DISCLAIMER: Characters in this story remain the property of DC Comics, Inc. Movie copyrights and trademarks are owned by Alexander & Ilya Salkind, Warner Bros. Pictures, and TriStar Pictures. The story contained herein is meant only for personal enjoyment and no money is being made from the story. No infringement is intended. I offer this fan fiction as a tribute to the creative teams involved in the actual production of both the movie and comic. However, I reserve the right to any original characters I create for the purpose of fan fiction story telling.
Starting Anew
Clark and Mr. Lane were both at the school that Monday to help plead Linda's case with Principal Danvers. Since Linda had abruptly left the school previously, she was considered to have been dropped and black listed from the school roster. Sitting in his office, the 3 men seemed to be at a stalemate.
"There is absolutely no way I can let her back in after the last time. She never completed any of her assigned work and she escaped from the school as well. She is a rebel and has no place in our upstanding educational system." the principal stated resolutely as Clark and Mr. Lane took turns presenting their case for Linda's re-admittance.
"Linda is not a rebel Mr. Danvers. I already explained to you that I had to pull her out at that time for family matters. You know her parents had just died at the time and I needed her help in getting their affairs in order. I am sorry for not being able to formally inform you. Everything happened so suddenly." Clark explained.
"Mr. Kent, I understand that perfectly well. If I were not bound by the school regulations, I would probably have agreed to let her back in. But it is too late in the term to admit her..."
"We aren't asking you to bend any rules that can't be bent Fred. You did it once for Linda, why can't you do it again? You'd do it for any other girl who took leave from school mid-term as well." Mr. Lane prodded his friend.
"She is a really bright girl. You just have to give her a chance." Clark added.
**********
Linda was sitting outside the office trying not to use her super hearing to hear the conversation inside. She was not really sure if boarding school was the right place for her to be at the moment. She longed for a chance to properly grieve for her parents. It made her wonder how humans dealt with matters of death. If she were in Argo City, there would be a day of city-wide mourning. Since everybody knew each other, the grief caused by death was something that everyone shared and dealt with openly. It was okay to cry out in the open, something she was embarassed to do on Earth because of her unfamiliarity with the social norms. She would probably be organizing the transfer of her parent's Crystals of Knowledge to the Hall Of Learning by this time. Indeed, she knew everything about grieving the Kryptonian way, but how was it done on this planet?
A shrill sound permeated the air as students began to fill the corridors. It was time for morning break. She hoped that Lucy would be able to make it to the office for a few minutes so she could have some company. She felt so alone and uncomfortable as the secretary stared at her for some reason.
"Not you two again... What did you do this time?" she heard the woman whine as two girls entered the room.
Linda recognized them instantly. Myra and Muffy were standing in the room chewing gum and trying to look tough as usual. Of course their tough girl act had no effect on Linda who had already taught them a lesson the first time they tried to bully her. They were going to scald the girls who were taking a shower after a La Crosse game but thanks to Kara's super hearing, x-ray vision, and heat vision, they got the hot shower of their lives instead.
"What are you doing back here runt?" Myra practically growled her words at Linda.
"I have no problem with you. Please Myra, leave me alone." she turned her back to them from her seat so as to avoid any altercations. She did not see the two girls start to whisper behind her back.
Lucy came bouncing into the room at that very moment. She saw the two other girls but chose to ignore them since they were practically stock holders in the principal's office.
"Any news yet?" Lucy was giddy with excitement as she took a seat beside Linda.
"Nothing. I do not think this is going to happen." Linda's super hearing was giving her the impression that Principal Danvers was not going to budge on his decision.
"Don't worry, Dad and Clark will think of something." she seemed to be assuring herself more than her friend.
At that moment, Clark and Bill Lane stepped out of the office with mixed expressions on their faces.
**********
Ethan was busy cutting off the excess tree branches that were hanging over the softball field when he heard Linda hollering his name. He wondered if she used super voice projection because he could not see her anywhere.
She finally appeared in his line of sight, running very fast with a gleeful expression on her face. He hurriedly stepped off the ladder, trying to clean up his arms and shake off his shirt as best as he could. He was all sweaty and messy from the work he had been doing all morning.
"I'm in! I passed the equivalency test!" she announced as she hugged him tightly.
"That's fantastic Linda! I knew you could do it." he took her arms off from around his neck. He saw the hurt in her eyes. She did not understand why he did that.
"I'm sweaty Linda, and stinking. I don't want to get you dirtied up." She seemed so sensitive these days. Something that he chose to attribute to her having to deal with the abrupt loss and unimaginable changes happening to her at present.
"Tell you what. Let me finish up my work for the day and get cleaned up. How about I pick you up tonight around 6:30? We can have a celebratory dinner."
"That sounds great. I have to move my things into the dorm immediately though. Pick me up here. Lois and Lucy will help me move in all day." she gave him a quick kiss then ran off. Ethan saw Clark signaling for her to come over to where he was standing with Mr. Lane and Lucy.
**********
"Lois and I will take care of getting your school supplies. In the meantime, Lucy has promised that you can borrow her books." Kal-El told Kara as they had lunch at his apartment in Metropolis. They had flown together after Mr. Lane was out of sight and Lucy was back in school.
Linda played with her food. She was not really hungry for some reason. All she wanted to do was curl up into a ball and cry.
"Suck it in Kara. You can't live everyday this depressed. You have to move on." he advised her as he cleared the table.
"You don't understand how I feel Kal-El. You never met your parents except through the knowledge crystals and you did not spend enough time with mine to actually care about them the way I do." Kara explained as she moved to the kitchen and helped him load the dishwasher.
"That's not fair of you to say Kara. We have suffered the same loss. We both have no family now. We are both now part of a lost heritage. Don't make this all about you. I am grieving as well." he told her.
After turning the knobs on the washer, Kal-El proceeded to his living room. Kara followed him and sat beside him. She cold not believe he was grieving. He showed no signs of it. Or maybe this was how the humans did it? After all, Kal-El was more human than Kryptonian having grown up on earth.
She must have fallen asleep on the couch because the next thing she knew, Lois was waking her up and tellng her to get ready to go clothes shopping. Kara had a very limited supply of human clothes. The pair of pants and blouse that she was wearing was a hand me down from Lois.
"Let me talk to her Clark. She needs a woman to talk to." she heard Lois advising Clark while she freshened up in the bathroom and got ready to leave.
"I don't know how to handle this Lois. I will appreciate the help." he told her.
Kara stepped out of the bathroom and went into the living room where Lois and Clark were discussing her. "I am ready to go Lois."
**********
Kara was amazed at how many things Earth girls needed in order to survive. There were clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, shoes, night gowns, underwear... everything made her head spin. At least she now understood the concept of money. She did not understand why she needed to have it the last time she came to the planet for a visit.
"Linda, you do know that you can talk to Clark, Lucy, me, or just about anybody in the family if you need to get some things off your chest right?"
Lois and she were seated at a coffeehouse in the mall. This was Linda's first taste of coffee. It tasted bitter to her.
Lois suggested adding more cream and sugar to the mix. It improved the taste enough to make the bitter beverage bearable for her. Linda sadly understood that she would have to get used to these strange tastes now. She would no longer be able to go home for Alura's version of home cooked meals. Those were now just memories for her.
"I know that Lois and I thank you for the offer. I just need to deal with this privately for now." Linda explained.
How would it be possible for her to tell Lois that she wanted to just be left alone to scream and scream and cry and cry until she was emotionally spent? Then maybe, she could get on with her life.
"Just remember, you can't handle everything alone. Sometimes, you need to let other people help you and understand what you are feeling."
"If I need somebody to talk to, Lucy will just be in the next bed.' Linda referred to the sleeping arrangement in the dorm at Midvale School.
"And you can always fly to Ethan anytime." Lois teased her.
Lighting up at the mention of Ethan's name, Lois knew that Ethan would be the key to helping Linda get through this change in her life. She just hoped that Linda's boyfriend would be up to the super challenge.
"Look at the time. We should get you back to the school." She gathered the bags and got up from her seat.
"I need to get one of those things." Linda said pointing to the watch on Lois' wrist.
"A watch? Let's pick one up on the way out."
"What about the money? I have not started work yet and you have already spent so much."
"Clark has spent so much. Don't worry about it. We want to take care of you. " Lois winked at her.
**********
"Sit still Linda! I don't want to poke your eye out!" Lucy said in exasperation.
She was trying to help Linda prepare for her date. Ethan was due at the dorm to pick her up in a half hour and so far, the only thing that was ready was Linda's casual slacks and blouse that Lois picked out that day for her to wear on the date.
"Do I really need to put all of this on? I mean, Ethan already loves me without all these things."
"Girl, you have a lot to learn. If you want to keep Ethan, you gotta up the volume on the X- Factor."
"X- factor?"
"Remind me to get you some fashion magazines. That will explain everything." her friend said as the intercom on the wall buzzed.
"Linda, There is an Ethan Logan in the reception area for you."
"Thanks Julie. Tell him Linda wil be right down." Lucy answered the call for her. Julie was the head girl of their dorm room.
"Tell her to hurry. Ethan is a hunk."
"Don't mind her. She did not mean that." Lucy told Linda who had just slipped into her clothes.
"Don't mind what?"
"II'll explain it to you some other time." Lucy then realized that her friend had not idea about what flirting was.
After a few more fashion adjustments. Linda was out the door.
"I set your watch to chime at 9:30. That is to remind you that dorm curfew is at 10. Now go and enjoy your date." Lucy cheered her friend on as she went down the stairs to meet Ethan.
