CHAPTER NINE

BREATHLESS

I sat on the bleachers next to Mr. Kent with my arms crossed and my eyes narrowed. I wasn't here to support the team. I was here to supervise the coach. I watched him from across the field as he screamed orders at the players just now arriving on the turf.

"Dad…Alice!" I heard Clark call, "I'm glad you guys are here. It means a lot to me."

I looked up at him and tried to give him an encouraging nod but I couldn't even muster a fake smile. If I was being entirely honest I didn't care much for Clark's decision either. I didn't think he would hurt anyone but it pained me to see that he wanted to be like everyone else so much. I liked the person he was. He was different. He was like me but it was obvious that he didn't want to be. He wanted to be like those meat head jocks who—gah!

I looked away from Clark my hands shaking. Sometimes he could be so irritating!

"I still don't support your decision Clark. I'm here to see that no one gets hurt."

Clarks expression was laced with hurt as he absorbed his father's words before he turned to me, "And what about you Alice?"

My eyes stung as I looked past him to the field in silence.

Clark scoffed and turned away, "I thought at least you would understand."

He walked towards the green as I shot up and called after him, "Clark!"

Jonathan placed his hand on my arm and gently pulled me down.

I watched on anxiously as the first play begun and quickly ended with Clark on the turf. The coach reached down and grabbed Clark by the cage over his face. He shook him violently yelling through his teeth.

I bit my tongue and stifled a curse as I stared down the coach.

I shot up, "I can't watch this crap." I growled and stormed past as he called after me.

I turned back to the field just in time to see Clark look at me in dismay before the coach pulled his attention back aggressively.

Hours later I sat in the hallway of the school just outside Coach's office. I twiddled my thumbs nervously and squinted my eyes pressing myself to remember each detail of the upcoming days. I had to get this right. I could see the events unfolding before the backs of my eyelids. They were blurry and burned my eyes. I pushed further into the future and begun to shake as a sharp pain pierced my temple and fiercely stabbed my eyes. I gasped and my eyes flew open. My head throbbed but I smiled at my increasing control of my abilities.

"Alice." The principal nodded to me before turning the corner.

I got up and tried to be as quiet as possible as I slowly followed behind him. I tried to cling to the shadows and pressed my back flesh against the wall next to the coach's door and held my breath. I focused acutely on their conversation. I listened to every inflection of his voice waiting for him to lose control.

I caught the tail end of the Principals words, "…The school board will suspend you for life."

With that I turned into the room my hands raised just as the television set behind me went ablaze.

"Calm yourself Coach." I whispered softly unwavering and unflinching.

"What the hell is going on here Coach?" Quan questioned nervously.

I took a few steps forward cautiously as the Coach stepped back in slight shock. The principal quickly gathered his things and brushed past me but I looked straight into the Coaches eyes my gaze narrowed and shore.

He growled at me, "Who the hell do you think you are?"

I remained planted, "Let him go Coach."

He turned to the blinds and glared out to the principal making his way to the car and I knew there was no hope. I broke my stance and ran out into the hallway my adrenalin pumping. My converse slapped violently against the tiles as I skidded around the corner and out into the night air. The principal opened his car door and climbed inside just as I got within two feet of the vehicle it was sent ablaze.

I turned to the school expecting to see Clark but he was nowhere to be found. I gasped and swiveled to the car and tore off my jacket yanking on the handle to no avail. I screamed as my jacket went ablaze in my hands.

"Damn it!" I cried.

I stared through the glass at the desperate man who burned alive and my heart wrenched. Before my eyes a flash of what was to come burned against my eyelids. I saw as if in a nightmare the principal dead and blistered, his body being tore out of the car by paramedics. I screamed and my hands tingled and burned. A dose of what felt like liquid fire shot through my veins. The familiar purple force field grew as I concentrated as hard as I could. I refused to so much as breath as I engulfed the car in a bubble of electric light. The flames died down with in the dome and I could feel the energy being drained out of me but this time I was able to control it. This time I pushed through the pain.

"ALICE!" Clark called from behind me. I gasped and collapsed onto the pavement as the buzzing light fell instantly with my hands.

I kneeled on the asphalt gasping as Clark tore the car door from the frame and pulled Kwan from the charred interior.

"I think he is going to be okay!" Clark called from where he kneeled cradling an unconscious Kwan.

I smiled slightly and winced my whole body raw with pain. "Good." I rasped out.

He gently placed the principal down and walked to me helping me up. "How did you do that?" His eyes scanned mine for answers.

"I snuffed the flame." I whispered. "You need oxygen for fire right?"

Clark pulled me into a hug, "I'm just glad you're okay."

His cool grasp instantly grounded me and I sighed in the comfort. Why did he have this effect on me? Why did his touch instantly stop the pain? I chuckled. One of the many mysteries of Alice Green and Clark Kent.

I sat next to Clark pushing my food awkwardly around on my plate in the silence as Martha paced anxiously back and forth on the phone. Clark looked at his father desperately then back to his plate. I hated seeing them like this. Underneath the table I paced my hand gently on his knee hoping to comfort him slightly.

Clark's head turned quickly to look at me choking on his pie. My face flushed pink and I pulled away before shoveling my face full with the sweet pastry. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Jonathan look up at the two of us suspiciously.

Martha broke our awkward squabble with news, "Principal Kwan's gonna be in the hospital overnight."

I mulled over the words again and again in my head before I realized the difference. "They aren't keeping him for the weekend?" I shot desperately.

"He's got a few burns and minor cuts but he is going to be okay. They are keeping him overnight out of… well shock… Honestly it should have been a lot worse." Martha mumbled nervously.

"Oh." Was all I could muster out. I knew it was a good thing. This change was good right? I had prevented further damage. But at what cost? The Doctors are suspicious of how he escaped with no more than a scratch and some burns. I had drawn more attention to Clark and the entire Kent family. I had drawn attention to me.

Jonathan gave me and Clark a pointed look, "Anybody see you two?"

I looked to Clark. Had Pete seen me? I knew Clark must have shown up with him right?

Clark looked between me and his father, "No. I'm sure no one saw. Pete was with me when I got there but he didn't see Alice. He was looking at me and that's when I called Alice's name. By the time Pete looked at the car the—bubble?" Clark looked at me questioning his choice of words.

"I prefer force field." I muttered.

"Force field." Clark corrected, "Anyways the purple thing was down."

I let out a sigh of relief but Jonathan wasn't so easily convinced.

Martha patted Clark and my shoulder firmly, "Lucky you were there."

Clark stiffened "I kind of missed my ride."

I shot my eyes down awkwardly.

Jonathan scoffed, "Look, I saw you play alright? You could have easily hurt any one of those boys."

Clark stood up, "The point is I didn't."

Clark looked to me for support. I wanted to support him. I really did. But the idea of him putting on that uniform, of looking and acting just like those guys who literally assaulted Clark and me just a few weeks ago, made me sick to my stomach.

Clark gave me a disappointed look before turning his attention back to his father, "I don't even know why we are having this conversation. He is never going to believe me."

Silence.

"By the way, coach gave me your old position." Clark started again, "You're looking at the starting tailback for this Friday's game."

Jonathan turned wordlessly to Clark and left the room without a word.

Clark looked between Martha and I, "Don't all congratulate me at once."

I sighed chasing Clark up the steps and into his room.

He laid on his bed tossing a ball up into the air and catching it again and again doing his best to ignore me.

"Clark?" I spoke softly as I sat of the edge of his bed.

He caught the ball and shot up off the mattress. He stood before me and I flinched at his speed, "I thought at least you would understand. I thought you would know what it's like to want to be normal."

I glanced at the ground in shame.

He spoke softer now, "I thought at least you would trust me."

I looked up at him desperately now my eyes stinging with tears, "I do trust you!"

He rolled his eyes in disbelief, "right."

I pushed myself off his quilt, "Clark. I don't think you'll hurt anyone."

He looked at me questioningly, "Then what is it Alice?"

I took a nervous breath, "I have never been normal Clark. Even before I had…powers. I—I didn't have the life of a normal kid okay? I have always stood out in some way. You don't know how much I wished begged to be normal. I would have given anything to have the life you have." I shot out my throat aching.

He looked at me his eyebrows pulled tight, "You wanted powers. I never asked for any of this."

I growled and jabbed him in the chest with my finger, "You think it was the power I wanted? You think I gave a damn about your stupid ass powers Clark Kent." I stomped over to his night stand and grabbed the picture frame from it and shoved it at Clark.

He looked down at the photo of the Kent's. A small and smiling Clark stood with his father and his mother at the farm. A happy family all in a row.

I tried to finish but my tears cut me off when I opened my mouth. I bit down on my fist and pushed past Clark and out of the room. I crashed into my door and locket it shut before sliding to the carpet in a mess of tears.

God I'm an idiot.

Oh Alice Alice Alice. Hello! So sorry for the wait! It has been crazy at my house and I feel like a hotel with all the guests I've been having lately but I will always do my upmost to post at least once a week! I hope you enjoyed the update:) I am literally SO PUMPED for some of the upcoming secrets and I wonder if you all will be able to predict them ;) SOOOOOO what did you think!? What do you think about Alice's family? Where she came from? Her visions? Her relationships? What about her powers?! Let me know in a REVIEW as they do mean so much to me (so so so so much) and I reply to all of them at the end of every chapter! See you all soon!

~Pond2

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REVIEW RESPONSES

FANNtasY

Oh my goodness! I am so flattered by your comment and it means so much to me to hear from readers! I am so glad you like Clarice as much as I do. I know they have been a little rough lately but I am sure everything will work out XD Thank you for reading and I love to write so It means a lot! See you soon!

GUEST

Hmmmmmm what a suggestion...:) we'll see... I know that it the future their will be a need for another perspective as far as the writing goes and... I will def consider Clark... (insert evil all knowing laugh) I am glad you are enjoying the story and I am always thrilled to hear from you! Talk to you soon!

FAN

I am glad you like the Clarice fluff as it is so fun to write! I know this Chapter is a little less so fluffy but I hope you will like it all the same:) I think she is finally seeing her affect on the plot but not the extent of it's repercussions... I guess you'll have to read to find out! Thank you for reviewing!XD

serena83

literally you don't even know XD the next few episodes get... omg. ANYWAYS glad you are still enjoying the story! I hope that you will continue to read and review as It means so much to me! Thank you as always and I will talk to you soon!

IDigIt

Thank you! I am glad you are reading and I hope to hear from you again! Talk to you soon!