A sunny horizon arose over the red barn of the Kent Farm. Roosters started their screaming and the animals started waking up. Clark Kent has woken up at the same schedule. Yawning in his bedroom as he smelled around the area as he slowly opened his eyelids. He looked widely forward and saw a burn mark on his closet. He opened his closet slowly while staring at the mark. It's some sort of crack branching in multiple directions. It reminded Clark of his nightmares lately. Clark tried to clear it out of his head as he got ready. He had gotten a shower, and then got dressed in his yellow shirt and his favourite white and grey flannel. Clark dashed from his room to the bottom of the stairs. Martha yelled from the kitchen.
"Clark, don't rush! I'll be ready soon." Clark undusted his flannel and moved slowly towards the kitchen table.
"Sorry Ma. Just very excited is all." Clark said. He sat down with confidence and excitement. While it's very genuine for his big day, he was also nervous his family would find out what happened to the closet door while he was out for the day.
"What has got you so excited today? The last few years of high school didn't get you going this quick to my pancakes." Martha said curiously. She has always been very inquisitive about Clark's behaviour. Especially now that he is slowly growing into more of a man. She looked in wonder as he eats his pancakes faster than she could see it.
"Clark, be careful with how fast you go with that." Martha said worryingly.
"Come on Ma. It'll be fine. I just don't want to be late like last year" Clark remembered last year's return to the school year vividly. He had been late because he got stuck in the caverns for a few days. A hole wasn't blocked up in the fields next to the roads to class and Clark fell in.
"I know that was hard." Martha and Clark shared a knowing look about Clark's fall. However as Martha prepared Jonathan's batch of pancakes, she began to change the subject.
"So are you prepared for class with Ms. Klingman or do you still need to find everything for the school paper?" Martha knew reporting was Clark's element ever since he interned with Smallville High's newspaper, The Torch. While it got hard, Clark had managed. Plus earning pay for his education was always good.
Clark had looked in his bag with confidence. Feeling he got it all, but he had realized his one last photograph wasn't in the bag. He looked around to see if it fell. Then he started to look worried.
"Found it!" Jonathan went up behind with the photograph in hand. He was always there for Clark when he needed him most.
"It was pinned under the posts when you came in yesterday for dinner. Not to worry though. You'll be able to send it into the paper before it's printed. The Torch isn't a professional newspaper. They can wait for one student to get it." Jonathan knew The Torch was a good stepping stone for his son, but he hated seeing him so overworked like he had been in his youth himself. He wanted bigger goals than that for his son.
"I know Pa, but it's the closest I have to one."
Jonathan packed the photo into the bag. He then went over to the kitchen to grab his plate. However he had turned back to the table to tell Clark about a sudden thought.
"Almost forgot, as I was out there checking on the pigs, I saw Lana rushing after the bus that just arrived. Better get a move on." Jonathan patted his son on the shoulder for encouragement and then picked up some pancakes that were ready in the kitchen. Clark smiled back as he finished the last of his pancakes. He got the last of what he needed at super-speed before walking out the front door to the bus.
Martha looked on in slight concern. "He really is growing up." Jonathan peered out to the door behind her. Sharing her look of concern. "Yeah, he is Martha." Jonathan and Martha saw him out, waving goodbye. They went back to the table to have their pancakes. Jonathan took a few bites, but then spoke his concern. "So we've been talking about this last month, when are we going to tell him?" He looked at Martha determined, however, she looked concerned. "I don't think today is the right time." Martha peered out as Clark left on the bus, and as she looked, she got even more worried about what he might discover.
The Luthor Mansion stood tall and wide across a once peaceful empty field. Now bought, paved over, and replaced with old Victorian Architecture. The windows had a great shine to them in the morning which Lex had found to be the most irritating part about Smallville. The sunny days. Like the world was practically forcing him to try and have a happy outlook on his situation. However he knew he'd rather go to sleep for a few more hours than face his father. Lex Luthor prepares to get ready, combing his red hair back and preparing himself in a jacket preferable to the afternoon.
In the limo outside, Lionel sat impatiently, tapping his foot on the floor and glaring at his watch. His driver opened the partition one-way window, and turned to see his boss.
"Is everythin all right Mr. Luthor?" The driver spoke very cluelessly. Not having much awareness of the problems in the Luthor family. However he wasn't paid to question. Just to follow orders. Lionel stopped as he realized his own impatience. "It's nothing Otis. I just wish my son would get the importance of punctuality." Lionel was impatient, but still indulged in Otis's incessant questions. "Otis, set a timer." Lionel said close to the driver's seat. Unsettling Otis slightly. "W-what for Mr. Luthor?" Lionel leaned back into his seat and chuckles. "For you to drive."
This wasn't the first time Otis had done this task, and he knew it wouldn't be the last until little Lex obeyed his father's orders. Otis went along with it as long as he was paid. He suddenly saw Lex run towards the limo from the rearview mirror, fully ready for school and all. He immediately took out his backpack as he ran, and had thrown it at the limo. Causing it to stop. Lex opened the door that was still unlocked. Rushing in while picking up his backpack.
He went inside angrily, ignoring his dad, wishing to continue the trip without any more comments from him. He didn't get it from Lionel.
"I hope you realize that things will get worse until you accept our life here." Lionel reassured in his own way, but it was out of threats more than reassurance. However Lex ignored his words. What Lex didn't know was that this was just to get onto a phone call in the middle of the ride to Smallville High. Lex listened in.
"Yes, yes I know the surface plate is stuck. Our new element is now in play however, simply ask to use it. Okay, fine I'll be over soon. Just have-" Lionel's call went on for a while, but Lex only heard a bit of the conversation before he went over to Lex and slapped him. He barely had time to check the pain before Lionel looked menacingly at him. He held Lex's chin up tightly
"You try to interlude into my business again, you aren't coming here."
Then Lex found he had arrived. To the soulless drivel of high school kids. He might have taken Lionel's threats on given that he didn't want to be here, but he knew there was more than just that to come. He grabbed his backpack, getting out of Lionel's grip, and continued on to the old high school decorated by the newly assigned cheerleaders volunteering to put in about forty percent effort.
Why did he bring me here? Lex thought about it. He never could figure out the answer as he checked his schedule for his pre-assigned classes. Most likely chosen because it's the best this small town has in education in order to teach Lex the fundamentals for eventually serving under his father.
Lex continued forward as the limo took off. Muttering to himself as he entered through the doors taking in the vast scents of the lack of proper hygiene care. "Welcome to Smallville."
