"Never," Pete said, walking through the school halls with Clark, "I'll never get this report done."
"Sure you will," Clark said.
"I can't even find a decent topic," Pete said, "I have never been so stressed with schoolwork before."
"Yeah, I hear you," Clark said, not really paying attention.
"Clark, are you listening to me?" Pete said. Clark's attention was on Charlotte as she walked to her locker. "I should have known," Pete said, "Why don't you just admit that you like the girl?"
"Quiet, Pete, she'll hear you," Clark said.
"Well, don't look now but here she comes," Pete said.
"Hello, Clark," Charlotte said.
"Hi," Clark said.
She looked him up and down and said, "You look really great today."
"Thanks," Clark said.
She walked closer to him and said, "No, I mean really great." She pressed her hands against his chest and then they traveled up to his shoulders. Clasping her hands behind his neck she kissed him. Clark was only too happy to kiss her back.
"Clark!" Clark opened his eyes and saw Alexandra standing beside his bed.
Sighing, he said, "You have really rotten timing, do you know that?"
"Up," she said.
"Up?" Clark repeated, "Another word, that's good."
"Up," she repeated.
"Okay, I'm getting up," Clark said.
She walked to the doorway and Clark flopped back onto his pillow. Thinking about Charlotte he couldn't help smiling. "Clark, up!" Alexandra said, demandingly.
Sitting upright in bed, Clark said, "Okay, okay." As he got out of bed he said, "She doesn't say a word for months and now she's giving me orders."
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"Good morning," Jonathan said, to Martha as he entered the kitchen, "Isn't Clark up yet? He's going to be late for his study session with his friends."
"I asked Alexandra to wake him up," Martha said.
"It's really great how she's beginning to talk," Jonathan said.
"Yes, it's wonderful," Martha plainly said.
"Oh come on, you're not upset that she didn't say mommy first, are you?" Jonathan said.
"No, of course not," Martha said.
"But you are upset, I can see that," Jonathan said.
"Jonathan, is there anything you want to tell me?" Martha said.
"Like what?" he said.
"It's bad enough that you would do something like this," Martha started, "But I never thought you would lie to me."
"Martha, I have never lied to you about anything," Jonathan said, "What are you talking about?"
"Tell me then," Martha said, "How do you explain this?" She held out the teen magazine, open to the centerfold.
"What the…?" Jonathan said, staring at it.
"Well, haven't you got anything to say?" Martha said.
"Honey, this isn't me!" Jonathan said, "I did not pose for this."
"Jonathan, I'm not a fool," Martha said, "That most certainly is you!"
"Martha," Jonathan said, "I'm telling you, this is not me."
"Then where did it come from?" Martha said.
"I am as confused as you are," Jonathan said. "J.D. Faison?" he read the name aloud. "This must be the person those girls thought I was."
"But Jonathan if that's not you, it's uncanny," Martha said, "He looks identical to you."
"Yeah, I guess he does," Jonathan said.
"I'm sorry," Martha said, "I know you would never lie to me."
"I can understand what you were thinking," Jonathan said, looking at the picture and shaking his head, "Where did you get this?"
"It was among Clark's schoolbooks that he left on the table," Martha said.
The phone rang and Jonathan answered, "Hello?" he said, "No…I'm afraid you're mistaken….I'm sorry you have the wrong number….I said, you have the wrong number, so please don't call here again." He hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" Martha said.
"A reporter," Jonathan said, "He wanted to interview J.D. the country superstar."
"This could get out of hand," Martha said.
"Maybe we should find out who this person really is," Jonathan said, "And set things straight."
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Lana was cleaning up at the Talon when Lex approached her. "Are we closing early today?"
"I told you that my friends and I were setting up a study session today for school, remember?" Lana said.
"Oh, that's right," Lex said, "It's always slow at this time of day anyway." He got himself a coffee and saw Clark sitting at a table. Walking over he said, "Clark, I understand your father has become a celebrity in Smallville."
"Not you too," Clark said, "It's all a misunderstanding."
Sitting in a chair, Lex said, "You must admit, it's intriguing. I've seen pictures of this country singer. The likeness is uncanny. Maybe your father is related somehow."
"I don't think so," Clark said, "People are calling him on the phone, coming up to him whenever he goes out and some have even shown up at the farm. He just wants his privacy back."
"I'm sure it'll blow over," Lex said, "These things usually do."
"Do you want to hear some good news?" Clark said.
"Always," Lex said, sipping his coffee.
"Alexandra, started talking," Clark said.
Lex choked on his coffee. "She what?" he said.
"Yeah, she said, my name, calls my parents mommy and daddy," Clark said, "She's saying new things all the time now."
"Really?" Lex said, "Well, that's great."
"Lex are you alright," Clark said, "You look a little pale."
"I'm fine," Lex said, "It's just been a long day. And besides that, I thought when you offered me good news you were going to tell me her name."
"Whose name?" Clark said.
"The girl who you're thinking about," Lex said.
"What makes you think a girl is on my mind," Clark said.
"It's written all over your face Clark," Lex said, "You look like a man in love."
"I'm not in love," Clark said.
"But there is someone special on your mind," Lex said.
"I can't stop thinking about her," Clark said, "There's just something about her. I've even started dreaming about her."
Smiling, Lex said, "So what is the lady's name?"
"Charlotte," Clark said.
"So, why don't you ask her out," Lex said.
"I don't know," Clark said, "Maybe you're right, I should ask her out."
"It can't hurt to try," Lex said.
"It can if she says no," Clark said.
"Clark, I have a feeling if she's as special as you seem to think she is, she couldn't possibly say no to you," Lex said.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Clark said.
"I need to go," Lex said, standing up, "Keep me posted on the Charlotte situation."
Lana closed up the Talon after Pete and Chloe arrived. "More and more studying," Pete said.
"Hey, Lana don't lock the door just yet," Clark said, "Someone else is joining us."
"Oh, who's that?" Chloe said.
"I invited another friend," Clark said.
"Who?" Chloe said again.
"Someone from school," Clark said.
"I'm getting tired of sounding like an owl," Chloe said, "Who is coming."
"Charlotte," Clark said.
"Charlotte Mason?" Chloe said, astounded.
"Clark, you didn't," Pete moaned.
"Who's Charlotte Mason?" Lana said.
"Where have you been?" Chloe said, "Charlotte is new to Smallville and rumor has it that this girl is not all there."
"Chloe, that's not fair," Clark said, "You barely know her."
"Oh, I know who you mean now," Lana said, "She seems nice enough."
"Yeah, she seems that way," Chloe said, "But I have heard some really strange things about her. Clark, why would you invite her?"
"I thought it would be nice," Clark said.
"Romeo here has got a crush on Miss Mason," Pete said.
"Pete…" Clark said.
"Oh, please," Chloe said.
"Listen, she is not the monster you're making her out to be," Clark said, "She's really nice and a little shy. What she needs is some friends so could you please be nice to her. Just try to make her feel welcome."
There was a knock at the door and Lana answered it. Charlotte was there and she said, "Hi, I'm Charlotte. Is this the right place for the study group? Clark invited me."
"It sure is," Lana said, stepping aside and inviting her in.
Chloe gave Pete an uneasy look.
"You and I have some of the same classes at school, but we were never introduced. I'm Lana," Lana said.
"Charlotte, I'm glad you made it," Clark said.
"Clark," she smiled, "Are you sure it's okay for me to be here?"
"Of course it is," Clark said. Making introductions, Clark said, "You know Pete and this is Chloe."
"Hi," Chloe said.
There was an awkward silence until Lana said, "What do you say we get started."
"So, Pete did you settle on a history topic yet?" Clark said.
"Disco," Pete said.
"What?" Chloe laughed.
"Disco?" Clark said.
"Disco had a big impact on history," Pete said.
"If you say so," Clark said.
"I know what you're thinking," Pete said, "But you just wait. My report will blow you all away."
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"Alright Lex, would you mind telling me what was is so urgent," Lionel said, entering the room.
"I just thought you might want the heads up," Lex said, sitting behind his desk.
"About what?" Lionel said.
"Alexandra," Lex said, "She's started talking."
"What did you say?" Lionel said.
"That's right," Lex said, standing up, "However, it's just few words here and there. From what I understand she's saying more everyday."
"But she hasn't said anything about…" Lionel trailed off.
"No, Dad she hasn't spilled your secret," Lex said, "Not yet."
"This is a disaster," Lionel said, "What were you thinking, sending her to the Kent farm?"
"I didn't think that she would start speaking so soon," Lex said, "I didn't think she would start speaking at all."
"Well, she has what are we going to do?" Lionel said.
"I am not going to do anything," Lex said, "Except warn you not to do anything to disrupt her life now."
"That girl is a danger to me," Lionel said.
"She is the one who is in danger if she really starts talking," Lex said.
"Well, I suppose we could have her live here," Lionel said.
"We already tried that, remember?" Lex said, "I can't remove her from the farm. I made a promise to the Kents."
"What is more important, the welfare of your family or your promise to the Kents," Lionel said.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" Lex said.
"You had better come up with something," Lionel said, "The more she starts talking, the more she may feel compelled to say something she shouldn't. Then they might send her to a regular school and I don't think I have to paint you a picture of what might happen. You know she can't stay there now."
"There has to be a way we can secure this situation," Lex said, "I won't upset her life again if I don't have to. I care too much about her."
"That is what worries me," Lionel said.