed Lana to answer Chloe's questions regarding her hospital visit. As Chloe typed, Lana couldn't help but watch the people walk down Main Street. Regulars either passed by the door or made a long pause in the same spot. What was there was hard to tell from Lana's obstructed view.

"I'll be back in a minute," Lana excused herself to walk outside. What her view had obstructed was a small trolley covered in a white tablecloth. A sign on printed paper read "Freaky Coffee". On top was a regular coffee maker surrounded by bottles of flavored syrups. The two people manning the table was Stan Gibson and Sasha Woodman.

"Hi, Lana," Stan said.

"Stan. Sasha. What are you doing?"

"Selling coffee."

"Why?"

"Certain people just haven't been feeling welcome at your establishment lately," Sasha said, her smirk on full display.

"You can't sell coffee here."

"Yes, we can. I have permits," Stan flashed a piece of paper.

"Fine," Lana huffed, walking back inside. It was not the first time she had been in competition.

"Lana, I don't know what you're worried about," Chloe said as Lana took her place behind the counter. "It says 'paid in full'."

"You're kidding." Lana looked at the screen.

"Nope. Guess you got a guardian angel," Chloe said glumly.

"Hope I'm not interrupting," Lex Luthor said as he came to the counter.

"Not at all. The usual?" Lana asked.

"Please."

Lana smiled as she went about making Lex's coffee order.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Lex was used to being the bad guy.

People assumed that just because he was rich, that meant he was the son of Satan. That was close to the truth, but not for the reasons they assumed. Through the years, Lex had gotten used to the cold and angry stares as he walked down the street.

So, to enter the Talon and see Lana smiling warmly at him was still something he was getting used to.

"Apparently," Lana said as she went about making his order, "my entire hospital bill has been paid."

"Well, who says all insurance companies are evil."

"You didn't have to do that." Lana saw through his façade.

"The accident was my fault. I pushed you into the stall. That spooked the horse."

"Lex, you were..."

"Crazy?"

Lana rolled her eyes. "Not yourself."

"Semantics aside, you got caught in the crossfire trying to help me. For that, I am truly sorry."

"You don't need grand gestures for that, Lex." Lana handed him the Styrofoam cup. "You can just stop in and say 'hello'."

"Grand gestures usually come easier." Lex admitted.

Lana's attention was directed towards customers that came in. That left him alone with Chloe, silently sitting at the counter.

Lex had known the young reporter to have the relentless spirit it took years for professional journalists to acquire. With Mr. Sullivan's recent dismissal, Lex anticipated a ready quip. A steely glance. A repressed sneer.

But Chloe didn't look angry. She didn't demand answers or even a reference.

She wasn't asking anything at all, which was unusual.

"Chloe, I'm sorry about your father," Lex said to breach the topic. "It must be hard, not knowing…"

"I know why," Chloe interrupted, not even glancing in his direction. "You fired my dad because yours told you to."

That answer shut Lex up.

It was true. The order had come down from Lionel Luthor himself. Lex never had a problem with Gabe's performance. He had only known Gabe to be a reliable employee. The reason for Gabe's dismissal was due to a subpar performance during Lex's absence and the spread of ugly rumors according to Lionel.

Lex hadn't believed a word of it. Not for an instant.

The young Luthor had found it strange, how Lionel accepted him back into the corporate fold openly after his recent psychotic break. Then there had been the signs; the work that came across Lex's desk were easily below his paygrade. Lex deduced that his position consisted of a title and little else.

Chloe's reaction only confirmed Lex's suspicions. There was something else going on. Something else tied up in the months that evaded Lex's memory. Gabe Sullivan was a casualty. A necessary one if Lex was to retain his advantage: Lionel thought he was weak.

Question is: what does Chloe have to do with it? Lex mused as he got into his car.

I acknowledge in the show, Pete says he's always felt like he was in Clark's shadow. I have a hard time believing this because while they were growing up, Clark never got to play sports, making Clark the outsider. If/when Clark had to play, he had to pretend to be bad or hold back enough so no one would pressure him and/or Johnathan to join a team. Which meant Pete probably won more often when they played one-on-one. Anyway, that's why I changed it.