STAND BACK

CHAPTER ONE- BAD DOG.

"Clark, there's going to be a new student coming here to Smallville High," said Chloe Sullivan as she jogged up to him. He was standing by the lockers getting one of his text books out.

"Oh really? When is he or she supposed to arrive?" Clark Kent asked as he turned to her and closed his locker. "And how'd you find out?"

Clarks green eyes always made Chloe melt.

"Today during Science I think," Chloe said finally able to find her voice. "This is a small town." She added with a grin.

Her blond hair was spiked outwards in layers. She was dressed in jeans and a white tank top.

"Great," Clark said.

He has wavy, thick dark brown hair, almost black and green eyes. He was dressed in jeans and a green tee shirt. His backpack was over his left shoulder.

Lana Lang came up to them shortly. Chloe felt herself bristle. She liked Lana but yet she didn't. She knew Clark always carried a torch for her, even though she and Clark were more than best friends now. They were dating.

Lana's dark brown eyes landed on Chloe. Her long dark brown hair was pulled into a ponytail. She was dressed in a floral sun dress.

"I heard there's going to be a new student here," Lana said.

"Yeah. They're supposed to arrive during Science class," Chloe said indifferently.

Lana nodded. "I'll see you two at lunch then,"

With that, Lana headed off down the hall.

Clark put his arm around Chloe's shoulders and they began walking down the hall after Lana.

"You need to relax," Clark said with a smile on his face. "I'm with you."

Chloe didn't respond immediately.

"I know. I'm trying," she said looking up at Clark with a smile. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and a squeeze.

They entered their Science class. Clark was sitting next to his best friend Pete. Lana was sitting behind them and on the other side of the classroom and Chloe was sitting behind Clark.

Their teachers, Miss Allison Travis stepped into the classroom with a girl dressed in jeans, a navy tank top and a white hooded jogging jacket over it that zippered up the front. She had shoulder length light auburn hair and green eyes. She had her backpack over one shoulder and she looked nervous.

"Class, this is our new student," the teacher said. "Her name is Elizabeth Reyes."

Clark gave Elizabeth a friendly smile. She returned it.

"She transferred here from Vancouver, British Columbia. I hope you will all make her feel welcomed. Please take a seat,"

Elizabeth walked around the desk where Chloe and Keith were sitting and sat behind them beside Chloe.

Clark turned around.

"Hi! I'm Chloe Sullivan," Chloe said brightly turning to Elizabeth.. "And this is Clark Kent."

"Hi," Clark said softly.

"Hi. I'm Elizabeth Reyes," Elizabeth said.

"Why don't you hang out with us? We'll show you around," Chloe said cheerfully.

"That would be great thanks," Elizabeth said beaming.

Mrs. Travis began the lesson.

When the class was over, Chloe, Clark and Elizabeth began heading down the corridor to go to lunch. There were a group of jocks standing by the lockers talking. One of them caught sight of Elizabeth.

"It's the hick!" he cried.

All of them turned around.

"Do you sleep in the barn? Or in a stall?" another one asked.

That set the group off laughing hysterically. Elizabeth's eyes began filling with anger and tears. Chloe put her arm around Elizabeth's shoulders.

Clark narrowed his eyes at them. "Leave her alone Eric," he said firmly.

"Back off Kent," Eric Edwards said stepping up to Clark and he got right in his face. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Actually it does," Clark said. "She's my friend. Back off."

Eric hesitated for a moment, and then backed away.

"You're lucky," Eric said to Elizabeth as the group began walking away and jostled Elizabeth purposefully to the point her books fell from her arms.

Clark went over to Elizabeth and Chloe. He crouched down to help Elizabeth pick up her books.

"You okay?" he asked looking at her with concern.

"Yeah. I'm used to hearing that," Elizabeth said sadly as Clark handed her her English textbook, Math and History. "They think that living in Vancouver, British Columbia is like living in the country. I mean it is, but I live in the town. The outskirts are the country."

Chloe looked upset. "That's horrible,"

"Don't worry. They won't be bothering you anymore," Clark said.

"I appreciate it," Elizabeth said gratefully.

They went to lunch.

When school was over, Clark invited Chloe and Elizabeth over to his house to hang out. Elizabeth was introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Kent. Mrs. Kent just loved her.

Then, they went out to the barn and climbed up to the loft where Clark hangs out. All three of them curled up on furniture and just relaxed.

"What does your father do?" Chloe asked.

She and Elizabeth were curled up on a couch while Clark was stretched out on a hammock facing the girls.

"Oh. He isn't around," Elizabeth said suddenly sounding sad. "He was killed 2 years ago."

"I'm so sorry," Clark said looking stricken.

"Thanks. It's just me and my mom now," Elizabeth continued. "But my dad was into construction."

Chloe nodded.

Just then, they heard someone coming up the stairs. Elizabeth stiffened and became alert.

"I think it's your other friend, Clark, Elizabeth replied. "Lex."

Sure enough, Lex Luthor stepped into view.

"Hey Lex," Clark said giving Elizabeth a quizzical look before he got up off the hammock and went over to his friend.

"Hi Clark, Chloe," Lex said nodding to Chloe, and then his eyes landed on Elizabeth. "Who is this lovely young lady?"

"This is Elizabeth Reyes," Clark said. "She the new student at Smallville high. She came from Vancouver."

Lex extended his hand. Elizabeth stood up and shook it. Lex was the richest person in Smallville. He was the same ages as Clark and Chloe but he was bald and had blue eyes. Lex was dressed in black slacks and a pale blue satin shirt.

"Nice to meet you," Elizabeth said as she started to blush slightly.

Chloe caught Clarks' eye and he winked at her.

"So how do you like Smallville so far?" Lex asked Elizabeth.

He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Chloe was having a hard time keeping a straight face. She could tell Lex liked Elizabeth right away. Clark was also fighting the urge to break into a grin but was losing the battle.

"It's great. Definitely different from Vancouver. I hope my mom and I stay here," Elizabeth said blissfully.

"I hope so too," Lex said then moved his eyes onto Clark. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Clark's smile immediately vanished from his face as Lex pulled Clark aside.

"I think Lex likes you," Chloe said to Elizabeth grinning.

"Really? How can you tell?" Elizabeth asked.

"We've known Lex for a while. I can tell," Chloe said.

"I think he's cute too," Elizabeth said shyly.

"If I know Clark, he's seen it too and he'll get Lex to ask you," Chloe said.

"You two are best friends right?" Elizabeth inquired not seeing Lex cast a glance at her every few minutes as he talked with Clark toward the back of the loft so they wouldn't be overheard.

"Yeah and a little more," Chloe said grinning broadly. "We're dating."

Chloe and Elizabeth giggled.

At that moment, Lex and Clark came back over.

"Is everything okay?" Elizabeth asked looking concerned.

"Everything's fine," Clark assured her.

Elizabeth relaxed.

"How do you get to school?" Clark asked curiously.

"Oh. I walk," Elizabeth said sounding a bit embarrassed. "We live on Escrow Street in a colonial style house."

"Escrow Street? That's about a mile walk to the high school," Lex said stunned.

"We don't have a car yet. Things are a bit off because we just moved here. We're still unpacking," Elizabeth said.

Chloe shook her head.

"How about if I pick you up each morning?" Lex asked suddenly.

Again Chloe and Clark winked at each other.

"That would be really nice of you, but I wouldn't want to inconvenience you," Elizabeth said looking flattered.

"It's no inconvenience at all," Lex said. "I'll pick you up at 7:30."

Elizabeth was shocked but she smiled and nodded.

"I'd better go now. See you all later," Lex said and gave Elizabeth a smile before heading back the stairs to the loft.

Chloe couldn't keep it in anymore. She giggled.

"Yes I definitely think Lex has a crush on you," she giggled.

"I believe so too," Clark said grinning. "He's a good guy."

"I can tell," Elizabeth said smiling too. "I've never had a boyfriend before."

"What? Why? You're so pretty!" Chloe said shocked.

Elizabeth shrugged and blushed again at the same time.

"I don't know. No one has really showed interest in me that way,"

"I find that hard to believe," Clark said.

Chloe checked her watch. "Whoops, I'd better go. I'll see you two tomorrow,"

Chloe gave Elizabeth a hug which, Elizabeth was completely taken by surprise and she gave Clark a kiss before leaving as well.

"I'd better be going as well," Elizabeth said standing up.

"Sure," Clark said also standing up. "Can I ask you something?"

Clark was standing directly in front of Elizabeth.

"Sure," she replied.

"How'd you know it was Lex coming up the stairs?" Clark asked.

"Oh. It's just one of my gifts I guess," Elizabeth replied. "I can sense things."

"Oh. Okay," Clark said.

"I'll see you tomorrow then," Clark said smiling. "Dress nicely. Lex might actually ask you to marry him."

Elizabeth laughed and blushed.

"Bye Clark. Thanks for sticking up for me today," Elizabeth said.

"No problem," Clark said gently patting her on the shoulder.

Elizabeth turned and left the loft.

Elizabeth began walking home. There was a path that cut through a small section of woods. It was now 7:00. Her mom would probably worry where she was all this time, but once she told her she found some nice friends to hang out with, her mom wouldn't worry as much.

It was only seven o'clock, but the woods were already dark and shadows shifted. Elizabeth shivered and zippered her jacket up more. The air had picked up a chill suddenly.

Elizabeth's sneakers crunched over dead leaves and twigs. Just then, she heard a noise behind her.

She froze. Twigs snapped from somewhere behind her.

"Hello? Who's there?" Elizabeth called.

No answer.

Another twig snapped. Elizabeth was getting frightened now.

She heard something growling.

Probably just a dog, Elizabeth thought.

She continued to walk, but quickened her steps. It seemed whatever was following her also quickened its steps. Suddenly, a huge hairy beast leaped onto her blindsiding her.

She landed on her back. The beast was on top of her. The eyes were yellow and it had a long snout with white canines and incisors. It looked like a wolf, but there were no wolves in Kansas, plus the size of this thing was huge. Not a normal wolfs size.

It was black and had some frightening human qualities about it.

Suddenly, the wolf jumped on her again and began tearing into her flesh.

She was screaming and felt the blood flowing. It was mauling her. The pain was horrendous.

She was sure she was going to die.

Just then, the beast howled in pain. Slipping in and out of consciousness, she caught a glimpse of the beast on fire as it tore back into the woods.

Someone was hovering above her. She caught a glimpse of the person.

"Clark," she moaned before passing out.

When Elizabeth came to, she was in Smallville Trauma Center. Her vision was blurry for a moment then cleared. Sitting around her bed was Clark, Chloe, her mom, the Kents and Lex.

"Elizabeth!" her mom cried happily as she came over to the bed and threw her arms around Elizabeth.

Elizabeth's mom looked exactly like her. Only her hair was chin length. They were often confused a sisters. Her mom was dressed in black jeans and a pink shirt. Worry and fear creased her expression.

Elizabeth smiled and hugged her mom back.

A heart monitor was hooked up to her as well as an IV in her left hand which dripped gently.

Elizabeth went to move, but pain shot up her entire body.

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked confused. "The last thing I remember was this huge dog attacking me."

"Clark found you," Chloe said.

"How'd he know where I was?" Elizabeth asked moving her eyes onto Clark.

"You forgot your notebook," Clark explained holding up Elizabeth's green spiral notebook. "That path is the only way to get from my house to yours cutting through the woods. I was hurrying to catch up."

"Thank God you found her," Mrs. Reyes said with pure gratefulness as she gave Clark a hug. Clark seemed a bit embarrassed but flattered all the same.

"How are you feeling?" Mr. Kent asked softly.

His flannel plaid shirt was tucked into his jeans.

"Like I've been hit with a bus," Elizabeth moaned.

"We'd better go. Get better okay?" Mrs. Kent said as she gave Elizabeth's shoulder a gentle squeeze before she and Mr. Kent left the hospital room. "Clark you can stay for a bit."

Lex sat down on the other side of Elizabeth's bed and leaned forward, clasping his hands.

"It was a miracle Clark found me. Had he not, I don't know what that thing would've done," Elizabeth said as tears formed in her eyes. "I'm so grateful toward you."

Clark just smiled and playfully leaned over the footboard of the bed and grabbed her shin.

"It was nothing. I was helping out a friend," he said grinning.

Lex put a hand on Elizabeth's arm.

"The main thing is that you are okay. The doctors say nothing internal was damaged. The wounds should heal in time,"

Elizabeth moved her eyes onto Lex.

"Thank Heavens," Elizabeth said.

Clark, Lex and Chloe stayed until 8 then Chloe and Clark had to leave. They promised Elizabeth to come and see her in the morning. Lex however, remained.

"Don't you have to go? I'm not trying to push you out or anything," Elizabeth said surprised.

"No. There's no one back at the house waiting for me. My father's away again doing business for LuthorCorp," Lex replied.

"I appreciate you staying," Elizabeth smiled before she drifted off into sleep.

She dreamed that a wolf was in bed in replace of her and turned and clamped its jaws on Lex's throat. She screamed.