This is nothing but indulgent crap. I wrote this so that I could write one-shots for this alternate universe. Fair warning, I know nothing about the military. I also know nothing about Kansas or small towns.
OK, so, enjoy yourself!
Chapter 1
Lois's forehead was pressed against the window of the car as she watched the flat landscape rush by. They had been driving since 5:00 AM, and it was now afternoon. On her left sat her younger sister, Lucy. Lucy was three years younger than her and had strawberry blonde hair. She was also staring out at the dry farmland. Their father, Sam, was driving at the moment. He was in his forties, as was their mother, and had blonde, short-cropped hair. Their mother, Ellen, sat in the passenger seat. She was chubby and had red hair that was cut in the pixie style. She had been asleep for the past few miles, but was now awake.
She turned to look at her girls.
"You guys want the radio on?"
"Ok," Lucy said.
White noise blared out, and Ellen hurriedly turned down the volume and started scanning the channels. Lois leaned her head back and sighed. They were moving from Metropolis to Smallville, Kansas since her father was being reassigned. She didn't want to move, but she didn't have a choice. Metropolis was her favorite out of all their homes. And apparently, Smallville lived up to its name. There would be nothing to do there. She fully expected to hate it.
They drove for a few more hours, then Ellen announced, after consulting the map, that they were within a mile of their destination. When they pulled into town, Lois considered it a slight improvement to the farmland. It looked like a model of middle-American charm.
"This is cute," Ellen said cheerfully.
"Yeah," Sam mumbled.
He wouldn't be spending a lot of time in town. He was going to commute between their new house and the military base several miles away. They passed through and went down a road that led to an area that looked more suburban than most of the surrounding land. There were rows of houses, but they each had about 2 acres around them. A moving truck was parked in front of one of the houses. Men were hauling furniture out the back.
"I thought they'd be done by now," Sam muttered.
They parked on the curb and got out. Sam walked over to talk to the movers, and everyone else stretched. Lois spotted someone in the house across the street peering through their curtains. She turned to her mom.
"Mom, the neighbors are staring at us."
Ellen smiled and shook her head.
"Neighbors will be neighbors. As if you won't do the same thing."
Lois looked indignant, but everyone knew she was an eavesdropper. Ellen walked over to Sam and they exchanged words before turning back to the kids.
"They're still putting the heavy stuff in place, and it's a mess in there, so you kids can wander around outside, if you want."
Lucy bolted straight for the backyard, and Lois sighed and looked around. She trudged down the street, took a turn, and stumbled upon a playground beside a row of trees. There was no one around, so she walked over and sat on the swing set. Several minutes later, she heard people approaching on her left. She looked up and saw a group of about 6 teenagers walking in her direction. A blonde boy in a varsity jacket lead the group. They slowed down and muttered when they saw her, but continued walking past. She didn't say anything. They disappeared behind the trees, and she looked away and dazed off. A minute later, however, she heard raised voices. She looked over her shoulder again. There was more yelling. One of the voices sounded like pleading. She got a bad feeling and stood up.
As she walked toward the trees, a boy yelled, "Just leave me alone, Russell!"
She walked faster. The trees ended on the edge of a steep slope. At the bottom of the slope was a dirt road, and beyond that, a wheat field. The group of kids stood on the side of the road nearest her, and across the street was a black-haired boy in a grey sweatshirt and jeans. He was clutching a book in one hand, and his eyes - which blazed with a restrained fury - were fixed on the blonde boy, who she assumed was Russell. He glanced at her, and his expression changed to confusion. Russell, following his gaze, turned and looked around at her too, as did the others. As she glanced at Russell again, she noticed something in his hand. It was a rock. She looked back at the black-haired boy. Several rocks were scattered around his feet. Her eyes widened, and she stared at the bully.
"What the hell are you doing?" she breathed.
He laughed nervously and glanced around at his friends.
"Who are you?" he asked.
She marched down the hill.
"What the hell are you doing?" she said louder, anger rising in her voice.
As soon as she reached him, she shoved him to the ground. His friends gasped, cursed, and backed away quickly.
"Leave him alone!"
He gawked at her for a second before scrambling to his feet.
"C'monlet'sgo," he muttered as he started running up the hill, but his friends were already right behind him.
She rounded on the black-haired boy, who was staring at her with a dumbfounded expression.
"Are you hurt?"
"Uh…not really."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. They didn't hit me."
He was a bad liar.
"We should go to a doctor."
"No, it's ok. Honestly."
She frowned, but decided not to push it. Maybe he was afraid the bullying would get worse if adults got involved. She took a good look at him. His hair was curly, and he had a peculiarly handsome face. Most striking were his eyes, which were periwinkle blue. She'd never seen anyone in real life who was so good-looking. From the pitch of his voice, she guessed he was about 13.
"Thanks for standing up to those guys," he said shyly.
"It's nothing. I've never seen anything so horrible."
He shrugged, and a second of silence passed.
"You're not from around here."
"No. I just moved here today, actually. I'm Lois."
She held out her hand, and he looked at it for a moment before putting his hand in hers. He didn't really shake back, which resulted in her flopping his arm up and down. She held back a giggle.
"I'm Clark. Welcome to Smallville."
"Thanks."
She let go and smiled. She got the impression that he didn't talk to people that often.
"Where do you live?" he asked.
"Where? Oh…I don't know the street or anything, but it's like a mile out of town."
"Do you know your way around? I could walk you back, if you need help."
"No thanks, I think I got it."
"Ok. Well…I guess I'll see you around."
"Yeah. And if those guys bother you again, just let me know."
He smiled.
"Bye, Lois."
"Bye, Clark."
He turned and walked down the road. She watched him for a couple seconds before running back up the hill.
'''''''''''''''''''
"Where'd you go, Lois?" Ellen asked as her daughter bounded through the front door.
"Nowhere, Mom. Just this playground down the street."
"Oh, there's a playground? Lucy, that could be fun."
"I'm 12, Mom!" Lucy called angrily from the kitchen.
"Lois, can you help put things away?"
She looked around at the boxes littering the floor and opened one at her left labeled "closet".
"Ok."
''''''''''''''''''
Clark ran up the steps to the farmhouse and swung open the door.
"Hi, Mom!"
"Hey, there," Martha called from the kitchen, where she was peeling potatoes.
"Some new people moved into town," he said as he pulled off his shoes.
"New people?" she said with a hint of suspicion, "Did you see them?"
"Yeah, I met one of their kids," he said and opened the fridge.
"How old?"
"14?"
"Well, maybe you can make friends…Be careful, though."
"I know, Mom."
