Author's Note: Years have shifted and the Smallville gang are all 17 and
Juniors in High School in the year 1998.
Summary: It's 20 years later and Laurie now Keri Tate is living happily with her son John in Smallville, Kansas. But…Michael is back.
------------------------------
Chapter 1:
October 30th, 1998
The wind drifted over the highway, slowly making it's way down to the small town of Smallville, Kansas. A dark figure in a ghostly white mask stalked the highway on the side of the road, keeping his gaze straight ahead, and never turning to watch a passing car. After many hours of walking and never stopping, he reached his destination. A sign was posted next to a large cornfield, and he stood in front of it, head tilted. The sign read "Welcome to Smallville, Meteor Capital of the World".
October 31st, 1998
Keri Tate woke up from another nightmare, sweat pouring down her face and all over her body, causing her tank top to cling to her shirt. Her third nightmare that week, she woke up with a scream and her son rushing in to calm her.
"Mom, Mom, it's okay!" He yelled, struggling to keep her from falling off the bed. He finally managed to calm her down and left to the bathroom to grab a bottle of pills to help her when she gets nightmares. He knew nothing's changed, that it was always like this. Halloween would get near and the nightmares would start up again.
John stood at the back door in the kitchen that overlooked the backyard, looking at the long stretch of cornfield. He brushed a hand through his short brown hair and put his hands over his face in sadness and frustration thinking of his Mom. He hated seeing her like this, but there was nothing really he could do except make sure she gets her pills and calm her down every time she awakens from a nightmare. He was dressed and ready for school when his Mom walked into the kitchen.
"Morning." She said in a not so much as depressed, but more of a normal tone.
"Good morning." He said keeping his gaze out at the backyard and taking a sip of his coffee.
Two months ago was his seventeenth birthday, yet the same rules applied to him as they did when he was twelve. He was never to stay out late with his friends, and never to have friends over past ten. He found it quite annoying. He was hoping that when he turned seventeen things would change, but of course they hadn't.
"Mom can I have a few friends over tonight?" He asked waiting for the direct answer being no.
"Sure." She said pouring a bowl of cereal for the two.
"Really?" He asked in bewilderment.
"Really, just as long as their gone by ten." She answered simply.
This was what John was afraid to hear. "Mom, how many times do I have to tell you this, I am seventeen years old. I think it's time you start treating me like it." He said getting an attitude.
"Don't use that tone with me." She began, but John cut her off.
"Why not, I get it from you." He said crossing his arms.
"I'm not getting into this with you, not today." She said throwing out her bowl of cereal.
"Well than can I at least spend the night at Clark's house, he can at least have people over late."
"I'll think about it, all right? Just let me think about it." John was a least a little happy, when his Mom said she would think about something that meant she was leaning towards a yes.
/ / / / / / /
Keri pulled up to Smallville High School and parked the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the faculty parking lot. John immediately got out to meet up with his friends, without even saying goodbye, and leaving Keri sitting in the car. She sat for a moment before she finally stepped out of the car and started heading into the school.
Keri Tate was one of the Language Arts teachers for the Juniors, she thought about being Principal but thought it was probably better to just be a regular teacher.
As she sat at her desk shuffling through her students homework assignments a horrible flashback from when she was seventeen came back to her.
***She was running across the street limping after falling down the flight of stairs, looking back to see the stalker slowly following her. She began pounding on the door calling for Tommy, one of the two children she was babysitting that night.****
Keri immediately snapped out of it when she heard a student calling her name at the door.
"I'm sorry…" she began. "How can I help you?"
/ / / / / / /
John immediately spotted his three best friends Clark Kent, Chloe Sullivan, and Pete Ross sitting in the Torch Office. "Hey guys." He said grabbing a chair and sitting next to Chloe. When Chloe moved to Smallville a few years back, John immediately befriended her and shortly after Clark and Pete joined in the little group. Chloe and John had a closer relationship than her and Clark, despite the fact that she had a crush on him. John always told her that she has to move on, that Clark has his eye out for Lana only. Chloe knew this, but she hated thinking about it, so she would push the thought of her liking for Clark aside and just focus on her everyday tasks.
John and Pete joined the football team earlier that year, Clark would have too but his father wouldn't allow it. John quit the team shortly afterwards realizing that football just wasn't his thing.
"Hey John." Clark said digging through his backpack in search of one of his books.
"Happy Halloween." Chloe said in her usual cheery tone as she was typing away on her lap top, her short blonde hair falling over her face for just a second before she brushed it away.
"T-thanks." John stuttered, Halloween wasn't his favorite holiday, mostly because of what had happened to his Mom exactly twenty years earlier. But for some reason, it didn't bother him as much as it used too. Maybe because it had been twenty years since that night, and he knew Michael wouldn't be coming back.
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" John asked snapping out of his slight hatred for Halloween.
"Lex said we can have a Halloween party at his place." Clark said as Pete let out a disappointing sigh.
"Pete." Clark said irritatingly knowing what Pete was thinking.
"All right, all right, I'm sorry." Pete responded hands raised in surrender.
"Sounds like fun, count me in." He said as the four stood up when they heard the bell for their first class.
/ / / / / / /
After departing from the Torch office, Clark noticed Lana standing at her locker alone.
"Hey Lana." Clark said taking a step next to her.
"Hey Clark, how are you?" She asked smiling, that same smile that Clark always felt he would melt over.
"I'm doing all right, Happy Halloween." He said.
"You too." She said giving yet another big smile before Whitney came over.
"Hey Lana, Kent." Whitney said wrapping an arm around Lana.
"Hey Whitney." Lana said giving him a short kiss on the lips, Clark turning away so he wouldn't have to look.
"Hey, do you guys have any plans for tonight?" Clark asked hoping this would bring an end to the kiss between the two.
"As a matter of fact, we don't, how 'bout you?" Lana asked clinging her arm around her boyfriend.
"Well Lex is having a party at his place, not real big, you know just a few of us, and I was wondering if you guys wanted to go."
"Sounds fun, count us in." Whitney said smiling, Lana also producing another smile, happy that Whitney wanted to go because she was anxious to hang out with Clark and his friends other than the football team.
/ / / / / / /
Chloe rushed in behind John, late to Mrs. Tate's class, carefully trying to avoid looking at her.
"I hope you two have a good reason for being late." She said writing on the chalkboard, not even looking back."
"Um, we…sorry, it won't happen again." John said trying to hold in his laughter, Chloe doing the same.
Keri looked back and saw that it was John and Chloe, the second time this week they've been tardy to this class. She finished writing down the day's lesson plans on the board and reached over to her desk for a pile of handouts she had for the class.
/ / / / / / /
A thunderstorm was slowly moving toward Smallville. At the moment, only high winds and a cloudy sky could be seen when looking outside, but by nightfall there will surely be a storm.
The hallways of Smallville High were completely empty. It was already towards the end of the day, and all students were anxiously awaiting to get out of school and start partying to celebrate Halloween. Clark was excited because Lex always threw great parties. Clark sat in his desk during math staring at the clock. After about five minutes of staring at the clock he turned his gaze outside where he noticed a figure wearing all black and what appeared to be a white mask staring in at him. *What the…* He said to himself turning to nudge Lana on the shoulder keeping his eyes locked with the mysterious figure. Lana turned but by the time she looked outside to see what Clark was looking at the figure was already gone, in just a blink of an eye.
"Clark what is it?" She asked concerned, noticing the worried and confused look on Clark's face.
"Somebody was out there beside the tree just staring at me." He said still looking outside.
"It was probably somebody just trying to scare you, after all it's Halloween." She suggested.
"Maybe you're right…" He said almost in a whisper, again keeping his eyes locked outside at the tree.
/ / / / / / /
The final bell rang and Chloe, Pete, Clark, and John met inside the Torch office for there usual get together after school.
Chloe noticed Clark wasn't talking like he normally does so she decided to ask him what was wrong.
"Clark, you okay?" She asked and everyone was quiet because they also noticed.
"Uh, yeah it's just that when I was in Math class, I looked outside the window and there was somebody standing by the tree staring at me." He told them.
"Maybe they have a crush on you, whoever it was." Chloe suggested laughing.
"No…this person was wearing black, and they had some sort of Halloween mask on, it was white…I don't think it was a joke…" He said, and John immediately stood up from his chair, the three looking at him confused.
"What is it?" Pete asked confused, giving a look to Chloe.
John stared at them, not knowing what to say, he couldn't tell them.
"N-nothing, I just realized I left my history book in my locker." He said not knowing what else to say.
"But we didn't have any history homework remember?" Chloe asked knowing something was up, but didn't feel like she should push him even more into telling her what was up.
"Oh…than I guess I don't need it than." He said laughing at himself.
"So…what time we meeting at Lex's?" Pete asked changing the subject and noticing John mouthing the words thank you to him.
"Seven." Clark said standing up.
"Great! Well I better get going. I'll see you guys later." Chloe said giving her friends a smile. She was always excited when it came to going to a party and just having fun, not that she stayed home all the time and did nothing, she was always working at the Torch, it was practically her life.
As the four went their separate ways home, the storm hovered over Smallville, causing the sun to disappear through the clouds, and a low rumble of thunder to begin.
****************
TBC
Don't forget to review J
Summary: It's 20 years later and Laurie now Keri Tate is living happily with her son John in Smallville, Kansas. But…Michael is back.
------------------------------
Chapter 1:
October 30th, 1998
The wind drifted over the highway, slowly making it's way down to the small town of Smallville, Kansas. A dark figure in a ghostly white mask stalked the highway on the side of the road, keeping his gaze straight ahead, and never turning to watch a passing car. After many hours of walking and never stopping, he reached his destination. A sign was posted next to a large cornfield, and he stood in front of it, head tilted. The sign read "Welcome to Smallville, Meteor Capital of the World".
October 31st, 1998
Keri Tate woke up from another nightmare, sweat pouring down her face and all over her body, causing her tank top to cling to her shirt. Her third nightmare that week, she woke up with a scream and her son rushing in to calm her.
"Mom, Mom, it's okay!" He yelled, struggling to keep her from falling off the bed. He finally managed to calm her down and left to the bathroom to grab a bottle of pills to help her when she gets nightmares. He knew nothing's changed, that it was always like this. Halloween would get near and the nightmares would start up again.
John stood at the back door in the kitchen that overlooked the backyard, looking at the long stretch of cornfield. He brushed a hand through his short brown hair and put his hands over his face in sadness and frustration thinking of his Mom. He hated seeing her like this, but there was nothing really he could do except make sure she gets her pills and calm her down every time she awakens from a nightmare. He was dressed and ready for school when his Mom walked into the kitchen.
"Morning." She said in a not so much as depressed, but more of a normal tone.
"Good morning." He said keeping his gaze out at the backyard and taking a sip of his coffee.
Two months ago was his seventeenth birthday, yet the same rules applied to him as they did when he was twelve. He was never to stay out late with his friends, and never to have friends over past ten. He found it quite annoying. He was hoping that when he turned seventeen things would change, but of course they hadn't.
"Mom can I have a few friends over tonight?" He asked waiting for the direct answer being no.
"Sure." She said pouring a bowl of cereal for the two.
"Really?" He asked in bewilderment.
"Really, just as long as their gone by ten." She answered simply.
This was what John was afraid to hear. "Mom, how many times do I have to tell you this, I am seventeen years old. I think it's time you start treating me like it." He said getting an attitude.
"Don't use that tone with me." She began, but John cut her off.
"Why not, I get it from you." He said crossing his arms.
"I'm not getting into this with you, not today." She said throwing out her bowl of cereal.
"Well than can I at least spend the night at Clark's house, he can at least have people over late."
"I'll think about it, all right? Just let me think about it." John was a least a little happy, when his Mom said she would think about something that meant she was leaning towards a yes.
/ / / / / / /
Keri pulled up to Smallville High School and parked the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the faculty parking lot. John immediately got out to meet up with his friends, without even saying goodbye, and leaving Keri sitting in the car. She sat for a moment before she finally stepped out of the car and started heading into the school.
Keri Tate was one of the Language Arts teachers for the Juniors, she thought about being Principal but thought it was probably better to just be a regular teacher.
As she sat at her desk shuffling through her students homework assignments a horrible flashback from when she was seventeen came back to her.
***She was running across the street limping after falling down the flight of stairs, looking back to see the stalker slowly following her. She began pounding on the door calling for Tommy, one of the two children she was babysitting that night.****
Keri immediately snapped out of it when she heard a student calling her name at the door.
"I'm sorry…" she began. "How can I help you?"
/ / / / / / /
John immediately spotted his three best friends Clark Kent, Chloe Sullivan, and Pete Ross sitting in the Torch Office. "Hey guys." He said grabbing a chair and sitting next to Chloe. When Chloe moved to Smallville a few years back, John immediately befriended her and shortly after Clark and Pete joined in the little group. Chloe and John had a closer relationship than her and Clark, despite the fact that she had a crush on him. John always told her that she has to move on, that Clark has his eye out for Lana only. Chloe knew this, but she hated thinking about it, so she would push the thought of her liking for Clark aside and just focus on her everyday tasks.
John and Pete joined the football team earlier that year, Clark would have too but his father wouldn't allow it. John quit the team shortly afterwards realizing that football just wasn't his thing.
"Hey John." Clark said digging through his backpack in search of one of his books.
"Happy Halloween." Chloe said in her usual cheery tone as she was typing away on her lap top, her short blonde hair falling over her face for just a second before she brushed it away.
"T-thanks." John stuttered, Halloween wasn't his favorite holiday, mostly because of what had happened to his Mom exactly twenty years earlier. But for some reason, it didn't bother him as much as it used too. Maybe because it had been twenty years since that night, and he knew Michael wouldn't be coming back.
"So, what's the plan for tonight?" John asked snapping out of his slight hatred for Halloween.
"Lex said we can have a Halloween party at his place." Clark said as Pete let out a disappointing sigh.
"Pete." Clark said irritatingly knowing what Pete was thinking.
"All right, all right, I'm sorry." Pete responded hands raised in surrender.
"Sounds like fun, count me in." He said as the four stood up when they heard the bell for their first class.
/ / / / / / /
After departing from the Torch office, Clark noticed Lana standing at her locker alone.
"Hey Lana." Clark said taking a step next to her.
"Hey Clark, how are you?" She asked smiling, that same smile that Clark always felt he would melt over.
"I'm doing all right, Happy Halloween." He said.
"You too." She said giving yet another big smile before Whitney came over.
"Hey Lana, Kent." Whitney said wrapping an arm around Lana.
"Hey Whitney." Lana said giving him a short kiss on the lips, Clark turning away so he wouldn't have to look.
"Hey, do you guys have any plans for tonight?" Clark asked hoping this would bring an end to the kiss between the two.
"As a matter of fact, we don't, how 'bout you?" Lana asked clinging her arm around her boyfriend.
"Well Lex is having a party at his place, not real big, you know just a few of us, and I was wondering if you guys wanted to go."
"Sounds fun, count us in." Whitney said smiling, Lana also producing another smile, happy that Whitney wanted to go because she was anxious to hang out with Clark and his friends other than the football team.
/ / / / / / /
Chloe rushed in behind John, late to Mrs. Tate's class, carefully trying to avoid looking at her.
"I hope you two have a good reason for being late." She said writing on the chalkboard, not even looking back."
"Um, we…sorry, it won't happen again." John said trying to hold in his laughter, Chloe doing the same.
Keri looked back and saw that it was John and Chloe, the second time this week they've been tardy to this class. She finished writing down the day's lesson plans on the board and reached over to her desk for a pile of handouts she had for the class.
/ / / / / / /
A thunderstorm was slowly moving toward Smallville. At the moment, only high winds and a cloudy sky could be seen when looking outside, but by nightfall there will surely be a storm.
The hallways of Smallville High were completely empty. It was already towards the end of the day, and all students were anxiously awaiting to get out of school and start partying to celebrate Halloween. Clark was excited because Lex always threw great parties. Clark sat in his desk during math staring at the clock. After about five minutes of staring at the clock he turned his gaze outside where he noticed a figure wearing all black and what appeared to be a white mask staring in at him. *What the…* He said to himself turning to nudge Lana on the shoulder keeping his eyes locked with the mysterious figure. Lana turned but by the time she looked outside to see what Clark was looking at the figure was already gone, in just a blink of an eye.
"Clark what is it?" She asked concerned, noticing the worried and confused look on Clark's face.
"Somebody was out there beside the tree just staring at me." He said still looking outside.
"It was probably somebody just trying to scare you, after all it's Halloween." She suggested.
"Maybe you're right…" He said almost in a whisper, again keeping his eyes locked outside at the tree.
/ / / / / / /
The final bell rang and Chloe, Pete, Clark, and John met inside the Torch office for there usual get together after school.
Chloe noticed Clark wasn't talking like he normally does so she decided to ask him what was wrong.
"Clark, you okay?" She asked and everyone was quiet because they also noticed.
"Uh, yeah it's just that when I was in Math class, I looked outside the window and there was somebody standing by the tree staring at me." He told them.
"Maybe they have a crush on you, whoever it was." Chloe suggested laughing.
"No…this person was wearing black, and they had some sort of Halloween mask on, it was white…I don't think it was a joke…" He said, and John immediately stood up from his chair, the three looking at him confused.
"What is it?" Pete asked confused, giving a look to Chloe.
John stared at them, not knowing what to say, he couldn't tell them.
"N-nothing, I just realized I left my history book in my locker." He said not knowing what else to say.
"But we didn't have any history homework remember?" Chloe asked knowing something was up, but didn't feel like she should push him even more into telling her what was up.
"Oh…than I guess I don't need it than." He said laughing at himself.
"So…what time we meeting at Lex's?" Pete asked changing the subject and noticing John mouthing the words thank you to him.
"Seven." Clark said standing up.
"Great! Well I better get going. I'll see you guys later." Chloe said giving her friends a smile. She was always excited when it came to going to a party and just having fun, not that she stayed home all the time and did nothing, she was always working at the Torch, it was practically her life.
As the four went their separate ways home, the storm hovered over Smallville, causing the sun to disappear through the clouds, and a low rumble of thunder to begin.
****************
TBC
Don't forget to review J