It started raining right after dinner. Mr. Kent and Clark rushed out into
the unexpected rainstorm to put some of the farm equipment away. I helped
with the dishes. Clark and Mr. Kent came in soaked to the bone and
splattered with mud. The thunder and lightening started shortly after 8pm
and I retreated to my room closing the blinds tight and trying to ignore
the storm. With every role of thunder I felt my skin jump. Some how I
fell asleep because the next thing I knew Clark was in my room trying to
wake me up.
"Are you Ok?" His voice was full of concern.
My heart was beating rapidly and I had trouble speaking. I knew I had had another nightmare and I knew what it was about. "I'm Fine." I said unconvincingly. "Why are you in here?"
"You were shouting for your mom."
"Was I?" I placed my hand on my forehead. I was sweating.
"What happened?" Clark was now sitting on the edge of my bed.
"Clark really I'm fine." But then my eyes met his and I dropped my act. "That's not true. I have nightmares, all the time, less since I've been here but they still come. Have I ever told you I'm afraid of lightening?"
Clark shook his head and looked out the window. The blinds were still drawn tight but he seemed to look past them. The storm had ended but thunder could still be heard in the distance.
"That's how it started." And I told him how my parents died, how I felt guilty, how I've let them down.
"You haven't done anything wrong." Clark interrupted me putting his hand on my shoulder.
"I have, Clark. Two years ago. Gotham was a very hard place to live. I've done things I'm ashamed of, things that almost make me glad my parents are dead so they couldn't see me the way I was." I hesitated but then told Clark. I told him about the friends I made, the clubs I went to, the drinking, drugs and sex. How I stole from stores and ended up spending three nights in jail. How after almost a year of living this way I was broken and scared. It took ever ounce of energy I had to leave to get out. I left Gorham with nothing and stayed that way for months in DC. Slipping now and then but with out the influence of those I called friends it was easier. I was able to get clean and sober and I was able to at myself without feeling ashamed.
Clark then did an unexpected thing and hugged me. He shocked me again with his words. "You're so strong." I wanted to laugh that coming from him. I've seen him lift things he shouldn't be able to but I knew he didn't mean physical strength. "Why did you keep this all to yourself?"
"I just thought, it might make, I mean your parents." I was having trouble with sentence structure.
"You didn't think they would let you stay?"
I nodded. "It's a small town, Clark. They don't need someone with that kind of reputation living under their roof."
"But you got through it. You're not that person you were two years ago. I wouldn't worry we know how to keep things to ourselves in this house."
I looked at him strange and suddenly his face dropped like he said the wrong thing. He stood up. "Wow it's late we should get some sleep."
"What did you mean by that Clark?" But Clark was out the door.
The next day I went downstairs and found Clark and his parents talking quietly at the kitchen table. They all looked at me as I walked in. I assumed Clark told his parents. I never said he couldn't and I'm glad he did. In the light of a new day I wasn't sure if I could tell the Kent's all I told Clark last night. Mrs. Kent got up and hugged me as Clark had and then went on making breakfast. Mr. Kent still looked worried but I think there was something else going on. Neither one of them asked me questioned just told Clark to hurry or he would miss the bus. I was already to go. I heard the bus outside and grabbed my bag running outside. I assumed Clark was behind me but as I climbed onto the bus I didn't see him. The bus pulled away before I could tell the driver to wait, which I doubt he would anyway.
"He was on a streak there for awhile." Chloe said.
"What happened to you Saturday night? You disappeared." Pete asked.
"Like you noticed. I think Lauren preoccupied most of your attention that night." Chloe jabbed.
"I actually got a little tour of the Luthor estate." I said. I didn't mention that Lex also wanted to give me a little tour of his mouth. I still had to talk to Clark about that one. He knew Lex better then anyone in Smallville.
Conversation continues about how much fun the party was after I didn't give any more information about the castle. As we approached the school Chloe turned to me. "Listen I'm dropping the whole ray gun eye thing. It's so frustrating that nothings happened in awhile." Pete mumbled something at this but I didn't catch it. "Any way I was wondering if I could interview you."
"Me?"
"Yeah I mean some kids think it's a cool idea to run away. See it as some adventure, the answer to bossy parents. I'd like to have an article in the torch next week to kind of discourage that and since you've lived it."
Chloe, Pete, the Kent's, school administration and now I suppose Lex knew my story or at least part of it. The rest of the student body simply knew I was living with the Kent's, family friend or something. I thought about it. I trusted Chloe and wouldn't have to tell all just how hard it is to live on your own.
"OK" I said as we stepped off the bus.
"Cool, I'll talk to you at lunch about an interview."
About three minutes after the bus pulled away Clark scared me by sneaking up behind me. "How did you get here so fast?"
"Dad gave me a ride in." But I didn't see the truck.
I wondered what he was playing at. In computer class my mind wandered not to Clark but again to Lex Luthor. I wondered why he had done it. I didn't know much about the Luthors but what I picked up was they never did anything unless it benefited them. I doubted that he would show any kind of emotion unless he had a plan. Was I the one who got away? The only one of my group (male and female) that he didn't sleep with. Or was I all wrong and it was genuine attraction.
I met up with Clark later that night in the barn. He was looking through he telescope again but by its angle he was actually looking at stars. He also heard me come in.
"Hey I heard Chloe's dug her claws in you."
"I don't mind." I plopped down on the couch.
"Something wrong?" He sat next to me always the concerned one.
"Something's been bothering me Clark. I can't see to figure it out, thought you could help."
Clark visibly tensed up. He thought I was going to ask about him and I was but I changed my question.
"Lex well tell me about Lex."
"Why so curious?" He relaxed a bit.
"Halloween night he kissed me and I was wondering if that was something he did often."
"He kissed you!" Clark looked very surprised.
"Yes Clark focus a bit does he do this all the time."
"What kiss my friends?"
"Have a lot of girls over."
"Oh well there was one that was living there for a little while but that died off about three months ago. I have seen him with anyone since but he goes to Metropolis a lot so I'm not sure."
I thought on this.
"Do you want something to happen with Lex?" Clark seemed very cautiously with the question.
"Have you looked at him lately?"
"Ummm…"
"Sorry Clark. I just want to know if he tried to kiss me because he wanted to kiss me or if he tried to kiss me because I was the only none teenage girl in the house."
"Lex isn't the jerk everyone thinks he is. And I think if he kissed you he meant to kiss you."
"Thanks Clark."
Clark got up to go back in the house but I grabbed his arm.
"Lex wasn't the only thing I wanted to ask you about."
"What else you want to know?" Again a cautious question.
"About you Clark."
"What about me?'
"Well I know you're adopted." Clark nodded but didn't sit back down. "It's just you never seem to get tired, you seem to appear out of no where sometimes, you lift things that no one should be able to lift…"
I stopped. Clark looked horrified. But I had to ask one more question. "What's in the storm cellar Clark?" My voice was quiet but demanding.
"Don't ask me Dori, please. I can't tell you." He left. I followed I wasn't going to let this go.
Clark was walking fast towards the house.
"Tell me what's going on!" I shouted running up to him blocking his way. "Clark I'm part of this family and I know I'm damn lucky to be welcome in this house but I need the truth." Mr. Kent heard me shouting, as did Mrs. Kent.
"What's going on?" Mrs. Clark asked.
Neither Clark nor I said anything we simply stood staring at each other.
"I asked what's going on?"
"That's what I want to know." I said not breaking my eyes from Clark's.
"What are you hiding from me and why do you think you can't trust me. You're my brother Clark, you have been from the moment I walked into this house. My family. You accepted me for who I am and you know what ever you are hiding I will guard with my life. I'll never betray you but I need to know what's going on. Does it have something to do with the meteors? Why are you so afraid?"
"I think we need to talk. In the house." Mr. Kent spoke. Clark shot him a look breaking our eye contact for the first time since I stepped in front of him. "Now."
{Ok I wrote this quick and I'm sorry to leave it on such a note but I'll have to leave you all know to start my vacation check back in a week for a new chapter. Thanks for reading}
"Are you Ok?" His voice was full of concern.
My heart was beating rapidly and I had trouble speaking. I knew I had had another nightmare and I knew what it was about. "I'm Fine." I said unconvincingly. "Why are you in here?"
"You were shouting for your mom."
"Was I?" I placed my hand on my forehead. I was sweating.
"What happened?" Clark was now sitting on the edge of my bed.
"Clark really I'm fine." But then my eyes met his and I dropped my act. "That's not true. I have nightmares, all the time, less since I've been here but they still come. Have I ever told you I'm afraid of lightening?"
Clark shook his head and looked out the window. The blinds were still drawn tight but he seemed to look past them. The storm had ended but thunder could still be heard in the distance.
"That's how it started." And I told him how my parents died, how I felt guilty, how I've let them down.
"You haven't done anything wrong." Clark interrupted me putting his hand on my shoulder.
"I have, Clark. Two years ago. Gotham was a very hard place to live. I've done things I'm ashamed of, things that almost make me glad my parents are dead so they couldn't see me the way I was." I hesitated but then told Clark. I told him about the friends I made, the clubs I went to, the drinking, drugs and sex. How I stole from stores and ended up spending three nights in jail. How after almost a year of living this way I was broken and scared. It took ever ounce of energy I had to leave to get out. I left Gorham with nothing and stayed that way for months in DC. Slipping now and then but with out the influence of those I called friends it was easier. I was able to get clean and sober and I was able to at myself without feeling ashamed.
Clark then did an unexpected thing and hugged me. He shocked me again with his words. "You're so strong." I wanted to laugh that coming from him. I've seen him lift things he shouldn't be able to but I knew he didn't mean physical strength. "Why did you keep this all to yourself?"
"I just thought, it might make, I mean your parents." I was having trouble with sentence structure.
"You didn't think they would let you stay?"
I nodded. "It's a small town, Clark. They don't need someone with that kind of reputation living under their roof."
"But you got through it. You're not that person you were two years ago. I wouldn't worry we know how to keep things to ourselves in this house."
I looked at him strange and suddenly his face dropped like he said the wrong thing. He stood up. "Wow it's late we should get some sleep."
"What did you mean by that Clark?" But Clark was out the door.
The next day I went downstairs and found Clark and his parents talking quietly at the kitchen table. They all looked at me as I walked in. I assumed Clark told his parents. I never said he couldn't and I'm glad he did. In the light of a new day I wasn't sure if I could tell the Kent's all I told Clark last night. Mrs. Kent got up and hugged me as Clark had and then went on making breakfast. Mr. Kent still looked worried but I think there was something else going on. Neither one of them asked me questioned just told Clark to hurry or he would miss the bus. I was already to go. I heard the bus outside and grabbed my bag running outside. I assumed Clark was behind me but as I climbed onto the bus I didn't see him. The bus pulled away before I could tell the driver to wait, which I doubt he would anyway.
"He was on a streak there for awhile." Chloe said.
"What happened to you Saturday night? You disappeared." Pete asked.
"Like you noticed. I think Lauren preoccupied most of your attention that night." Chloe jabbed.
"I actually got a little tour of the Luthor estate." I said. I didn't mention that Lex also wanted to give me a little tour of his mouth. I still had to talk to Clark about that one. He knew Lex better then anyone in Smallville.
Conversation continues about how much fun the party was after I didn't give any more information about the castle. As we approached the school Chloe turned to me. "Listen I'm dropping the whole ray gun eye thing. It's so frustrating that nothings happened in awhile." Pete mumbled something at this but I didn't catch it. "Any way I was wondering if I could interview you."
"Me?"
"Yeah I mean some kids think it's a cool idea to run away. See it as some adventure, the answer to bossy parents. I'd like to have an article in the torch next week to kind of discourage that and since you've lived it."
Chloe, Pete, the Kent's, school administration and now I suppose Lex knew my story or at least part of it. The rest of the student body simply knew I was living with the Kent's, family friend or something. I thought about it. I trusted Chloe and wouldn't have to tell all just how hard it is to live on your own.
"OK" I said as we stepped off the bus.
"Cool, I'll talk to you at lunch about an interview."
About three minutes after the bus pulled away Clark scared me by sneaking up behind me. "How did you get here so fast?"
"Dad gave me a ride in." But I didn't see the truck.
I wondered what he was playing at. In computer class my mind wandered not to Clark but again to Lex Luthor. I wondered why he had done it. I didn't know much about the Luthors but what I picked up was they never did anything unless it benefited them. I doubted that he would show any kind of emotion unless he had a plan. Was I the one who got away? The only one of my group (male and female) that he didn't sleep with. Or was I all wrong and it was genuine attraction.
I met up with Clark later that night in the barn. He was looking through he telescope again but by its angle he was actually looking at stars. He also heard me come in.
"Hey I heard Chloe's dug her claws in you."
"I don't mind." I plopped down on the couch.
"Something wrong?" He sat next to me always the concerned one.
"Something's been bothering me Clark. I can't see to figure it out, thought you could help."
Clark visibly tensed up. He thought I was going to ask about him and I was but I changed my question.
"Lex well tell me about Lex."
"Why so curious?" He relaxed a bit.
"Halloween night he kissed me and I was wondering if that was something he did often."
"He kissed you!" Clark looked very surprised.
"Yes Clark focus a bit does he do this all the time."
"What kiss my friends?"
"Have a lot of girls over."
"Oh well there was one that was living there for a little while but that died off about three months ago. I have seen him with anyone since but he goes to Metropolis a lot so I'm not sure."
I thought on this.
"Do you want something to happen with Lex?" Clark seemed very cautiously with the question.
"Have you looked at him lately?"
"Ummm…"
"Sorry Clark. I just want to know if he tried to kiss me because he wanted to kiss me or if he tried to kiss me because I was the only none teenage girl in the house."
"Lex isn't the jerk everyone thinks he is. And I think if he kissed you he meant to kiss you."
"Thanks Clark."
Clark got up to go back in the house but I grabbed his arm.
"Lex wasn't the only thing I wanted to ask you about."
"What else you want to know?" Again a cautious question.
"About you Clark."
"What about me?'
"Well I know you're adopted." Clark nodded but didn't sit back down. "It's just you never seem to get tired, you seem to appear out of no where sometimes, you lift things that no one should be able to lift…"
I stopped. Clark looked horrified. But I had to ask one more question. "What's in the storm cellar Clark?" My voice was quiet but demanding.
"Don't ask me Dori, please. I can't tell you." He left. I followed I wasn't going to let this go.
Clark was walking fast towards the house.
"Tell me what's going on!" I shouted running up to him blocking his way. "Clark I'm part of this family and I know I'm damn lucky to be welcome in this house but I need the truth." Mr. Kent heard me shouting, as did Mrs. Kent.
"What's going on?" Mrs. Clark asked.
Neither Clark nor I said anything we simply stood staring at each other.
"I asked what's going on?"
"That's what I want to know." I said not breaking my eyes from Clark's.
"What are you hiding from me and why do you think you can't trust me. You're my brother Clark, you have been from the moment I walked into this house. My family. You accepted me for who I am and you know what ever you are hiding I will guard with my life. I'll never betray you but I need to know what's going on. Does it have something to do with the meteors? Why are you so afraid?"
"I think we need to talk. In the house." Mr. Kent spoke. Clark shot him a look breaking our eye contact for the first time since I stepped in front of him. "Now."
{Ok I wrote this quick and I'm sorry to leave it on such a note but I'll have to leave you all know to start my vacation check back in a week for a new chapter. Thanks for reading}