It was the first day of classes and Clark was nervous. Just this morning he had to sit through a two-hour orientation. His first class was Calculus and would begin at three. Since he had time, Clark arranged to have lunch with Lois. They'd traded e-mails a couple of times a day for the four months he'd been living with his parents. He also e-mailed his friend Jimmy, but since the high schooler didn't have much access to his own computer was much more sporadic. He looked to the left for her as he leaned against a light pole on the street. Checking his watch he found that it was 10 minutes after noon. She was late, which was unusual. then someone tapped on his back softly.

"Hello, stranger," she said.

"Lois, hi," he said turning around to look at her. "Jimmy!" he added with surprise, seeing the young man.

"Hey Clark."

"What are you doing here? Lois said you were busy doing some back to school shopping when we arranged this."

"Originally I was supposed to be out helping with the shopping, but I got out of it. So we thought it would be a good surprise."

"It's a great surprise," said Clark. "So where do you want to eat?"
"There's a burger joint around the corner that looks good," suggested Jimmy. "I think they have other stuff as well."

"That sounds fine to me," agreed Lois.

"All right then, lead the way Jimmy," said Clark with a huge grin.

They had made it into the restaurant, ordered the food, and were seated waiting for it before it happened. "So Clark, are you ever going to give us the whole story?"

"What do you mean Lois?" he stalled, trying not to slouch in his chair.

"Well, I thought we knew you, then suddenly I find out you know one of the richest businessmen in the world. You disappear with him to go home, then next thing I know you've quit your job at the Daily Planet. Now you're attending Met U. It's a bit sudden."

"You don't waste any time do you?" asked Clark. He felt like the eyes of the restaurant were upon him.

"I'm still a reporter Clark, I'm not the one who changed overnight."

"Umm, guys," interrupted Jimmy.

"I thought I was having lunch with friends, not with a reporter," replied Clark. "If we can't be civil maybe we should just forget about this." He started reaching for his wallet.

"I am here as your friend," Lois replied. "It's just that I thought I knew you and now you're a completely different person. One who won't tell his friends what's been going on."

"Only as long as this stays between us as friends," he said resting his head in his hands then running through his hair. Finally he looked up and at Lois and Jimmy once more. "What do you want to know?"

"For one, how a small time boy became friends with Lex Luthor."

"Car accident on a bridge. Lex nearly hit me with his car when he hit some barbed wire that must have fell off a truck. He went through the guardrail. I jumped in the water and pulled him out."

Lois and Jimmy looked surprised. "You? Mr. Why don't you call the police to handle this?"

"Nearest phone was to far away to call for help and I do know how to swim."

"O.K. so you ran away-"

"For personal reasons Lois," said Clark cutting her off.

"So your friend Luthor, that sounds strange to say," said Lois. "Spent five years tracking you down."

"Apparently. He always treated me like..." he hesitated trying to figure out how to say what he and Lex were to each other without lying. "Like family. And he took care of mine while I was gone."

"So Lex found you, told you some stuff about your dad among other things and you went home?"

"Right, and when I was out there I decided to spend some time with them. Make up for the past five years, go to college which is something always wanted, but I couldn't afford living on my own."

"Clark you got paid more then I do. I'm a intern, I barely get more then minimum wage."

"I only get minimum wage," said Jimmy finally speaking up.

"Yes, but Lois, you are in college. I did have a GED and a couple of years experience, but since I didn't lie about my age, I had to put less on my resume then I actually did. Add to that I was sending money home and I barely had enough to live on even though I was working full time and sharing the apartment with roommates."

"Going to college I can understand, but Met. U!" exclaimed Lois. "That's one of the most expensive schools in the country, and you couldn't have applied in time for regular admissions."

"I took the SAT's while I was at home and got in as a late admission. As for the tuition, Lex is helping out and I'm going to pay him back after I graduate. Any more questions?" said Clark getting frustrated.

"None from me," said Jimmy.

"Just one more, where are you staying? You haven't moved back in with your old roommates. I checked."

"Lex's," he whispered. "Now can we eat?"

"Jesus Christ, Clark," she hissed. "Do you know what some people are going to say about this situation?" Clark just stared at her. "Fine, fine. I'll let this rest," she said, but somehow Clark didn't believe her. Lunch passed with strained conversation and Clark was very relieved when Lois had to leave and get back to work.