Martha's unknown past
Lionel had just arrived home after a tired day in the office, when one of his servants took him an envelope. There was a letter inside and an invitation to the Old Students dance of the Metropolis High School.
The next morning Martha came early to the Luthor mansion. Lionel and she had a meeting at Metropolis and Lionel was taking her.
Lionel: Martha?! Didn't I say that would be I who went to your house?
Martha: You did. But I got up early today and I thought that I could came and we could have breakfast together…
Lionel: Fine! Great idea! Come in!
They sat on the dinning room and Lionel's servants took them the food: toasts, cookies, cakes… a lot of food!
Martha: What's that? – said Martha taking that envelope with her high school stamp – Wow! An old student's dance! Will you go?
Lionel: No. I never go. They sent me the invitation every ten years like if they were hoping to see me there…
Martha: You should go. It's always funny. My last old student's dance was three years ago…
Lionel: For women it's different… you went there and start to speak about family, husbands and children… Men only want to know if you have had more success than them, if you are richer than them, if your wife is more beautiful than theirs.
Martha: So… you aren't going to go?
Lionel: No.
Martha: Even if I go with you…
Lionel: Why would you go with me?
Martha: I don't know… we are friends… don't we?... you also came with me to my boring meetings… I want to go with you to your horrible dance… - she smiled.
Lionel: Would you really do that for me?
Martha: Sure! It would be a great time, you'll see! We will go there, and we will eat, and drink… and dance… we will go there like a… - she suddenly shut up.
Lionel: … like a couple…?
Martha: Sure… like a couple of friends.
The day of the dance arrived and Lionel had to pick up Martha at the farm. Clark opened him the door and he went up stairs and knocked Martha's room door.
Martha: Yeah?
Lionel: It's me, Martha. Are you ready?
Martha: Give me a minute, please!
That minute was ten minutes. But Lionel wait in the corridor until Martha opened the door wearing a spectacular brown dress which showed her naked back. She also wore gold high-spike-heels shoes, and her red hair falling freely on her shoulders.
Lionel didn't say anything; he just stood there, looking at that precious angel who was going out the room.
Martha: So… do you like it?
Lionel: Do I like what?
Martha (laughing): The dress!
Lionel: It's beautiful… really beautiful…
Martha: Thanks.
Lionel: You look really… breathtaking, Martha!
Martha: Thanks – she blushes a little – What I don't understand is why you didn't want me to wear any jewel because I have a pair of earrings which…
Lionel didn't let her finish her sentence, he put his finger on her red lips and caressed them, while with his other hand he took out a present.
Martha: Is this for me?
Lionel: I think that there isn't any other pretty woman here…
She smiled and opened it. There's a box, and inside there were a pair of diamond earrings and a matched necklace.
Lionel: Give me the honor…
Lionel took the necklace and walked to Martha's back. Martha let the box with the earrings on a table and removed her hair with her hands. She was almost crying.
Lionel: What's the matter? Don't you like them?
Martha: No! They are… perfect! They are really beautiful, Lionel. It's just that… it wasn't necessary… you needn't give me a present as expensive…
Lionel: You always say me that the money it's not important, that what is important is the detail…
Martha laughed.
Martha: Lionel, a pair of diamonds earrings and necklace it's not a detail.
Lionel: It is for me, and even more if it's for you… Martha, if I was able to, I would give you the moon and all the starts of the sky, but I can't… so accept this present as a sign of my… friendship… towards you.
Martha let her hair fall again on her shoulders and caressed the jewel on her neck, then she took the earrings and put them on, and finally, without say anything, she kissed Lionel's cheek softly.
Martha: Just friendship? – She whispered. And she started to go downstairs, leaving Lionel behind her with a surprised expression on his face.
At the limousine:
Lionel: What did you mean?
Martha: Excuse me?
Lionel: "Just friendship?"… you said it with a little sarcasm… what did you mean?
Martha: Nothing.
Lionel: Don't lie.
Martha: I didn't mean anything… I just wanted to know if it's just friendship what you tried to symbolize with this present.
Lionel: What more can it be?
Martha: I don't know… tell me.
Lionel: I?
Martha: Sure! The present is yours; it's you who know if there are other feelings in it…
Lionel: What kind of feelings?
Martha rolled her eyes: Let it go, Lionel.
Lionel: No! I can't!
Martha: You can't let it go, but you can't understand what I'm trying to say.
Martha turned her head to the window and watched at the landscape that was passing fast throw it. Lionel put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her neck.
Martha: What?
She couldn't finished the question, she spoke while she was turning round towards Lionel, but when her lips were close to his, he moved quickly and kissed her.
Lionel: Are these the feelings which you were thinking on?
Martha: Maybe, let me taste again.
She round his neck with her arms and they kissed again, this time was more lovely and longer.
Martha: Yeah… I think they are.
Both smiled and continued kissing.
When they arrived to the dance both Martha and Lionel wore their lips painted. After cleaned up their selves they kissed again and enter hand in hand to the party.
At the door there was an old woman taking the invitations and putting a stick with their names on the people's chest.
"Lionel Luthor?" said the woman.
Lionel: Sure.
"And who's your partner?"
Martha: Martha K- … - she stopped a while and repeated again – Martha Clark.
"Oh! I knew that I already knew you, Mrs. Clark? What are you doing here? Your class dance isn't today…"
Martha: I know, Mrs. Potter, but I came with him tonight.
"I see"
They left the woman with her job and went in.
Lionel: Why did you say your maiden name?
Martha: Because I don't want to be the widowed wife of Jonathan Kent. Today I just want to be Lionel Luthor's partner. Is this as bad?
Lionel: It isn't. – He kissed her hand and they went to sit.
After have dinner they walked to the dance-floor.
Lionel: Do you like to dance with me?
Martha: I will be a pleasure…
They were dancing too much time, until two men walked towards Lionel.
"Lionel Luthor?" said one of them.
Lionel: That's what says in my sticker. – He turned round to the two men and read the sticker of who had talked – John Stuart!
John: That's me! And here's Bill! – He pushed the other man.
Lionel: How long without seeing you two!
John: Right! But it's you who never want to come with us!
Lionel: I have more important things that coming to school dances.
Bill: But you have come today… and really well-accompanied! – The two men looked at Martha from her head to her foot. She smiled and looked at Lionel.
John: Lets see… - the man put his hand on Martha's sticker (which was on her left breast) to read better her name – "Martha Clark"… - he thought a while – Clark… Clark… Martha Clark… I know your face… Have we met before?
Lionel: She's our senator Martha Kent, John. Probably you know her for that…
John: Right! Martha Kent! I know you! I voted your husband! I'm sorry for your lost…
Martha smiled: Thanks.
Bill: She's really more pretty on the reality, don't you thing?
John: I think so.
Lionel: It's enough guys, you're putting the senator on a inconvenience…
Martha: Oh, they aren't, Lionel. It's funny.
Bill: Of course it is! But he never could see it…
John: Right! We were his best friends during his years in the High School… And he never laughed about our jokes…
Martha: Never? – She looked at him.
Lionel: They aren't funny! They just believe they are…
Martha started to laugh. Then two women went towards them, and each one hold the hand of one of Lionel's friends.
John: This is Margaret, my wife. We married… when… three… four months ago, dear?
Margaret: Five, darling, we got married five months ago.
John: An eternity –everybody laughed -. She's pregnant. We met the last year.
Martha: That's so nice.
Margaret: It is.
Martha: And you Bill?
Bill: This is Gloria. She's my wife since two years before to leave this school.
Gloria: Don't be fool, Bill! We started our relationship one year before leave this school and we marry when he left the university.
Bill: Right. We already had our first kid then… The other two came nine months after the wedding… I'm not absolutely sure of when we had the other three.
Martha laughed while Lionel thought on how he could lost his friends contact as much time.
John: Hey guys, this party is nearly finishing… how about if we get out of here and go to another side?
Gloria: What are you thinking on, John?
John: Ask your husband, he already knows!
They laughed.
Lionel: I think we prefer to leave and go home…
Martha: Why? It could be funny… and you haven't seen your friends for years…
Bill: Sure, double L, listen to your woman! Come on! We'll have a nice time!
Lionel ordered his driver to follow the red car which John was driving and they stopped on a street full of pubs and discothèques.
Lionel: So… where are we going?
Bill: Here!
The pub was called "The Red Stage" and at the door there were two big men and a poster of a nearly nude woman.
Martha's face get terrified looking at the neon sign.
John: Don't worry, senator, not all the woman inside are naked…
But Martha didn't listen to John, she just turned to Lionel and looked at him worried…
Martha: Lionel, please, lets go home…
Lionel: What?
Martha: I don't feel really good…
Lionel: But it was you who…
Martha: Please…
Lionel: I'm sorry guys, I'm really glad to have met you again, but Martha doesn't feel good, so we're going…
TO BE CONTINUED…