12.

"Yes, but I still don't understand why you are here exactly Miss Lane." Lionel Luthor smirked at the over confident young teen.

"Isn't it obvious?" She asked displaying a sweet smile in his direction.

"Not exactly." He smirked in response. "When you figure out why you wished to see me, let my secretary know. Then she can set up a formal meeting for you. Instead of just barging into my office like you own the place. Which, last time I checked, you didn't. I do believe that your quaint coffee shop in Smallville is funded by LuthorCorp as well."

"What are you getting at Mr. Luthor?" She asked with a blank look on her face.

"I thought that it would be clear. Let me explain this in your simpler terms. Miss Lang. Get out of my office."

"But why?"

"Wasting my time." He said before pushing a button on his desk. "Tony can I get somebody to escort Miss Lang out of my office."

=====

Alex walked behind her parents past the neighbour's white picket fence.

"See, they have to be nice Alex." Her mother yammered, "they have a picket fence and everything." She smiled back at her.

"Not saying anything." Alex held her hands up in defeat to prove to her mother that she was not as close-minded as her mother believed her to be.

The house was a quaint two-storey buttercup yellow farm house. 'How unique.' Alex thought hardly resisting the roll her eyes that she knew was soon arriving.

They were greeted by a pleasant, smiling red haired lady. "Barbara. I'm so happy that you could make it. Come in. Come in. Let me take your coats." She smiled sweetly.

"Thank you Martha." Alex had watched her mother be overly - nice - to many people. Usually at PV Chemical Plant events and on the phone. But she could tell that right now, her mother was being sincere. Maybe there was more to this dinner than what had met the eye. Maybe there was more to - 'Oh my god is that a picture of Clark?'

"Johnathan should be over in just a few minutes, he's a little slow getting cleaned up." She winked at Barbara. "But I'm sure you go through that with your husband."

"Mostly with my daughter." Barbara smiled back at her.

"You're Alex, right?" Alex's head shot up at her name.

"Yes."

"Clark's out in the barn if you would like to go get him." Alex nodded.

'This was the Kent household.' She thought in realization. 'Clark hadn't even told her about that. The bastard. But it wasn't like he lied to you.' She reasoned. 'He just didn't tell her the whole truth. Boys.' She rolled her eyes, as she approached the large red barn.

There was a light on in the upper floor. There was a shadow moving erratically in the room. She could see that much. But the shadow in question was acting unpredictably. Darting from place to place. As if some superhuman was pacing around the room.

Manoeuvring her way around a tractor or two she made her way to the lit barn. "Clark?" She called hesitantly.

"I'm up here." He called nonchalantly. Alex took a deep, shaky breath and began to make her way to his voice.

=====

Clark was starting to feel better. He had taken a deep breath or two, paced around the room, and yet he was still shaking on the inside. Sure, girls had been in his barn, and sure, at the time he was scared shitless. But there was something different about Alex. Something that made him even more scared. He took a shaky breath when she rounded the corner stair.

"Nice - Barn?" She said with a nervous smile. He could feel her blood coursing at super-speed throughout her body. She was nervous. That put him a little bit more at ease.

"Thank you." He said with a smile, as he casually knocked his telescope from it's almost permanent position. Facing the Potter house.

"Your mother sent me to get you." She said casually inspecting the room. "You into planets or something?"

Clark followed her gaze and settled on a picture from Dr. Swann of Krypton. Or at least, where Krypton was supposed to be. "Or something." He smiled at her. She laughed.

It was then that he gave her his full and complete attention. She was wearing a light peach coloured dress. It flared out at the bottom, and followed her curves, to the stunning neckline. Then she caught him staring at her.

"You look nice." He said flushing slightly.

Alex smiled a toothy grin. "Thank you. I don't usually wear dresses."

"Neither do I." 'Wait. Idiot!' "I mean, so I noticed." 'Nice save.' He could tell that his inner voice was rolling his eyes at him. He held his arm out. "Can I escort the lovely lady to dinner?"

She laughed again, before taking his arm. "When I see her I'll let you know. But for now, you're stuck with me." She smiled at him. It was nice not having to crane his neck down at somebody for a change. Alex was the perfect height for him, even if she was short.