Disclaimer: As always... I don't own any character of this fic, but I do own the plot of this particulary story, which I'm writting just to have fun.
A/N: ENJOY IT!!!! & review it ^^
The man next door - 1
Like every morning, Clark found the breakfast on the table when he came into the kitchen, but not his mother.
"Mom?" he asked but she didn't answer. He paid a bit more attention and then listened to her voice coming from the living room. She was talking on the phone and Clark questioned himself who should be in the other side so early in the morning… so he used his powers to hear.
"At five it's fine… I'll be in the Talon, so after you come I'll try to escape" she was saying.
"You're the boss, you can escape whenever you want" a man's voice replied.
"You know I'm not that kind of person, Lionel…"
"I was just joking…"
Lionel! Lionel Luthor! He should have imagined it! He'd been calling and coming to the farm whenever he wanted since he'd proposed his mother to accepting his father's place in the senate. His visits and closeness to her really upset him… He wanted to stop all that, but he didn't know how to do it without hurt his mother.
"Clark?!" Martha had just come into the kitchen and had found his son standing in the middle of the room "Are you ok, sweetheart?"
"Sure!" he said quickly sitting down and beginning to eat while Martha left the telephone on its place "Who were you talking with?"
"Lionel" she said normally "I told him about the meeting I have tomorrow in Metropolis with the people who supported dad on his campaign and he offered to help me to prepare it"
"You can do it without any help" Clark pointed.
"Did you mean anyone's or Lionel's help?" she quizzed.
"I just can't understand why you trust him, mom!"
"He's being very nice since… dad's death… He believes I can do this and I can't ignore his help just because of his mistakes in the past"
"His mistakes nearly destroyed this family once!"
"Everybody deserves a second chance, Clark… You've also made wrong steps before and I would never stop loving you"
"It's not the same, mom"
"Maybe not… but Lionel's trying to be a good friend and…"
"He wants something else than just a friendship with you" Clark interrupted.
"…then I think I'm old enough to take care of myself…" she took her keys and her bag and left.
When the door bell rang at lunch time Clark hoped to see his mother in the other side because he hated being fallen out with her, but when he opened it he met a tall blonde-haired guy with green eyes and a half left ear.
"Good morning" the man said with a strong voice.
"Can I help you?" Clark questioned kindly.
"I'm looking for Martha"
"She's not here… who are you?"
"…just an old friend who's moved on the farm next door…" the man smiled nicely.
"Oh… I'll tell her you've come… You're name is…?"
"It doesn't matter… I'll come in another moment…"
"She works in the town old cinema, if you wish"
"Thanks" the man smiled again and stepped back "Thank you, boy" he repeated before leave.
She had preferred not going home to have lunch because she didn't want to admit Clark could be right with Lionel, and she neither wanted to continue their argument. So she just ate a sandwich and told the waitress she could come later.
She was cleaning a table when suddenly felt a hand on her waist. She turned round and met Lionel Luthor.
"Hi" she said stepping to one side to not feel so close from his look.
"I'm sorry, I…" he said nervously shaking his hand "Hi" he finally said and they both giggled shyly "Are you able to escape?"
"I'm afraid you'll have to wait until my waitress comes back, but I can serve you whatever you wish meanwhile" she told.
"Alright… but it will be better if you just take me a coffee and one of your delicious muffins because what I wish is not in the list" she smiled glanced she and she blushed.
"Fine…" she sighted trying to calm down and hiding her red cheeks with the tray "I'm right back"
It was late in the evening when Martha came back home, but the living room's light was on and she thought it would be the time to make it up with Clark.
"How was the eve?" Clark asked not very kind right when his mother stepped in.
"Sweetheart I didn't want to argue with you… I'm so sorry… but…"
"You needn't apologize, mom… it was my fault, I…"
"No, listen please. You were right, I mean… Lionel wants something else than a friendship with me, I know it since long ago… but he knows as well that I don't. He just plays this kind of flirting game with me because he haves fun making me blush and I have to admit that I like it too, he makes me laugh and have a good time, and this is something I thought I would never have again after… after your dad's..." she broke down but made an effort to not cry.
"Oh, mom…" Clark let his mother sit down on the couch and hugged her sweetly for a long while "Oh! A man came to visit you this afternoon!" Clark just said.
"Don't you remember his name?" she quizzed standing up and going to the kitchen.
"Actually, he never said it" Clark told following her "He said he was an old friend that has moved next door"
"Oh! This is great!" she exclaimed taking the dinner from the fridge to the table "It's been a long time since nobody came into the Johnson's farm…" she took a couple of dishes while talking "Maybe I should take some muffins to our new neighbors, then…" and she added leaving the dishes on the table while Clark sat down "I really want to know who this mysterious old friend of mine is…" she giggled taking two glasses from the cupboard.
"Well… you must remember him because he was missing a part of his ear"
Martha froze and the glasses crashed on the floor when she lost her balance and nearly felt down.
"Mom, are you ok?" Clark asked worriedly standing up to hold her.
"I am" she answered nodding "I… the glasses just slipped down… Oh, look what I did!" she knelt down to pick the crystal pieces.
"Mom… what happened? Do you know this guy?"
"I… no… no, no… I… it's just that I… I didn't lunch very well so I must be hungry… that's all…"
Her hands trembled, Clark helped her with the glasses and then took her to the table and made sure she ate enough before go to bed.
TO BE CONTINUED…