STAND BACK

CHAPTER EIGHT-Subtle Hints

The next day, Elizabeth and Clark headed to school.

The Kents contacted an adoption agency in Metropolis to see what they could do. Since the only living relative is over seas and wants nothing to do with Liz, they were able to grant the Kents custody.

Lex and his father were just fine. Mr. Luthor wanted to meet the wolf that saved him and his son again.

Elizabeth had to smile.

She happily walked over to Clark, Chloe and Pete, who were standing by their lockers.

Chloe looked up and grinned.

"I heard you kissed Clark," she said.

"I was just grateful," Elizabeth said.

"It's okay," Chloe said. "Now, you'll be kissing your brother and that is just not right."

"Step-brother," Pete added. "That is still unnatural."

Elizabeth grinned and laughed.

"Don't worry. I have Lex to practice on,"

Chloe laughed and said "Whoo!" as they walked off down the corridor.

Pete and Clark watched them as they walked down the corridor.

"So, like having a step-sister?" Pete asked grinning.

"It's fine," Clark replied grinning too.

But somewhere in his gut, strange new feelings began stirring toward Liz.

Clark cleared his throat. "I'll catch you later,"

He hurried downstairs to English class. Pete hurried off to his classes.

Elizabeth sat next to Chloe in History class.

"Miss Reyes?" the teacher Mr. Anderson asked.

"Yes?" Elizabeth said.

"There's an envelope here with your name on it," he said.

Elizabeth looked at Chloe oddly before getting up and walking to the front of the classroom where the teachers' desk was. She took the envelope from him and walked back to her seat.

"Who's it from?" Chloe asked leaning close.

"I don't know," Elizabeth said frowning as she opened the envelope.

A letter folded up was stuffed inside as well as a piece of rock.

Elizabeth opened the paper and read it in horror.

In block letters were the words:

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE, FREAK

"This sounds like that movie, "I Know What You Did Last Summer," Chloe replied. "And what does the person mean, 'I know what you are'?"

Elizabeth stuffed the paper back into the envelope and the rock began glowing green.

Elizabeth's eyes rolled up into her head as she slipped off the chair unconscious.

Her body began twitching violently on the floor.

Several girls were sobbing.

Mr. Anderson ran and got the nurse.

Clark had gone to use the restroom when he saw the nurse and Mr. Anderson running back into the classroom.

Feeling a bit worried, he ran after them.

When he entered the classroom, he found Elizabeth lifeless on the floor. Chloe had tears rolling down her cheeks. Then, Clarks hand began cramping and he saw the glowing rock next to Chloe.

"Chloe, get rid of that rock!" Clark cried.

Chloe seemed shocked for the moment before she picked up the rock and threw it out the opened window.

Immediately, Clark's hand returned to normal.

Elizabeth however, wasn't moving.

"Is she okay?" Clark demanded dropping to his knees beside the nurse.

"She's got a faint pulse. She needs to get to the hospital," the nurse replied.

Clark put his hand on the side of Elizabeth's face.

Elizabeth was rushed to Smallville hospital. Lex, Clark's parents and Chloe were waiting nervously in the waiting room.

Finally, a doctor came in.

"She'll be fine," the doctor said. "Whatever happened caused her to have a minor seizure. But nothing damaging."

Relief spread over everyone.

"She's in room 238,"

The doctor left and they all rushed to the room.

Elizabeth greeted them with a big grin.

"Hey!" she said cheerfully.

"How are you feeling?" Clark asked as he sat down on the edge of her bed.

Lex and Chloe sat down in a chair. The Kents were standing behind them.

"Okay I guess," Elizabeth said frowning. "What happened?"

"You got some sort of rock with a letter and then you sort of spazzed out," Chloe said seriously.

Elizabeth and Clark exchanged looks but the others didn't see it except Mr. and Mrs. Kent.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lex asked leaning forward.

Elizabeth smiled and nodded.

"Lex? Why don't you and Chloe head down for some coffee or something? We'll be along to join you," Mr. Kent suggested.

"Sure," Lex said as he gave Elizabeth's arm a gentle squeeze before he and Chloe got up and left the room.

"That rock was a piece of meteor," Clark said.

"The same kind that affects you?" Elizabeth asked.

They nodded.

"How would someone know what I was? You three and Lex are the only ones that know," Elizabeth mused.

"I don't know, but someone out there knows and will probably more than likely black mail you," Mrs. Kent said looking scared.

"Keep an eye on her Clark," Mr. Kent replied. "Lex knows about what she is, but not about what affects her."

Clark nodded.

The Kents gave Elizabeth a hug and kiss before leaving the hospital room.

Elizabeth turned to Clark.

"How'd you know I was in trouble?"

"I just happened to come out of the bathroom and saw the nurse and Mr. Anderson running into the classroom. I knew that's where you and Chloe were at the time. I had no idea it was you that was in trouble," Clark responded.

Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief.

"I swear you're my guardian angel,"

Clark smiled.

That feeling he had toward her seemed to deepen in his gut. He didn't know how to feel toward her. He was with Chloe and loved her, but now that love seemed to grow toward Elizabeth too, just as it had grown toward Lana. Without Lana around, he felt he needed to fill that void. Plus, he really did care about Elizabeth as well.

Secondly, Elizabeth liked Lex. So he was stuck once again.

Why do I fall for girls that like other boys? Clark thought to himself.

He found Elizabeth studying him.

"Are you alright?" she asked carefully scrutinizing him.

"Fine," Clark said forcing a smile.

Elizabeth seemed satisfied.

"Ugh. That hospital food is enough to make anyone actually want dog food," Elizabeth moaned.

Clark laughed.

An hour later, Lex, Chloe and the Kents returned.

"The doctor spoke to us. You're able to go home tomorrow," Mrs. Kent said beaming.

"Thank God," Elizabeth said relieved. "I can't stand the food in here any more!"

They all laughed.

"Dad, do you think that letter was sent on purpose?" Clark asked his father suddenly.

"It's possible," Mr. Kent replied gravely.

"Why would anyone intentionally want to hurt Liz?" Chloe asked confused.

Lex, the Kents and Clark didn't reply right away. They were the only ones that knew the possible reason.

"I don't know," Clark said shrugging.

Chloe's eyes narrowed.

"Yes you do," she said looking at Lex, Mr. and Mrs. Kent, and then back to Clark. "You know and you're not telling me. Fine. Some trust."

With that, Chloe got up and left the room.

"We really should tell her," Elizabeth said. "My good friends should know."

Clark sighed.

"Listen, I'll take Chloe home," Lex offered. "I suggest that one of you stay with her incase whoever tried to hurt her tries again."

Lex gave Clark's shoulder a squeeze before he went over and hugged Elizabeth. Then he left, following Chloe.

"Clark, stay with Liz," Mrs. Kent said as she hugged and kissed Elizabeth.

"We'll see you in the morning," Mr. Kent said as he too gave Elizabeth a hug and kiss before hugging Clark.

Once they all left, Clark curled up on the couch at the foot of the hospital bed.

Clark explained to the nurses that Elizabeth suffered from panic attacks and having him around helped keep her calm.

They agreed and got Clark an extra pillow and blanket.

Elizabeth snuggled up in bed under the covers. She turned facing the window and soon dozed off.

Around 2 AM, Clark sensed someone else in the room. He snapped awake. It was a man.

He was reaching for Elizabeth's throat.

He jumped up and grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and threw him across the room.

Elizabeth jumped awake as well.

"Clark? What's going on?" Elizabeth asked frightened as she looked from Clark to the man lying on the floor.

"He was standing over you trying to grab your throat," Clark replied.

A nurse came in and Clark explained to her what had happened.

The police came and took the man from the room. After a while, Clark settled back down on the couch ready to fall asleep again, but Elizabeth was now wide awake.

Clark slowly sat up.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I can't go back to sleep," Elizabeth admitted hugging herself.

Clark got up and sat beside her on the bed.

"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you," Clark said gently.

Elizabeth smiled at him.

"You're such a great person," Elizabeth said. "Chloe is lucky to have someone like you and Lex is just as great."

"I was about to say Lex is nuts about you," Clark said his smile broadening.

Elizabeth grinned.

"I know. He's wonderful too,"

Clark waited for her to go on, but she didn't.

"I can't believe someone saw me," Elizabeth said looking around the room. "Who could it be?"

"I don't know but I totally intend to find out who it is and stop them," Clark said firmly.

"Just don't get hurt yourself okay?" Elizabeth said pleadingly.

"Neh," Clark grinned.

Finally able to fall asleep after talking with Clark, Elizabeth snuggled up under her blankets and was soon fast asleep.

The next morning, Elizabeth awoke to find Clark weak for some reason.

"What's wrong?" she demanded.

"I don't know. I feel as if my powers have been drained," Clark replied.

"Can you scan the room to see where it's coming from?"

Clark tried but it was no use.

When the Kents came to visit, they searched the entire room.

Mr. Kent found a small round metal ball.

The closer he got to Clark, the more weak he got.

Mr. Kent threw it out the window, but Clark was still weak.

"I feel normal," Clark said.

Mr. Kent took out a small pocket knife and poked Clark's index finger. He began bleeding.

"Whatever that device was, it pulled your powers away from you," Mr. Kent replied as he quickly applied pressure to the finger to stop the bleeding.

"Who would do something like that?" Clark asked as he leaned against the bed.

"The same person who is blackmailing me," Elizabeth grumbled. "If something happens to Clark, it would be my fault."

"Absolutely not," Mrs. Kent said firmly. "None of this is your fault."

Elizabeth smiled at her, but she still felt somewhat responsible.

The doctors were able to release Elizabeth from the hospital. Lex arrived and offered to drive her home, as the pickup only holds three people.

Lex followed the red pickup.

He glanced over at Elizabeth.

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

"Someone tried to attack me in the hospital room last night," she said quietly.

Immediately, Lex straightened up.

"Are you alright?" he demanded anxiously.

"I'm fine. Clark intervened and helped me. The guy was arrested,"

Lex studied her.

"There's more isn't there?"

Elizabeth looked at him and smiled.

"Yeah. I feel somewhat responsible though,"

"For what? The guy in your room? That was totally not your fault," Lex replied firmly as he gently reached over and touched Elizabeth's chin.

She grinned.

"That's what the Kents said,"

"Then listen to them," Lex said.

Elizabeth nodded and then returned her eyes onto the road just in time to see the red pick up suddenly lose control and it started fishtailing across the road. Lex slammed on the brake to his Porche and it came to a screeching halt. Lex and Elizabeth watched in horror as the car fishtailed again, and then in the semi arc of the fishtail, it flipped over.

It flipped over several times before landing on the roof with all four wheels pointing to the sky.

"CLAAAARK!" Elizabeth screamed as she pushed open her door and jumped out. Lex also did the same.

They rushed over to the overturned pickup and the Kents were already climbing out. They seemed unharmed except minor scratches and cuts.

"Are you two okay?" Lex demanded gently grabbing a hold of Mrs. Kents' shoulders.

"We're okay, but Clark is stuck," Mr. Kent winced rubbing his shoulder.

Elizabeth wasted no time. She slid onto her stomach and peered into the truck. He was pinned by the seatbelt.

Elizabeth struggled to open the door but it wouldn't budge.

She had an idea, but it meant changing in front of Lex. She looked up at the Kents.

"I have an idea, but I'm risking exposure more,"

The Kents were silent.

"If you have to change to save Clark, then do it," Lex said. "Don't be afraid to change in front of me."

"It's not you…" Elizabeth began.

"Someone was blackmailing her," Mrs. Kent said as Elizabeth made up her mind and began changing.