I'm Always Here For You

   Clark stood in the loft of the Kent family's barn.  It had been two days since the incident at Bruce's penthouse, and Clark still wasn't sure what to think of it all.
   Before his move to Metropolis, the loft had been his personal refuge—his place of solitude.  Watching the sunset from the barn's large window was a ritual for him, and one that he'd missed now that he didn't spend much time in Smallville anymore.  Although he was back in his hometown, he felt somewhat disconnected from it.  As far as anyone in Smallville knew—other than the Kents, of course—he'd been living in Metropolis since the beginning of Summer.  He'd lost contact with Pete, and Chloe apparently couldn't handle being around him anymore.  He hadn't seen her since she'd first discovered his secret.
   Clark heard footsteps on the wooden stairway behind him.
   It was Chloe.
   She slowly walked over to Clark, not saying a word.  She looked nervous, as though she was afraid of falling down with every step she took.  She looked up into his eyes.  The quippy, sharp-witted young woman that Clark had grown up with had faded, and in her place was a vulnerable girl who barely knew what to think.

   "So you're back?..."
   Clark felt his heart sink a little at her words.
   "No, not really... I'm just here for right now."
   Chloe tried feigning casual conversation for a moment, throwing him one of her huge smiles. "So... where do you live in Metropolis? Is it nice?" Her voice cracked a bit as she spoke, betraying her emotions.
   Clark politely ignored her obvious emotional signals. "Actually... I still live here.  I just spend most of my time in Metropolis, then run back here to sleep."
   Chloe gave him one of her confused looks as a thousand thoughts rushed through her mind.
   What? He's been living here the whole time?
   How did he fool the school's registration into thinking he lived in Metropolis?
   How could I not have known?
   "You've... been here?  The whole time?  Why didn't you tell me?"
   Clark stepped back a bit, looking embarassedly at the floor.  "Chloe, when you found out about me... when you ran away, I thought that you didn't want to see me again.  That's... part of why I decided to leave."
   Chloe's eyes went wider with understanding and guilt.  "Clark, I... I was just a little overwhelmed.  I needed some time to deal with what you showed me, but I wasn't..."
   Chloe stopped for a moment, squeezing her eyes shut and sending tears streaming down her cheeks.  She looked back up at him, her wet eyes glistening. "You're my best friend; I don't care what planet you're from."
   Still overcome with tears, she smiled brightly, and jovially shrugged.  "I'll always love you."
   Clark was surprised and touched.  He embraced his friend, holding her in his arms.  "I'm so sorry, Chloe; I should have told you before."
   Chloe's sense of humor was still surviving her tears. "Hey, it's not like I'd be winning any awards for 'best friend ever.'"
   She leaned back out of the hug.  "So... what else—besides my horrific reaction—made you want to leave Smallville?"
   Clark's eyes drifted off into the distance as he delved into thought.  He turned back toward the sunset.
   "I think that I have my powers for a reason."
   "...Because you're an alien?" Chloe jokingly responded.
   Clark turned back to her and gave her the "you know that's not what I meant" look. "I mean that I have a destiny.  I can use my powers to help people.  But I need to get out into the world to learn how."
   Chloe was starting to understand.
   "And staying in Smallville isn't exactly conducive to your 'super-hero training,' huh?"
   Clark nodded.  "That's actually one of the reasons that I've decided to be a journalist.  I figure that if I'm a member of the press, I can learn about disasters as they happen.  Maybe I can stop some of them."
   Chloe smiled proudly.  "And when you're not out saving people, you can use your amazing powers of journalistic eloquence to educate the people as to these dangers."
   Clark smiled back.  "Yeah.  I thought you might like that."
   "Well... I know you're busy out there learning to save the world, but don't forget that you've still got some people here in Smallville who'd like to see you from time to time."
   Clark beamed at her. "Thanks."
   Chloe noticed Clark's unusually happy reaction and paused for a moment. Suddenly, she realized Clark's internal dilemma.
   "Clark... you're not alone.  No matter where you are, or what two-ton vehicle you're punching in the face, don't forget that I'm always here for you."
   Clark couldn't help himself from smiling.  He breathed a sigh of relief, and took her words in.
   I'm not alone.
   "Thanks, Chloe. You sure the whole 'alien' thing doesn't bother you?"
Chloe almost laughed, and her comical cynicism shone through.  "Clark, honestly, compared to most people, aliens are a step up."