Episode Two: October Mornings
October 20th, 2006
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Morning dawned with a dreary fog that settled comfortably upon the earth, almost wrapping the entire Kent Farm within its white, ghostly vapor. The sun hid well this morning, and Clark struggled to find the strength to climb out of bed while darkness still loomed through his bedroom window. Luckily, his upbringing helped him fight the urge to lie in bed all day, and routinely he rose to tend to the morning chores. He dressed comfortably in a pair of old jeans and a white T-shirt, because his morning chores often carried the most dirt. He would need a shower when he came back in for breakfast, so there was no need to dress for the day just yet.
The rest of the house remained quiet as he walked down the stairs to the kitchen. He grabbed a quick glass of orange juice, then proceeded to the barn to feed the animals. Even with his speed, the chores still took a half hour to finish. Attending these tasks so early in the morning did give him quality time alone, however. He pondered upon his life and those he cared for the most, some thoughts familiar and others completely new. This particular morning he wondered how his father tended to these chores every day for more than twenty years. And after that, Clark concentrated hard on the sexual physique of his best friend - blond hair, curves, and the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
In the past few months his thoughts had drifted to her more often than he wanted to admit. Although, he tended to concentrate mainly how well she looked in those jeans the other day, or how yesterday at the Planet he noticed the neckline of her blouse dipped just low enough to give him an exceptional view.
Without using his X-ray vision, of course - which he almost never did.
Before long his chores for the morning were finished, and he walked back to the house to catch his shower. Aromas of a hearty breakfast began to waft through the foggy air, directly to his curious nostrils. Only his mother could make food smell so good, giving him reason to believe she was up already. Usually he had the house to himself for a bit longer before she finally arose for the day. Her job as State Senator gave her little extra time, and she often used it to catch up on her sleep. Too often his mother and Lois stayed up half the night to finish important work, leaving them with difficult mornings.
Clark climbed the porch steps in two leaps, and used the kitchen door to enter the house. Standing at the counter, his mother turned the moment he stepped inside. Her face appeared drawn with exhaustion, and for the first time in years he noticed the development of deep wrinkles along her features. His mother always seemed so young during his childhood, yet today she looked older, aged by both her work and the heartache that has never completely left her.
"Want some breakfast, sweetie?" she asked.
Clark walked up behind her, giving her arm an affectionate squeeze. "Sure," he said.
Bacon crackled and popped in the frying pan on the stove, it's aroma a warm welcome from a morning's work. He had no trouble wondering why his father loved breakfast. It always hit the spot after time spent in the fields, especially on a cold, foggy day in October. Fruit sat idle in a bowl inside the sink, waiting for another good wash before it was ready to be served. A crate of a dozen eggs, open and ready, sat on the counter with the loaf of bread. She already had a few fresh slices on a small plate in front of the toaster, and suddenly Clark sensed the enormity of the meal.
"Mom, you didn't have to make this much," he insisted, remembering the number of recent mornings he ate only cereal or toast while his mother rushed off to work. He understood her schedule and didn't mind eating alone.
Martha smiled warmly. "I know neither of us have had a good breakfast lately, so I decided to make an extra effort to make us eat a bit heartier."
Clark grabbed a fresh grape from the bowl of fruit. "I'm going to take a shower."
"Good," she said, scrunching her nose in slight disgust. "Kent men always need one after they work."
He smirked at her and ate the grape, then proceeded towards the stairs to the second floor. In seconds he had gathered his clothes for his shower, bringing along the Calvin Klein fragrance Chloe enjoyed on him. He barely remembered when or why he bought it - some Saturday he spent with Lois at the mall in Metropolis a few weeks ago. They had come across a cosmetics counter in Macy's, prompting Lois to spray a Calvin Klein aroma on him for fun. When he saw Chloe later on that day at the Daily Planet, she immediately told him how amazing he smelled.
That night he raced back to Macy's and bought two bottles.
The bathroom mirror steamed up from his shower, no matter how quick he tried to be. Because he could handle scalding water on his skin, it was often the only way he could truly feel refreshed after a long day - or dirty morning. If Chloe ever joined him for a morning shower, he would certainly have to turn the temperature down a few degrees before she could come in. The water was sure to burn her otherwise.
Clark pulled his head from underneath the water, his cheeks flushed with sudden embarrassment.
Chloe ... joining me in the shower? When did that happen?
He moaned irritably at his loss of control, knowing these types of fantasies were inappropriate. Nevertheless, the fantasy of Chloe in his shower was more than enough to urge on his morning shower erection, and in seconds he was moaning, his head pressed against the tile as he stroked himself to relief. Thinking of her, only her ... pressed up against me, arms around my waist, lips along my throat ...
After he towel dried and dressed in a red sweater and jeans, all the while trying desperately to forget his images of Chloe, Clark walked down the steps to the kitchen. He could already smell the eggs in the frying pan, cooked to perfection, and the toast burning nicely in the toaster. It had been a long time since he had a nice, big breakfast, and to have it with his mother, whom he's barely spoken to because of their busy schedules, made the anticipation for the meal rise even higher.
But when his eyes gazed to the table on his descent down the stairs, he saw a third party he didn't count on.
"Finally up, Smallville?"
Clark rolled his eyes as he walked to the kitchen table. "Lois, don't you have a home of your own?"
Lois smirked. She was sitting in his normal chair with her briefcase open, and laptop up and running to start the day. She was like an Energizer Bunny on most mornings, strangely having more energy than all of the Smallville citizens combined. She used to hate mornings when he first met her, but her role as manager for his mother seemed to unleash a crazy section of her that no one had ever seen before. Perhaps the late nights were having the opposite affect on her - rather than exhausted, she was more wired than a bomb on a bank vault.
And Clark feared the inevitable explosion.
"Until your mother ends her reign as State Senator, her home is my home."
Clark walked to the refrigerator for some orange juice. "But do you have to be here every waking moment? You're starting to scare the cows."
As Martha walked passed and placed the plate of eggs on the kitchen table, she slapped him across the forearm. "Stop being rude, Clark."
"To Lois?" he asked in mock surprise. "We're always rude to each other."
"Don't worry, Mrs. Kent. I know what has his feathers ruffled these days," Lois replied, giving Clark a knowing look. "And it's not this cousin."
Clark gave Lois a stern glance, annoyed she would use his mixed up love life as ammunition in their banter. She discovered his feelings for Chloe a few months back, when Clark barely understood how he truly felt about his best friend. Everything had been so screwed up because of Zod and the Phantom Zone, and when life finally returned to normal, Clark realized his thoughts centered mostly on his blonde best friend rather than the brunette he pined over for years of his childhood. Before he could make sense of those thoughts, those feelings, Chloe had fallen into another man's arms, leaving Clark bewildered and unsure of what to do next.
Shortly afterwards, on one of those dreadful, lonely summer nights in Smallville, Clark found a picture of his best friend nestled in a desk drawer up in his loft. For the next twenty minutes he merely stared at the picture, envisioning Chloe was actually with him. Soon he settled on the couch, with the picture still in hand, and began to play out the conversation where he bravely revealed his true feelings to her. Unfortunately for him, Lois had been on the bottom floor of the barn listening to his every word. And after he finished, she climbed the steps and replied, "What took you so long?"
Actually, he expected Lois to be angry, or, worse yet, fool with him until she was blue in the face - Ah! Chloe found someone, and now YOU'RE the one in pain, watching from a distance.
Instead she sat with him and reassured him that Chloe's relationship with Jimmy was not serious. She reassured him that his time to act would come very soon, and to hold on until that time came. Further, she insisted if he really loved Chloe, then he could wait just as long as she did for him - so many years, and through so much heartache.
But that was four months ago. And Clark was growing impatient.
If Chloe's relationship with Jimmy was only supposed to be a fling, then why hadn't flung yet? He expected to have Chloe in his arms by Halloween, or at least Thanksgiving. But by the contentment in her voice when he spoke to her, Clark sensed it would be a long time before he could finally have his chance.
That is, if she ended it with Jimmy at all. When Clark allowed himself to think of such a dreadful conclusion, his stomach turned and rolled with anxiety. And he began to wonder if maybe, possibly, the time to tell Chloe his feelings would have to be his own.
He wondered if he should just do it ... just tell her.
Clark looked to Lois now and saw a pleasant, satisfied smile on her face. She knew how tortured he felt every time she spoke of his feelings for Chloe in an amused manner. These feelings he harbored for Chloe embarrassed him time and again, and mainly because he was hopelessly in love with her. He had faith that one day he would be with her, just like a wistful romantic waited for their perfect love. He waited in his loft day after day, night after night, for Chloe's love to travel to him on the twinkle of every star in the sky, colored with beauty, with eternity.
Many nights he could almost feel her. Almost touch her.
Other nights he came within an inch of his sanity, and barely held back the urgency to stand outside her door, only to feel closer to her. He dreamt one night of actually going to her door and knocking for her attention. In his dreams she opened the door, and without a word, Clark stepped up courageously and kissed her, returning the passion she gave him at the Planet months before. She groaned pleasurably against his lips, then pulled back and took his hand. His eyes never left her as she tugged him into her apartment, and back further into her bedroom. The door closed behind them, and for the first time since they've met, Clark would have Chloe all to himself.
"Are you ever going to tell her?" Martha asked. Because she lived in this house, too, and because she knew her son, she caught onto his feelings even before he did. Though she believed in a course of action different from Lois' - when you find the right time, tell her. Don't wait.
Clark lowered his head to hide his blush. He grabbed the plate of bacon from the counter, then quickly joined Lois and sat across the table from her. He decided if he didn't say anything, maybe they would drop the subject. He still had no clue what he was going to do anyway, so he had no real answer for them. None of the possible scenarios offered a foolproof result. He wanted to tell her now. Actually, he would have told her a long time ago had he had the chance. But he feared her reaction. He knew how often he rejected her, and remembered her apathetic dismissal of their monumental, Daily Planet kiss when they finally reunited the day after he returned from the Phantom Zone. She was likely to do the same thing again, especially if she was currently in a happy relationship with Jimmy.
"I don't know," he finally whispered, hating that everyone seemed to know whom he longed for. He reached for the eggs and forked a few onto his plate. "It's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal?" Lois asked, amused. "You've turned into her little love slave. Whenever she wants you to do something, you do it without a second's thought. If she called you at midnight and wanted you to buy a latte at the Talon and run it to her on foot, from Smallville to Metropolis, you would do it. If that's not lovesick, I don't know what is."
"You exaggerate," Clark insisted weakly, though his blush turned from a light pink to a deep, rosy red, and he wondered if Lois discovered his recent errand. Chloe called him last week at a very late hour, and casually mentioned her need for Talon coffee to help keep her awake while she did research. Clark, being the good, super-powered alien friend he was, rushed to the Talon for the coffee, then super sped to the Planet in Metropolis to give it to her. The thoughtful task took him less than ten minutes to complete, and greatly surprised the unsuspecting Chloe.
But for her, he would happily run from one side of the Universe to the other. Anything to make her happy.
"I know you, Mr. Kent. You take things to the extreme. Even with Lana you were this way. Though you seem worse this time around," Lois said.
Clark took a sip of his juice. "I'm not that in love with her," he defended, struggling to keep his face.
"Oh yeah?" she challenged with a grin. "Then why - everyday - do you put on a gallon of cologne that you don't even like?"
Martha smiled at Lois, because she, too, noticed a new scent on Clark in the past few weeks. He rarely ever put cologne on, and if he did it was always for a school dance or a date. Lately he's been applying some every day after his morning shower, as if he's expecting something to happen and he wanted to be prepared. Martha only remembered one similar incident in her own past, and it had to do with Jonathan never growing a mustache or beard because he knew she didn't like it.
Clark's expression fell like a lead weight in water when Lois mentioned his new appeal to Calvin Klein, and he gazed down into his eggs sheepishly. It was true - he wore the cologne because Chloe mentioned how wonderful he smelled while he was wearing it. And Clark suddenly had no defense, because deep down he knew why he did certain things in the past few weeks. He did them for Chloe, because she mentioned how much she liked it, or how she craved a midnight fix of her addiction.
"I like wearing it," he finally replied, keeping his eyes glued to his plate.
Lois took a slice of bacon from the serving plate and placed it on her own. "Whatever you say, Clark. Still, the point has been made here. You are love sick for Chloe, and because you don't feel comfortable telling her, you've become her full service farm boy."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is."
"No," Clark insisted calmly, shaking his head to dismiss her claims. "I just like doing things for my best friend."
The song Monster Mash began to play in a melody of beeps and whistles from the cell phone in Clark's pocket. Lois smiled wide, always amused by Clark's choice of ring tones. One week it would be the theme to Star Wars, and the next the song from some retro TV Show, like Knight Rider or the A-Team. Today Clark decided to take hold of the upcoming holiday and use a geeky Halloween song played at costumes parties because of tradition alone. If it's not played, it's like going through Christmas without hearing Jingle Bells.
Lois looked at him expectedly as he pulled out his cell phone to see the identity of the caller. She waited for him to say something, but he merely stood from the table and walked over to the counter so he could talk more privately. Though, the privacy he sought was few and far between, because Lois shifted her chair closer to listen for the name of the person on the other end.
Clark gave Lois a disgruntled look and gestured for her to get away as he pushed the button to answer the call. He placed it to his ear, and tried desperately to hide his smile. "Hey," he said softly, warmly.
Lois watched as Clark listened carefully, and though he said nothing to give away the caller's identity, the curve of a small smile on his lips was enough. She smirked knowingly, and rose to her feet so she could stand closer to him while he conversed with the person on the other end. He grimaced in her direction and tried to move to the living room, but she merely stepped in front of him.
Martha rolled her eyes and continued eating the eggs and bacon on her plate. Past experience taught her to stay as far away from Lois and Clark as possible while they argued. Today was no different.
"You want me to come see you?" Clark asked. He pushed Lois away from him lightly and hurried into the other room, trying desperately to end the call before she tried anything.
But Lois wasn't so easily pushed aside. She snuck up behind him while he conversed with the caller, and placed her lips close to his ear - the same ear with the cell phone pressed closely against it. She smiled mischievously, and then insisted softly, "Tell her you love her, Clark."
He jumped and nearly dropped the phone as he turned to her, his eyes burning with frustration and anger. "Lois, stop it!" he whispered harshly, covering the receiver with the palm of his hand. Clark placed the cell phone back to his ear, his face flushed with embarrassment. His heart pounded hard in his chest, hoping Lois' words went unheard. "Still there?" he asked.
Lois stepped back from him, willing to give him the moment he needed to end the call. But she wasn't going to leave until she was certain of the caller's identity, because it was sure to prove her point from before. Not to mention, she loved giving Clark a hard time, especially when he could be so easily embarrassed. Love can embarrass anyone, and mostly because it makes people display a private part of themselves. Love makes people do anything and everything, and Clark was a true testament of that conclusion.
"No, Lois was trying to make me drop the phone," he said into his cell, though his hard gaze remained on Lois as he spoke. However, soon the anger in his face drained as he listened carefully. He turned away from Lois and walked closer to the window that looked out upon the quiet Kent farm. The fog had not lifted quite yet, but the peek of the sun in the sky ensured the white vapor would dry up very soon. "Oh, Chloe ... I'm so sorry," he said quietly, wishing he was there with her now. "When did it happen?"
Lois had lost her amusement when she heard the serious tone in Clark's voice. Though her initial impression was correct, and Chloe did call Clark to talk, obviously something had gone terribly wrong. She began to make predictions in her mind as to what the problem might be - was her Dad okay? Maybe something happened to her. Or maybe something happened to Jimmy? Did she break up with him?
Despite the number of times she has chided Clark for how often he thinks of Chloe, and how often he craves her in his life, Lois finally realized the need worked both ways. Chloe called Clark whenever she needed someone to talk to, or whenever she needed comfort. She called Clark when she needed help, and the frequency of her calls didn't lessen when she acquired Jimmy as a boyfriend. She still called, and Clark still helped her.
"Yeah, I'll help you with it. Actually, I'd prefer it. I don't want you investigating this on your own," he said softly. His chest began to tighten with worry and grief as he listened to her tears. He could hardly stand to hear her upset, and longed to run to her and pull her into the safety of his arms.
But he couldn't. No ... Chloe had a boyfriend. That was Jimmy's job, not his.
"All right," he said finally. "I'll see you soon."
Clark closed his cell phone and turned to Lois, who stood patiently, awaiting the news. They stared at each other for a long moment before Clark finally looked down to the cell phone still in his trembling hands. When did he begin to tremble? "Chloe's friend at the Planet was murdered last night."
Lois sighed deeply, and felt a tingle of relief wash through her body. She feared the absolute worse here, and was strangely comforted to know none of the bad news had anything to do with Chloe or her father. However, her relief could not wash away the imminent sadness of the news. "That's too bad. Is she doing okay?"
He shrugged. "She was crying a little on the phone," he said. "But she wants me to help her investigate the murder."
Lois furrowed her brow. "The Planet assigned her the case?"
"Not really. But she wants to investigate it anyway."
"Sounds like Chloe," Lois offered with a resigned sigh. However, something odd surfaced in Clark's features. Something she couldn't place her finger on. "What? What is it?"
Clark's face grew grim. His hands trembled because, for the first time, he was seriously worried for Chloe's safety. He had heard of reporter's getting too close to the truth, and suffering their own demise as a result. This case felt a bit too dangerous for a newcomer. Well, for anyone really. It seemed something better suited for the police, and the professionals trained to handle the seriousness of this murder.
Yet Chloe, with determination and stubbornness in full toll, was going to investigate this case to avenge her friend's gruesome death. And Clark suddenly worried if his abilities would be enough this time.
Lois stepped closer to him and placed a gentle hand on his forearm. Only then did she notice the slight tremble in his hands. "Clark?" she asked, now seriously concerned.
Clark swallowed hard. "Apparently the body is barely recognizable," he murmured, feeling his heart grow cold. "The killer might practice cannibalism."
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to be continued