The sorority meeting was at the beach again, and Lois had a bad feeling about it. Though one could chalk it up to intuition or a nose for trouble, it was likely the fact that Greek life's reputation proceeded itself.
The girls were waiting in a cluster. There were a lot less people than there'd been at the party. Certainly, there were no guys around now.
"Okay, so what humiliating thing am I supposed to do? Get drunk out of my gourd? Strip to my skivvies?"
"Ha," Lori said without humor. "Good guess but no. You and Morgan here just have run up and down along the beach until we tell you to stop."
She regarded them with suspicion as it seemed too normal though Morgan took off right away. Did they know she was a runner? Did they know the General had used running as a punishment and that she had run herself to exhaustion rather than apologize when she felt she was in the right? Hence, she'd built a lot of endurance over the years.
Finally, she shrugged and ran. And she ran. And she ran. It was hours before Lori finally called out, "Okay, you can stop!"
She didn't have to be told twice. She bent over a second to rest her hands on her thighs as she caught her breath. Her sweat glistened in the fading sunlight. She stood straight again and put her arms above her head to draw in more oxygen.
Morgan looked tired too though she hadn't been running near as hard, a light jog at best.
"I'm impressed, Lane," Lori said. "You're a better runner than a swimmer."
Once again, her suspicion alarm was going off due to the compliment. "Thanks?"
"Unfortunately, this sorority prides itself on knowing how to swim over jogging," she said with a chilly smile. "So hop into the river, you two, and show us what you're made of. Let's see if you can swim as long as you can run."
She had guessed the initiation would have something to do with swimming earlier. In fact, she'd worn her bathing suit under her clothes just to be prepared. She took off her shorts and tank then dived in.
She did good for the first hour or so, but she was beyond weary, and all the extra training was starting to catch up. She felt the pull of the current, and the fatigue set in well and good. She gave it everything she had. She was an experienced swimmer, in fact, she was an expert swimmer. This shouldn't be happening, but it was.
She yelled for help, but she didn't know if anyone could hear over the wind and between her mouthfuls of water. She could see the headline tomorrow: "Freshman Girl Dies Tragically in Sorority Hazing."
Just as she had all but given up, she felt a pair of strong hands latch onto her, and the next thing she knew she was sitting in the sand, dripping wet but alive. A towel was draped over her shoulders.
She looked up to see the face of her rescuer, but somehow, she already knew. Clark Kent. "What are you doing here?"
"Apparently saving your life. You're welcome by the way."
"Thank you," she amended. "It's just I thought you and Chloe both returned to Smallville last night."
"Lori and I are going out after this. Are you okay?" He was down on his knees, looking as if he were seeing right through her.
"Oh, so you two are officially an item now?" she asked. "And by the way, my eyes are up here."
He blushed but only for a second. "I know what you're doing, trying to change the subject. Are you sure you're really okay?"
"I'm fine. Stop hovering."
He got to his feet, but he didn't go anywhere, and his look turned scolding. "What were you thinking? You look beat. You don't go swimming in that kind of condition, certainly not in water that has currents."
"I was thinking I have to join this stupid sorority. It was part of my initiation, and while you're out on your little date, you can ask your new girlfriend why she has it in for me."
Lori came running up. She did look a little clumsy as if she'd spent a day or two out on a boat and was gaining her land legs again. At least, it was satisfying to know that she was indeed a better runner.
"Lois, Lois, are you okay? We saw you out there, struggling. Thank God that Clark rescued you in time."
Lois looked at her through slanted eyes. She was certainly playing concerned well, but she didn't believe the phony sympathy act for a minute. "Yeah, I am. No thanks to you."
"What do you mean?" If she was doing a decent job at concern, she flat out bombed at innocent.
"I mean I could have died, and it would have been your fault."
"She does have a point, Lori," Clark said gently as the blonde sputtered for something to say. "This initiation idea of yours is dangerous."
She was grateful at his backing her up even though she was sick to her stomach at his handling Lori with kid gloves. Why did it seem he treated every female different from her? Not that she was complaining, she'd probably slug him if he tried to pretend she was a delicate flower, which maybe he instinctively sensed.
"Morgan doesn't look tired to me," Lori said sweetly to Lois as she cast a glance toward the river where the girl was swimming against the current like she'd lived in the water all her life. "Maybe you are just out of your league here."
Lois only glared.
Lori looked toward Clark and beamed a great smile. "You were positively amazing out there by the way. Are you on a swim team?"
Clark turned shy and bumbling. She really would have been throwing up if she had taken in any more water than she had. "No, though I do like to swim."
"Really? Let's go grab dinner. There's a lovely place downtown on the dock, overlooking the river. They have the best seafood." She cast a glance back toward Lois. "Don't worry, Lane. You're still in. My way of apologizing for tonight's little fiasco."
Little fiasco? Was Clark buying this? But the way he was giving Lori a goofy grin, it was plain that he was. Boys. Oh well, she was in. Her college career was secure. And he'd learn Ms. Lemaris' true colors soon enough.