Part Three
CLARK
I open my eyes and hear the sounds of car horns blaring through the windows. How can people sleep? Wait.they probably don't, this is Metropolis.
What time is it? Hmm.9 am.
I wonder if Chloe's up? Probably not.
As I remember, she's not an early bird.
I get up and walk towards the kitchen, thinking that I'll make some coffee for Chloe when I find that the coffee pot is already full of the black stuff. Strange.
Anyway, I walk over to kitchen table and find a white piece of paper, folded over with my name on it. Inside reads:
"To Clark, You're finally up!! (shock) And I thought you were the early bird. Anyway, I had to leave early this morning, stuff to do at the planet and my dad's probably already left to do some work. I should be finished by lunch time, so come up and we'll do lunch. and then I can show you around. So, meet me in the Daily Planet lobby at 12:30pm. Just catch a cab.I know, your first time in a cab, can't believe I'll miss it. But anyway, remember 12:30pm. Bye.
Chloe.
xxx.
p.s. There's coffee and toast, knock yourself out."
12:30, mental note. Don't be late.
CHLOE
I wonder if Clark got my note?
Course he did. It was right there on the kitchen table.
"Sullivan!" Perry White's voice echoes.
"Yes?" I answer.
"Have you finished yet?" He calls back.
I peer at the blank computer screen, I was supposed to have finished typing up the article by now.
"Almost. Just putting some finishing touches to it," I reply, lying through my teeth.
I look up to see Perry's face looking out of his office, "What I like to hear, Sullivan." With that, he's disappeared back into the nerve centre of the Daily Planet.
Ok Chloe, stop thinking about Clark.concentrate on your work.
Now, where did I put that draft? Or more importantly, where's my coffee?
CLARK
12: 20, I should be going.
For the past hour or so, I've just been lounging around. Just hanging out. I haven't done that for so, long.there's always been something to do.
I walk towards the door when the phone rings.
"Hello, Sullivan residence," I reply.
I hope this doesn't take long.
"Clark?" my mother's voice asks.
I hear something in her voice, which implies this isn't a social call.
"Mum? What's wrong?"
"It's.your.," her voice breaks and I hear her sob a little.
"What?" I ask loudly.
"It's your father.he's in hospital," she bursts out.
I can't believe it.my father's in hospital.
"Clark?"
But it's too late, I've dropped the phone and I'm racing back to Smallville. The wind rushes against my face and I wish I could go faster.Don't worry, dad, I'm coming.
Sorry Chloe.
CHLOE
12: 40. No big deal, he's probably running late.
12: 50. Where is he? I hope nothing's happened to him.
1:05. Ok, you know that something that's happened to him.yeah, that's gonna be me.
1: 15. No answer at home. Maybe he went back home.probably missed Lana too much and couldn't bear to be parted.
Stupid Chloe!
"Chloe?"
I turn around and see the smiling face of Lex Luthor staring at me.
"Hi Lex," I say quietly.
"Waiting for someone?" he asks, seeing me looking around the lobby.
"I was.," I reply, letting out a sigh.
Clark? Where are you?
"Well, I was just going to go for lunch. Care to join me?" he asks smoothly and before I can stop myself, I say yes.
"I'll just get the car," he says, before striding off.
I shake my head, trying to shake off feelings of guilt about leaving. But I shouldn't feel like this, should I? Clark, stood me up, right?
Damn him!
CLARK
I arrive at the hospital, sweat forming on my forehead.
I walk down the corridor and think of the many times, I've been here. Seeing friends and family that have been hurt and mostly because of me.a wave of guilt feels me.
"Clark!" my mother yells and hugs me.
"Where is he?" I ask, my throat tightening.
My mother blinks away tears and looks towards the nearest room.
I edge towards the door and look inside. I see my father, lying there motionless, and tubes sticking out of him. His left eye swollen and a cut on his forehead.
It makes my stomach turn and ache.
"Who.how.," I don't what to ask or think.
"I found him in the storm cellar this morning," my mother's voice says.
I'm left speechless. I have to sit down.
"Clark, there's something else.,"
"Hmm.," I clutch my father's hand and squeeze it.
"Clark," my mother whispers, putting a hand on my shoulder.
I hear her take a massive breath before speaking again, "Your spaceship is missing."
Words and faces blur, as I ran out of the hospital.
This is not happening.this is not happening.
Someone please, tell me this is not happening.
CLARK
I open my eyes and hear the sounds of car horns blaring through the windows. How can people sleep? Wait.they probably don't, this is Metropolis.
What time is it? Hmm.9 am.
I wonder if Chloe's up? Probably not.
As I remember, she's not an early bird.
I get up and walk towards the kitchen, thinking that I'll make some coffee for Chloe when I find that the coffee pot is already full of the black stuff. Strange.
Anyway, I walk over to kitchen table and find a white piece of paper, folded over with my name on it. Inside reads:
"To Clark, You're finally up!! (shock) And I thought you were the early bird. Anyway, I had to leave early this morning, stuff to do at the planet and my dad's probably already left to do some work. I should be finished by lunch time, so come up and we'll do lunch. and then I can show you around. So, meet me in the Daily Planet lobby at 12:30pm. Just catch a cab.I know, your first time in a cab, can't believe I'll miss it. But anyway, remember 12:30pm. Bye.
Chloe.
xxx.
p.s. There's coffee and toast, knock yourself out."
12:30, mental note. Don't be late.
CHLOE
I wonder if Clark got my note?
Course he did. It was right there on the kitchen table.
"Sullivan!" Perry White's voice echoes.
"Yes?" I answer.
"Have you finished yet?" He calls back.
I peer at the blank computer screen, I was supposed to have finished typing up the article by now.
"Almost. Just putting some finishing touches to it," I reply, lying through my teeth.
I look up to see Perry's face looking out of his office, "What I like to hear, Sullivan." With that, he's disappeared back into the nerve centre of the Daily Planet.
Ok Chloe, stop thinking about Clark.concentrate on your work.
Now, where did I put that draft? Or more importantly, where's my coffee?
CLARK
12: 20, I should be going.
For the past hour or so, I've just been lounging around. Just hanging out. I haven't done that for so, long.there's always been something to do.
I walk towards the door when the phone rings.
"Hello, Sullivan residence," I reply.
I hope this doesn't take long.
"Clark?" my mother's voice asks.
I hear something in her voice, which implies this isn't a social call.
"Mum? What's wrong?"
"It's.your.," her voice breaks and I hear her sob a little.
"What?" I ask loudly.
"It's your father.he's in hospital," she bursts out.
I can't believe it.my father's in hospital.
"Clark?"
But it's too late, I've dropped the phone and I'm racing back to Smallville. The wind rushes against my face and I wish I could go faster.Don't worry, dad, I'm coming.
Sorry Chloe.
CHLOE
12: 40. No big deal, he's probably running late.
12: 50. Where is he? I hope nothing's happened to him.
1:05. Ok, you know that something that's happened to him.yeah, that's gonna be me.
1: 15. No answer at home. Maybe he went back home.probably missed Lana too much and couldn't bear to be parted.
Stupid Chloe!
"Chloe?"
I turn around and see the smiling face of Lex Luthor staring at me.
"Hi Lex," I say quietly.
"Waiting for someone?" he asks, seeing me looking around the lobby.
"I was.," I reply, letting out a sigh.
Clark? Where are you?
"Well, I was just going to go for lunch. Care to join me?" he asks smoothly and before I can stop myself, I say yes.
"I'll just get the car," he says, before striding off.
I shake my head, trying to shake off feelings of guilt about leaving. But I shouldn't feel like this, should I? Clark, stood me up, right?
Damn him!
CLARK
I arrive at the hospital, sweat forming on my forehead.
I walk down the corridor and think of the many times, I've been here. Seeing friends and family that have been hurt and mostly because of me.a wave of guilt feels me.
"Clark!" my mother yells and hugs me.
"Where is he?" I ask, my throat tightening.
My mother blinks away tears and looks towards the nearest room.
I edge towards the door and look inside. I see my father, lying there motionless, and tubes sticking out of him. His left eye swollen and a cut on his forehead.
It makes my stomach turn and ache.
"Who.how.," I don't what to ask or think.
"I found him in the storm cellar this morning," my mother's voice says.
I'm left speechless. I have to sit down.
"Clark, there's something else.,"
"Hmm.," I clutch my father's hand and squeeze it.
"Clark," my mother whispers, putting a hand on my shoulder.
I hear her take a massive breath before speaking again, "Your spaceship is missing."
Words and faces blur, as I ran out of the hospital.
This is not happening.this is not happening.
Someone please, tell me this is not happening.