Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or the characters!

Chapter 1: The assignment.

"Ok, everyone. First I'll put you into pairs of two and then I'll hand out your biology assignments," Mr. Jenkins, the new biology teacher who replaced Lex's ex-wife, called out. He picked up a piece of paper and called out names, "John and Dan, Nick and Anna, Ewan and Derrick, Chloe and Pete."

Chloe and Pete looked at each other and smiled. They always had fun working on projects together, a little too much fun; as their last biology project mark indicated. Obviously, Mr. Jenkins, being a new teacher, did not know that it wasn't wise to pair these two together.

Mr. Jenkins continued with the name calling until he got to the final pair, "Clark and Lana, you two are the last pair."

Clark looked at Lana, at the table next to his. The fact that they would be working together, alone, made Clark a bit nervous. She looked at him and gave a bright smile, which quickly melted away all his doubts.

He hadn't talked to her alone since that night she revealed to him that Whitney was missing in action. He really wanted to ask her how she was doing.

Mr. Jenkins voice snapped Clark back to reality, "Now I'll hand out your assignments," he said as he walked down the aisle, passing out the assignment packages, "Each pair will have two weeks to complete the assignment. All the instructions are included in the packages I've given you, but if you still have questions you can always come to me for help. Of course you'll be reporting to me every two days on your progress in the form of a journal. At the end of the two weeks you will present your project at the science fair. Now you may rearrange your seats so that you will be sitting next to your partner. And you may begin to discuss your project."

Then Mr. Jenkins took his seat at his desk and everyone began to shuffle around.

"Hey, Clark," Lana said cheerfully as she sat down next to Clark. Even though she was smiling, Clark could still see some sadness in her eyes. He decided not to confront her about it in public.

"Hey Lana, how's it going?" Clark replied casually. She could see in his eyes that he knew that she wasn't feeling to cheerful, but he decided against confronting her; she was glad he didn't because she would probably burst into tears.

"I'm fine," she lied, "I just want to get started on this project right away. I love biology." She smiled at Clark to reassure him that she was ok.

"Really? I prefer math," Clark replied as he opened his assignment package and began to read. Lana also began to read. But soon her expression turned from happy to disgust.

"No way, I'm not going to dissect a pig," Lana whined and kept the look of disgust on her face.

Clark couldn't help but laugh at the expression on her face and the fact that she was wrong.

"What? What's so funny, it's disgusting?" she exclaimed.

"You read it wrong. We don't have to dissect a pig; it's just an example of a project we can pick. See, he has a list of several things we can choose from and that's just one of them," he said between laughs.

"Oh," she said weakly. But soon she began to laugh at herself and Clark continued to laugh.

Meanwhile at a table close by.

"Chloe, if you're going to stare at them all day, I'm going to ask Mr. Jenkins to get me a new partner," Pete said, frustrated.

Chloe was staring at Lana and Clark, who were still laughing. "What are they laughing about?" she thought.

Then she noticed that Pete was talking to her, so she turned to him and said, "Huh? What did you say Pete?"

Pete sighed in exasperation, "Chloe are you going to sit there and stare at them all day or are you going to work with me?"

"Sorry Pete! You now have my undivided attention," she said as she turned to him and gave him a big bright smile. She decided that she was not going to stare at Clark like a lovesick puppy. She had to get over him. And she had to get over the fact that no matter what, Clark was always going to be latched onto Lana.

"Good," Pete said, "Now lets get-" Pete tried to say but the bell began to ring. Telling them to get moving to there next classes.

"How about we meet at my house after school to work on the project," Chloe said as they gathered up there books.

"Sure," Pete replied. They walked out of the class and off to there next ones.

++++++++++++++++

"So did you want to meet at the Talon after school to work on our project?" Clark asked Lana, as they headed to their next class.

"I was thinking we could meet in your loft," Lana replied, "The Talon will be packed after school. I was thinking we would need a more private place to work."

"Sure, you're probably right," Clark replied.

"Ok, well I'll see you later," Lana said as she turned down a hallway.

"See ya," Clark called back. Standing there watching her as she walked away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

So what do you guys think? Should I continue? Please review so I'll know! Thanks!