Disclaimer: DC Comics owns all rights to the characters within. They are used without permission and not meant to infringe on copyrights or meant to generate income.

Also, if you have not read my other stories, it would be helpful to do so before reading this one. The chronology goes: Brothers in Arms, Where Do We Go From Here, Tragedies of the Past, Betrayal From Within, Future Sins, Reestablishing Bonds, Parents and Children, and New Allies.

Rivals or Friends, chapter 1

"It's ridiculous that we have to do this," Conner complained. "They have our records; why can't they just assign us to where they know we belong? This is a waste of time."

"Now, Conner," Martha chided him. "You know that the school year isn't the only thing the guidance counselors want to talk to you about. They also want to talk about your future. It's not too early to think about college."

"How are we going to pay for college?" Conner asked. "It's expensive."

"Don't worry about that," Jonathan said. "We managed for Clark; we'll find a way for the two of you."

"You shouldn't have to worry about money," Martha said.

"I have access to accounts that can pay for it," Max informed him. "There's more than enough for wherever you wish to go."

"Where'd you get that money?" Jonathan asked.

"Some of it was the Contessa's. The rest of it was what I earned with the Groups. It was meant for living expenses, but mine were minimal, and I saved the rest."

"We should get going," Martha informed them. "I know I don't need to remind you to be polite!"


The counselor was running late, so she had taken both boys into her office at the same time. Normally, that didn't happen, but since they were family, she asked whether it would be okay. Neither Conner nor Max had any objections.

The counselor looked at their records. "You both did very well at the end of last year. I'm going to recommend that you enter the honors program. Not only will it go at a pace you should find more challenging, but it looks good on a college applications!"

"That sounds like a good idea," Conner said.

"Yes, it does," Max agreed. "It will be a little more interesting."

"If the two of you keep your grades at the same level in these new classes, I think you can really compete for the top place in your class," the counselor told them.

"We wouldn't really be competing against each other, would we?" Max asked.

"You'd be getting a rank in the class, and both of you would be in the running for first with those grades. I may be getting ahead of myself here, but you both did so well that if you continue to excel, you'll be within the top five at least."

She continued, "On the behavior side of things, I'm happy to see that there was a marked improvement. Conner, you seem to have had a few rough spots early on, but I guess Max helped you out when he came."

Max chuckled. "If anything, it's the opposite. Conner's helped me out so many times. He's the good one of the family, not me."

"I wish you wouldn't say that," Conner objected. "You don't give yourself enough credit. You also help me a lot more than you think."

"Do either of you have plans for college yet?" the counselor asked. "It's not too early to think about it!"

"I want to go, but I haven't looked at where or to study what yet," Conner said. "I was going to start getting information this year, probably focusing on places strong in the sciences."

The counselor smiled. "I have some suggestions that I can give you later. What about you, Max?"

"I haven't looked into where I'd like to go yet," Max replied. "However, I'm considering a triple major in computer sciences, political science, and psychology."

"That's very...ambitious," she said. "That will be a lot of work. Are you sure that you want to tackle all of that at once? I think it'd be wiser to focus on one and just take courses in the other two."

"I'm confident that I could do it without any problems," Max replied.

"Well, that's in the future. For right now, you've got high school to finish."


"I don't think she thought I was serious," Max commented as he and Conner walked to the Kent's shop. "She seemed to think that it was an unreasonable statement."

"If I didn't know you, I'd say that it was an unreasonable statement," Conner responded. "Not everyone knows that you blow through your homework in ten minutes, run ten miles every day before breakfast, and cook gourmet meals all on three or four hours of sleep."

"You make it sound like that's a lot more than it actually is," Max said, as the two headed towards the school's front doors.

The two walked around a group of new students undergoing orientation. One of the students did a double take and focused his attention on Max. He and Conner continued outside without taking notice.

"I don't think you were that interested in the sciences," Max commented to Kon. "You've got a knack for them, but I was dreading that you'd say you wanted to major in business."

"No, I think my interests lie in biology or chemistry," was Conner's response. "I guess I picked up a bit from Serling, and I've been interested in the life sciences since then. I didn't pick you for being interested in political science."

"I like to keep current on geopolitical trends and the like. I guess my time with the intelligence community has left me with a similar interest."

There was a pause as they continued walking.

"I can't believe she thought I was the good one," Max said.

"You're polite, quiet, and well-mannered," Conner pointed out. "On the other hand, I ditched a lot and was generally anti-social for my first few months here. From her point of view, you're the one that straightened me out."

"I'd say that I'm anti-social," Max argued. "I don't talk to many people other than you."

"That may be the case, but you weren't rebellious like me. It's okay; I don't mind being the problem child."

"It just doesn't reflect reality at all. You're the good one, I'm the bad one."

Conner ruffled Max's hair. "You're not the bad any more."

"Stop that," Max said, smoothing his hair. "Otherwise I'll show you how bad I can be."

Conner grinned at Max's teasing.

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