High School

Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross disembarked the bus at the bus stop, with Chloe wondering if Claire would be late because she missed the bus.

'Well I shouldn't be too worried, she often misses the bus, yet she's somehow never really late.'

"Hey Claire, over here!"

Chloe looked in the direction Pete was yelling, finding her best friend Claire Kent. Claire was again wearing a hoodie too large for her and baggy cargo pants.

'I swear if she put even little effort into the way she dressed she could be super popular. Then again maybe it's better she doesn't, she's better off with us than the popular kids anyway.'

"Claire, you missed the bus again so how come you got here before us."

"O-oh it's just that my dad drove me here, sorry i didn't tell you guys."

"C'mon Chloe, lay off being a journalist."

"Right, sorry."

"It's okay we love you just the way you are, don't we Petey."

"Speak for yourself."

Pete turned his away in embarrassment with cheeks stained red, causing Claire to snicker, all the while Chloe was oblivious to Pete's crush.

"Hey by the way do you guys have partners for the homecoming dance, or are you guys not going?"

"I don't really have any dresses, so i think i might not come."

"I don't have any partners lined up, but i'll have to go as the editor of smallville torch."

"W-well if you have to go anyways Chloe, i could take you, i mean strictly as friends."

"Woah how gallant of you, but no thanks, i'm gonna be there photographing not dancing."

Chloe led the way towards their school with Claire and Pete trailing behind.

"You should just tell her how you feel Pete, I'm sure even if she doesn't like you she won't make it feel awkward."

"Oh jeez, so she's definitely going to reject me,huh?"

"No, I didn't mean it that way."

"Hey, what are you two whispering about over there?"

""Nothing!""

"mmhm?"

As they came to the entrance steps of their high school, Claire spotted her own romance problem, by the name of Lana Lang. Lana was probably the most popular girl in school, with her looks and being the head cheerleader. Claire had been crushing on her secretly for most of her life. Things could have turned okay, if it wasn't for one problem, that she was straight. And the evidence of that was she was currently making out with her boyfriend Whitney Fordman the captain of the football team.

Chloe and Pete were wondering why Claire stopped, but the answer became clear when they noticed Lana.

"Claire, maybe you should just give up, I mean there are other girls out there who you know aren't straight, like Amber."

"I wish it was that easy Chloe, right Pete?"

"Hey I said nothing, don't take it out on me!"

Their group of three walked around them, or at least tried to, because the moment Claire came near Lana she stumbled on her hands and knees. Chloe and Pete shared a look, knowing that anytime Claire came close to Lana she became a total klutz.

"Hey Claire, are you okay?"

Claire came face to face with her great unrequited love, and the only thing she could feel once again was nauseous. Oddly she could swear she saw Lana´s emerald necklace, made from a meteorite fragment, shining.

"Thanks Lana, but I'm okay."

Claire got to her feet by herself and hurried to school with Chloe and Pete on her heels. Pete came next to Claire and whispered in her ear.

"This is why I don't take dating advice from you, Claire."

'Damn it, Pete!'