Chapter 3

Clark walked slowly toward the daily planet. This new guy seemed like an alright guy, but he bugged Clark some how. Maybe it was because he took off after Lana the way he did. ' Who knows. ' Clark thinks to himself. He walks in the door and takes the elevator to the basement. If anyone can help here it is Chloe. Maybe she can dig up some dirt on him.

"Hey Chloe."

"Hey Clark, what's up?"

"I was wondering if maybe you could do me a favor and find out what ever you can about a new guy at school." Clark asks her.

"Sure what do you know about him?" Chloe asks.

"His name is Dawson Leery, and he lived in Capeside Mass." Clark tells her.

"Ok give me a couple of minutes." Chloe says, as she starts typing on her computer. "What am i looking for here Clark?"

"Anything out of the ordrnary. Like has he ever been to Smallville? Has he ever been in trouble? Anything you can find really." Clark says.

"Ok why so interested?" Chloe asks.

"Him and Lana seemed to hit it off this morning. I just want to make sure he is on the up and up." Clark says.

"Oh i see, it has to do with Lana." Chloe smiles at him.

"Not really, well ok maybe a little. I just don't want her to get hurt by another freak is all." Clark says.

"That's it?" Chloe asks.

"Ok so maybe i am a little jealous. But only a little." Clark says.

"Ok, since you told me the truth. I can help you out. Lets see. His name is Dawson Wade Leery. He was born and raised in Capeside, his parents are Mitch and Gail Leery. Oh Clark, His dad was just killed in a car crash a month ago." Chloe says.

"Man ok now i know why he is here instead of back east." Clark says.

"You mean west." Chloe corrects him.

"Huh, what are you talking about?" Clark asks her.

"He was not only accepted to U.S.C. film school, he was also granted early admission. Clark that is the best film school in this country, and not only did they want him. They wanted him early, this guy is talented. It says here he won an award at the Boston film festival's juinor divsion for one of his films. His record is squeeky clean, just as much as yours is. I would say he has a world of talent Clark, and he got it the normal way. With out the help of meteor rocks." Chloe says.

"So he seems ok then." Clark asks.

"Not only does he sound ok, but i would say you will have a lot of compatition on your hands. This guy seems to be the real deal, and he has a habit of saving people as well, look at this." Chloe shows him the screen.

"Wow, he took a boat and went and rescued a couple of his friends in hurricane like conditions. Not only did he return but he saved both of his friends. He sounds like a guy you would really like to get to be friends with." Clark says.

"Yeah Clark he sounds like you. Only he doesn't have your gifts so to speak. Dawson saved a man from a burning building, and he also helped the police break up a drug ring in Capeside. He helped them arrest a guy named Mike Potter. Tell me though does he have your good looks and charm?" Chloe asks.

"I would say just as much as i do if not more, only he is a blonde." Clark says. "Plus he seems to have a guinue desire to help people, or at least his friends."

"Well if what we found out is any indecation, i would say Lana is in as good hands as if she was with you." Chloe says.

"Yeah, only he doesn't have any of my secerts." Clark sighs.

"He also doesn't have Lana's heart." Chloe says. "Besides, from the yearbook i pulled up, he seems to have someone he is in love with." She shows him a picture of Dawson and a brunette girl.

"Says here her name is Joey Potter. It seems they were dating when this picture was taken. Not only that But by the way he is looking at her, i would say they are in love with each other." Clark says.

"Wait Her name is Joey Potter? As in the daughter of Mike Potter? Wonder why they aren't together." Chloe says. "Look here is an articale on it in their local paper. It seems the fire at Joey's family restraunt was the cause of rival drug dealers. Dawson saved Mike Potter from the fire, before they knew it was related to drugs. Then the artical on the drug bust says. Mike Potter was arrested today with the help of A one Dawson Leery and a Josephine Potter. He was arrested for drug trafficing."

"Man that must have been hard to do." Clark says.

"Clark it sounds like to me that he did it all to save her. It also sounds like he convinced her to help turn in her own dad." Chloe says.

"He did what was right even though it cost him the one thing he wanted the most, her. Now that is courage under fire." Clark tells her.

"Clark i don't think i would be worried about Lana's safty, as much as i would her heart. This Dawson guy sounds like the real deal, the all American Boy." Chloe says.

"I know that Chloe, thanks for putting it into my head." Clark says.

"Look Clark as much as i love you, maybe it is a good thing. Maybe it will make both of you realize that you either need each other, or it is time to let each other go. Of course you do have one hope." Chloe says.

"Oh yeah, pray-tell what is that?" Clark asks.

"That this Joey will come looking for him." Chloe says.

"Chloe we can't do that, as much as i would like to. We have to allow nature to run it's course," Clark says.

"What and hope it all works out in your favor?" Chloe asks.

"No that it all works out in the favor of everyone involved. Me, Dawson, Lana and This Joey girl. Besides she is kind of hot." Clark says with a smile.

"Clark stay focused would you?" Chloe laughs at him.

As Chloe is saying this Clark's cell rings. He looks at the caller ID and a smile forms on his face. Chloe knows at once it is Lana calling him. He only gets that smile when he is talking to her.

"Lana calling huh?" She asks.

"Yeah. Hey Lana how are you." Clark asks.

"I'm doing good, Um Clark think we can reschedule tonights study session for tomorrow night?" Lana asks him.

"Sure Lana. Why something come up?" Clark asks.

"Well me and Dawson, the new guy, well we are going to have dinner tonight to talk. Then i thought i would show him the sights of Met U." Lana tells Clark.

"Oh, ok. Sure Lana no problem. Call me tomorrow and let me know when you are free. Have fun tonight." Clark says.

"Thanks Clark, and i am sure i will. Dawson seems like a nice guy." Lana says.

"Yeah he does seem like he is ok. Will probable be a real good friend." Clark says.

"Yeah i'm hoping. Ok well i need to go. Talk to you tomorrow. Bye." Lana says.

"Bye Lana."

"Ut oh, something that didn't go well." Chloe says.

"Well lets just say, I am seriously thinking about super speeding to Capeside and dropping a hint as to where this Dawson is." Clark sighs.

"What happen to letting nature take its course?" Chloe asks.

"Well, it is natural that i would want to help his family and friends find him so they won't worry." Clark says.

"Ah, now my friend you are splitting hairs. That isn't really nature, that is jealousy." Chloe tells him.

"You're right, but they are going to dinner tonight. Then she is going to show him around the campus." Clark says.

"Is Clark Kent really that worried?" Chloe asks.

"Come on Chloe, you read his dossier as well as i did. He will have her eating out of his hand before the night is over with, and i won't be able to stop it." Clark says.

"Sure you can Clark just ask me not to go to dinner with her. Besides i think you are giving me a little too much credit." A voice from the doorway says. "Sorry didn't mean to suprise you. Lana said you had a friend that works here, Said you might be here. I just wanted to come by and see if you were going to be ok with me taking Lana out to dinner. I can see that you aren't. I mean you must really be worried if you checked into my back ground. So i will cancel it. Being that i am new she won't think it has to do with you." Dawson says.

"No it is ok Dawson. Yeah it does kind of bother me, but i will be ok. Sorry about the whole checking you out thing. Just from where we are from you can't be too careful. We have seen a lot of weird stuff happen, and a lot of it was directed at the girls. Oh sorry Dawson. Dawson Leery this is Chloe Sulluvin." Clark says.

It is only now that Chloe has remembered to breath again. Part of it was the fact that they had been caught snoopping. Part of it was how good looking she thought Dawson was. Still another part, was the fact that Dawson wanted to check with Clark before taking Lana out.

"Hello Ms. Sulluvin." Dawson says.

"Hi, Um you can call me Chloe if i can call you Dawson." Chloe says.

"I would like that Chloe." Dawson says.

"Me too Dawson." Chloe says.

"Any way Clark, i'm sorry about the whole Lana thing. She asked me to go to dinner with her. I couldn't say no with out maybe hurting her feelings. If you would rather me not i will completely understand." Dawson says.

"No Dawson it is fine. Some how, after reading a little about your life, i think you do understand more than the normal guy." Clark says.

"More than you can get off of that computer." Dawson says.

"Does that have to do with this Joey girl?" Chloe asks.

"Chloe! Leave off of the repoter side would you." Clark says.

"Sorry Dawson it is just in my blood." Chloe says.

"No, it is ok. Yeah Chloe it does have to do with Joey. Long story short. We turned in her dad, she decided she didn't want to know me. Then after the summer she wanted me back, but i didn't. Then she ends up falling for my best freind, and running away on a sail boat for the summer. Things just haven't been the same since then. I thought we were getting close, but life got in the way." Dawson says.

"Your dad dying?" Chloe asks.

"Man you don't pull any punches do you? You must be good at your job?" Dawson asks.

"Oh, um, I'm sorry. It is the reporter in me is all." Chloe says.

"Yeah it just takes awhile to get use to it is all." Clark says.

"Yeah see i decied to drop out of U.S.C. film school and go to the one in Boston. Which isn't as good, but is still in the top four. I figured that would give me and Joey time to fix what was wrong and really give it a shot this time. While my dad wasn't that thrilled with the idea, he thought i was just throwing away my dream for a girl. We had this big blow out, and i went back to Boston. I got word the next day that my dad had been killed in an accident. So you see i blame myself for it. If i wouldn't have acted like a spoiled brat and went back, maybe he would still be alive. Naturally with the way my brain works if it was my fault then it was Joey's as well, cause i was staying because of her, kind of. Any way, now when i am in the same room as her, i feel all of the guilt. I couldn't take it any more, so i came here. Hoping i could escape from it all for a while. Guess not, huh. Old deamons follow you where ever you go." Dawson relays to them.

"I'm sorry Dawson if i brought up some bad memories." Chloe tells him.

"No it is ok. One of the reasons i came here was to get past it all. All you guys did was make me admit it. In the future though if you want to know something about me, just ask. I'll tell you what ever you want. Ok, well i have a dinner date to break so i need to go." Dawson says.

"No Dawson don't break that date. If i can't be with her then you should. She could do a lot worse than you." Clark says.

"But she could do better." Dawson says pointing at Clark as he turns and walks out.

"Amazing how someone who has only been here a day, can pick up on something like that." Chloe says.

"Yeah maybe i should be careful. I can maybe see him taking Lana away from me, for good." Clark says.

"Just remember Clark you and Lana aren't together. Not only that but she has been spending alot of time with Lex." Chloe says.