Chapter One:

He took a deep breath and ran the play through his head once more. Jonny was going right and back, Steven to the left, one of them would get open and he was simply to toss the ball with a nice spin and help land the touch down. It was simple. They had run the play a thousand times in practice and it was second nature to him now. But this game was important. Metropolis High was going to be on the map if they won this game. It would be easy street to the playoffs but first: "HUT!" He called.

The ball snapped into his hands and he doubled back and looked for Steven and Jonny. They were both covered tightly and he didn't see a clear pass to either. He looked around hastily hoping for an open player. Defense was tight on their receivers. But to his immediate left was a break in the defense and they didn't notice.

He tucked the ball and dashed. His legs pounded into the ground and he focused to move the right speed without slipping up on his façade of being normal. He spun and missed two brute-sized arms from wrapping around him. He tucked and darted, lining himself up for a straight dash to the touch down zone. His feet glided over the ground and he could easily pick out his father's voice from the crowd with his enhanced hearing.

"Slower, son…win by a little," Jonathan whispered.

He slowed and could hear the whistle of the arms reaching for his midsection. He leaned forward and his feet were in the zone. The ref's hands shot up and the score was added. The last second ticked away on the clock and the buzzard rang.

Metropolis High: 28, Greenville High: 27

Another outstanding victory and he was the hero. His team circled around him and he could feel the brushes against his padding, slaps on the back and on his shoulders. "Way to go, Clark," and "You're the man," rang in his ears.

He smiled and tossed the ball aside. He looked for his dad in the crowd and waved before allowing himself to get swept away in the victory cheers.

********

He had rushed to the apartment to change after the team broke up to head to the celebration party. His best friend Lex Luthor, threw the biggest party at his pent house for the team when they won. Everyone went, and it was everyone.

He threw his uniform into the hamper and pulled out some dark jeans and his favorite red t-shirt that hugged his chest just right. He slid into his leather boots and grabbed his leather jacket; a present from his year-long girlfriend, Lois Lane.

His dad hadn't made it home yet but Jonathan would know where he was at and that he would be home late. He rushed out of their apartment and headed to the garage. His bike was parked in his favorite spot, an empty spot for his dad's old red truck, next to it. He hopped onto his bike and kicked it to life. The engine purred between his legs and he quickly peeled out of the spot and raced through the garage into the street.

Lex had a spot designated for him in his private garage, and that's where he parked his bike. In the spot next to it was Lex's favorite sports car, the silver Porsche. He turned his bike off and pocketed the keys. He smirked as he heard the sound of the pounded bass from the top floor of the building.
Things had been rough lately but Lex had been a great friend helping him escape from the pain of the real world. His mother had only passed away a year ago. She'd been killed in a horrible car crash and his father had simply shut down. Lex had stepped in and helped them keep their apartment since Jonathan had gotten himself fired from work. But he couldn't blame his father.

He hadn't been the same after his mother's death either. His grades went from A's to D's almost overnight. He had given up playing football for a brief time. He could still feel the hollowness when he couldn't hear his mother cheering him on next to this father. She had been the reason Jonathan had finally allowed him to play. Nothing was the same.

Now, Jonathan would lock himself in his office and disappear for hours doing work or something. So he would go off with Lois to either Lex's pent house or his other best friends, Oliver Queen's pent house. He had practically moved in with them for a while since his father wanted to be alone.

Now he spent his time partying at Lex's, especially after a big win like tonight. The elevator doors finally dinged open and he was greeted by a familiar scene. Bodies were pressed together in the living room while the stereo blared some music that wasn't even aired yet. Most had red cups in their hands, most likely filled with an alcoholic substance of some sort.

It was only seconds after stepping inside the pent house, did an arm snake through his. He turned and kissed his girlfriend. He pulled back and smirked as Lois tried to catch her breath. "What took you so long?" She asked.

"I just took my time, don't worry about it," He answered turning his attention back to the crowd. He knew he shouldn't be so horrible to Lois but things had changed. He had planned to break it off with Lois when he found out that she was having sex with Grant Gabriel, Lex's half brother, but he was still grieving his mother at the time. Lois had been a good source of relief and had been helpful in keeping his mind off of it when things got bad. So he hadn't broken up with her and then she had told him that she loved him and wouldn't want anyone else. The cheating had stopped then but he hadn't gotten over it.

But he wasn't going to dwell on the past now. He had just won the game and there was a party going on. He was going to dance with every chick he could before Lois got b*tchy about it and then he was going to have his fun with Lois before leaving her to have drinks with Lex until Lex puked. It was a regular Friday night and he didn't plan on any changes in his life. Things were finally normal, well as normal as life could be.

*********

Jonathan hung his jacket up on the coat rack and noticed that Clark wasn't home. He was at Lex's pent house partying with the team for their victory. He was grateful to Lex for taking Clark under his wing like a brother but he refused to take charity from the extremely wealthy family. Only when things had gotten dire did he agree to the offer from the Luthors. They had bought out his contract for the apartment when he couldn't make payments anymore but he refused for it to be charity. He simply made the rent payments to them instead of to his original land lord.

He headed to the answering machine and hit play when he saw the flashing red light. The machine went through its normal message before playing back the messages he had.

"Jonathan, this is your brother Sam. I know its been a long time since we've talked but I have some news for you," Sam's voice cracked over the machine and Jonathan's brows furrowed together," Dad had a heart attack and…it's not good….he died Jon….the funeral is in two days. You and Clark can stay with me and Jill. Just call me when you get this."

BEEP.
The machine died down and silence filled the apartment. Jonathan's arms fell to his side and his mind shut down and he reached for the phone. His fingers dialed the number from memory and slowly the reciever made its way to his ear where he heard it ringing.

"Hello?" Sam's voice was rough and scratchy, sounding dry from crying.

"Hey," Jonathan said.

"Jon, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Sam said, his voice cracking with fresh tears.

*******

The bass pounded and he could feel it through his chest. He had danced with almost the entire cheerleading squad before Lois had come and taken him away from the horde of blondes and sl*ts. She lead him away to a room that Lex considered to be his.

He rolled his eyes as Lois began her normal routine of "working him up". As she started to pull his shirt off, his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. He stepped back and sighed in relief as he pulled his phone out of his pocket.

He frowned as he saw the caller id. His dad hardly ever called him when he was out. Mostly, when he did, it was for him to pick up some dinner. He answered, "Dad?"

"Clark, I know you're out celebrating but I need you to come home and pack," Jonathan said.

He recognized the deadness in his dad's voice. Something had happened, something that broke what little of his dad's heart that was left.

"What is it?" he asked.

"It's your grandfather," Jonathan's voiced cracked, "He had a heart attack. We need to go to Smallville."

His phone dropped from his ear as his hand fell to his side. He didn't notice as Lois pushed on his chest and asked what was wrong. He snapped his phone shut and grabbed his jacket and turned. He left Lois alone in the bedroom, half naked, and clueless as to what was going on. He didn't say anything to anyone as he silently left the pent house.

He broke out in a run, knowing in the back of his head that Lex would know he ran and he would keep his bike safe. He was numb. That's all he knew. He had shut down after his father's explanation. Their only family left, his amazing grandfather who had been there his entire childhood, was gone. Everyone was gone and leaving. Soon, he would have no one left that loved him.