Surprise!

DJ Dubois

August 2018

Rating: T (Teen)

Notes: Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. Please send comments to dante0220 .

Chapter 1 [Right After "Nocturne"—Late September/Early October]

Summer tarried on the western Kansas prairies. Sol shone down from above. Gentle breezes billowed through the hayfields and withered corn stalks. The trees allowed but the barest tinges of yellow in their canopies. Despite the timing, Crater Lake beckoned a few for late picnics and campfires. More though headed for apple orchards and Autumn's endeavors.

Celebrations and work….Life's cycles continued to turn….

[Kent Farm]

Clark leaned up against his father's work bench. Despite his abilities, perspiration dampened his hairline. His eyes inspected the hay bales stacked from the barn's concrete floor until just parallel to where the Loft met the winding staircase. Satisfaction however seemed fleeting however. He'd put in a good day's work. He'd helped Martha deliver organic produce to the seniors in need for a couple of hours. He'd driven a row of wooden fence posts along the back forty. A field of corn stalks lay plowed under. Winter wheat replaced it at a rate to make Johnny Appleseed jealous. And that was on top of the hay baling and stacking.

For most farmers, a week's work at least….

For Clark Kent, the majority of a day….

Despite that Dejection ate at him. He frowned. He looked toward the house and town. Jonathan met with the Grange that weekend in Dodge City. Martha worked with Lex and Lionel at the mansion. Pete rested at his house. Byron remained at the medical center in his special room. Lana worked a shift at the Talon.

Lana….

He frowned. Guilt ate at him. For years, he'd watched and waited for his chance. He'd tried to speak to her. He'd survived her meteor rock necklace. Awkwardness clammed his mouth shut. Still he persevered. Courage finally pushed him to ask and go out with her.

And, as usual, the Kent luck scuttled his big chance.

"You have to be willing to share everything with someone. You have to take that chance or you'll miss out on something special."

His beloved barista's advice both soothed and stung his brain. Granted Relief flooded his mind to still be friends with her at that point. Still he flat out hated keeping the Truth from her. He knew she didn't want to know his Secret to expose it. He understood that she wanted to just know him…the whole him….

…extra special stuff and all….

She saw me in the tornado. I know things happened while I was on that red meteor! She suspects. She has to! She isn't stupid! She'd go through anything for me. He wrinkled his brow. As he leaned up against the bench, he felt something in his back pocket. What? He reached and pulled it out.

The sonnets…his attempt to understand her….

Sonnets. Not your usual reading….

I figured I'd try them.

And?

I found they weren't for me.

An honest answer from Clark Kent… Appreciation coaxed a nod from her.

An honest answer. If only it could be that simple! Why can't it be? He flipped through the book again. His mind struggled to grasp the stanzas' contexts and meanings. If it's important to Lana, it should be to me too. Right? Even if I'm a farmer, I should get them. Right?

His parents' arguing over Martha's new job only drove that point in further…and with a sledgehammer's grace.

I can be honest. But maybe she'd appreciate me trying to like what she likes? He considered the sonnet collection in his hands again. Maybe Byron might recommend something a little easier than Shakespeare. That might work! He inspected the stacked bales once again. Then he rushed for town at super speed.

Chores were done. Now his mission awaited…..