CHAPTER VIII

After Jimmy and I successfully saw Paige to her front door, we drove off. Jimmy said, "So, what're you thinking?" I was looking out the car window, staring at the stars above. "Not sure," I said quietly, "I used to hate that girl. Now…I want to protect her." "I would count that as good," said Jimmy, "You tossed your hate towards her out the window and saved her. If you keep that mentality, you'll save all kinds of people." "Maybe so," I said, "Let's get home, Jimmy." "You got it," said Jimmy. We drove through town, and I kept my eyes shifting from place to place. My idyllic belief of the simplicity of life in Smallville was smashed. I saw a terrible act about to be committed, and I recognized that they evened happened in so nice a place. I was so deep in this line of thought that it felt as if no time had passed when Jimmy pulled up to my house. I was snapped out of my subconscious when I heard Jimmy say, "Clark. We're here." I looked towards my house, saying, "Oh. Thanks, Jimmy." "Any time," said Jimmy. As I was about to knock on my door, Jimmy rolled down his window and said, "Will I see you at school tomorrow?" "I think I'll be okay enough," I said. "That's enough for me," said Jimmy. I nodded, and Jimmy drove away. I knocked on my door, waiting for it to open.

My dad came to the door, opening it and saying, "Hey. How was the movie?" "It was good," I said, "It…gets you thinking." "Seems like it ran a little long, though," said my dad. I shrugged, saying, "Maybe." My dad looked at me and said, "You feeling okay? You look a little off." "Well, like I said," I replied, "it gets you thinking. I'm going to hop in the shower. Good night." I walked past my dad as he said quietly, "Good night, son." I took my time in the shower, letting the water hit my face and run down my chest. I sighed. After a few more minutes, I got out, drying myself and getting dressed. I laid down in bed, fiddling with my necklace and staring at the ceiling. Eventually, I took it off and held it in front of my face. "What could you mean?" I whispered, looking at the symbol on front. Of course, being a necklace, it did nothing to answer my questions. "Yeah, okay," I said, putting it back on. I felt restless, turning over and over again. Soon, I decided to get up. I slipped on my shoes, sighing. I quietly grabbed a key and slipped out of my house. I stepped outside, once again staring at the night sky. I sighed again, jumping high in the air. I jumped repeatedly until I finally reached my school, going to our football field. I stood by the bleachers. There was a deserted football a few yards away in the grass. I picked it up, throwing it. I'm a terrible shot. The football hit the post holding up the field goal. While it dented the post, the football popped.

I sat down on the bleachers, staring at the dent. Eventually, I looked yet again at the stars. I laid flat on the bleachers, at one point even reaching towards the stars. "Lois," I said, "Maybe I can expect something, even from a name like that." I imagined, for whatever reason, a girl with silky black hair, beautiful blue eyes, and bright pink lips at the moment I said that. "Could that be what she really looks like?" I asked no one in particular. Nah, I thought. But even so, I felt a heat rise in my chest and face. Seemingly involuntarily, I smiled. "I think I'm in love," I said, "What a notion." I laughed, again seemingly by no choice of my own. I sighed contentedly, closing my eyes for a few seconds. Soon enough, however, I realized that I had to get home, otherwise I'd be met with a lot of uncomfortable questions which had uncomfortable answers. And so, I jumped my way back, landing a few feet from my front door in just a few short minutes. I quietly got inside, kicking off my shoes. I flopped into my bed, dropping off to sleep immediately. I had dreams about the girl I'd imagined. I still wondered if, by some unknown reason, I was able to see what she looked like before I met her. And still, I discounted the thought as pure fancy.

The following day, I woke up at about six o' clock so I could catch the early morning news. I was waiting for the story on Paige. My patience wasn't in vain. The news anchor recounted the story. It was found that the potential rapist was already a registered sex offender who'd escaped justice the first time. He was promptly arrested. Paige herself had given a statement, but she didn't want to be on TV. According to her, she lived very close to the theater, and so she decided to walk. Jimmy and I found her when she was on her way back. She mentioned both of us, but since she couldn't recognize us in the dark, she didn't refer to us by name. She didn't say anything about my powers. It was just as well. If she did, I doubt anyone would've believed her. Along with that, the police concluded that the brick dust found on the criminal's jacket was the result of a fierce struggle, and fortunately, it also explained his several broken bones. After the story had aired, I resolved to keep a level head and go to school. I got up, getting ready. My dad came stumbling out of his room as I was about to go. He was bleary-eyed, and he still had severe bed-head. Squinting in the light, he said, "Clark, what're you doing up at…7:45?" "I thought I'd walk to school," I said. "I'll let your mother know," said my dad. I said, "Thanks." My dad said, "If you need someone to talk to…remember that we're here." "I know, Dad," I said, smiling. He nodded, and I walked out the door.

I arrived at the same time as everyone else, yet I'd been sort of meandering my way there, with my thoughts tromping around. I met Jimmy at the doors, and he said, "I thought you'd be here earlier." "I thought you'd be here earlier," I said. "Well, I decided to walk," said Jimmy, "You too?" "Yeah, I've just been…mulling things over," I said. "So have I," said Jimmy, "You think she'll come?" "She seems a little strong-willed," I said, "So, maybe. But I'm not going to count on it." Just then, I saw two guys walk up to the front doors. One was Paige's boyfriend. I overheard one say, "So, you hear about what happened to Paige?" Paige's boyfriend, the jerk, said, "Yeah. Bet the little %&* ^ was asking for it." I realized that they'd probably separated. But what took precedence was my burning fury. I walked straight up to the guy, getting an inch from his face. I looked him in the eye, saying, "You say something like that again…" "You'll what?" he interrupted smugly. I kept my eyes locked on his, saying, "I will grab you by your hair, drag you outside in front of everyone, and ram your face into the dirt." He started chuckling lightly, saying, "You can't be…" I whispered suddenly, "Try me." I kept my face totally firm. His smile melted, and he said, "Fine." He walked past me, shouting back, "Can't figure out why you'd defend her of all people, though!" Jimmy walked up to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. He said, "I got a few extra dollars on me. How's about we cool off with some Coke?" "I could go for something like that, yeah," I said. We went inside, straight to the vending machine in the main hall.

Once we finished our drinks, we were about to head to class before we heard a small voice say, "Um…excuse me." We turned, seeing Paige with her younger brother, who happened to be my height, or six inches taller than Paige. "Hi," I said, "I heard about…what happened. How are you?" "Not good," said Paige. I noticed her hair was disheveled and she didn't have any makeup on. She looked as if she hadn't slept for days, even if it had only happened the night before. Her brother spoke up, saying, "My teachers let me move my classes around so I could stay with her all day." "Is that helping?" I asked Paige. She nodded slightly, clutching her books up against her chest. She kept her feet extremely close together, probably to try and prevent as much physical contact as possible. "I saw your old boyfriend, too," I said, "Can I ask what happened?" Paige laughed bitterly, which quickly turned to tears. Her brother said, "He…didn't want to be around her." "Why?" I asked. "Because of…what happened," said Paige's brother, "That was the only reason he gave." "Jerk," I growled. Paige calmed down after a few seconds, saying, "I, uh…I came up to you guys to…apologize. I'm sorry I was so terrible to you two. You might question why, but it's just because…there was this guy…and his friend. They took me home. They sounded like you two. I guess their voices just made me think of you. But they couldn't have been you, could they?" "Why would you say that?" I asked. She said, "One of them…he…no, it couldn't have been you. But I just wanted to say sorry." "Thanks," I said. Jimmy said, "It's okay." Paige looked up at Jimmy. Their eyes met for a few seconds, and Jimmy's face burned bright red. Paige smiled slightly.

Jimmy suddenly put his hand on Paige's shoulder, saying, "Hey. I hope your day gets better." Paige's smile grew ever so slightly, and she said quietly, "Thank you, Jimmy." Jimmy smiled a little, and Paige's brother said, "We have to get to class, big sis." Paige nodded, still smiling a little, and they walked off. A little down the hall, Paige turned her head to look back at Jimmy. Jimmy smiled and waved. Paige smirked sheepishly and turned back around. As Jimmy and I turned to head to our classes, I said, "Jimmy Olsen, unless I'm terribly mistaken, I think you love Paige." "H-how can you tell?" asked Jimmy nervously. "I…know the feeling," I said. We went to our classes, and luckily, our teachers understood our reason for being late. We continued the school day like normal, and I can guarantee you that Jimmy and I were thinking about Paige and Lois the whole time. The bliss I was experiencing wasn't destined to last forever, though, because that day Brainiac and Alexander were in Great Britain. Alexander was enjoying a package of jammie dodgers. "I love these things," said Alexander, downing yet another cookie. They were on the London Eye, and once again the makeup artist story worked. "So, what do you think of all this?" asked Alexander. Brainiac replied, "I believe that this world is not deserving of destruction…at least not yet." "What's behind that?" asked Alexander. Brainiac looked at Alexander, saying, "On my home planet, the people did not possess the wonder about their own world like you humans. They knew everything there was to know. They did not pay attention to their own world. Humans, however, do not know everything. You still study madly to find out as much as you can about your lives." Alexander, while Brainiac was holding a serious stare, ate another jammie dodger.

"You think we'll end up the same?" asked Alexander. "Perhaps," said Brainiac, "But from what I can see, it will at least not occur for a long time. Not in your lifetime. I value study above many other things, and as I said, you humans simply do not tire of it." "Interesting way of thinking," said Alexander. Just then, as they reached the top of the Ferris wheel, Brainiac turned to face a seemingly random direction. "Did Keira Knightley just step outside?" asked Alexander, "What's she wearing?" "No," said Brainiac, "I just felt a spike in genetic radiation. It is Kryptonian." "Your lost alien?" asked Alexander. "Yes," said Brainiac, "When do we get out of this?" "We'll…have to wait," said Alexander. "Then wait we shall," said Brainiac, hilariously stoic. He sat in the center of the carriage they were in, trying to pinpoint where the signal had come from.