Metropolis: Tony's Steak House
8:14 P.M.
Saturday, May 23rd
"...and then the guy tried chasing after her but he didn't notice that he didn't have any pants on so it was just his luck that he got caught by the principal!"
All but Clark Kent roared into laughter.
"Are you serious man?" Pete Ross asked his older brother wiping away tears that had formed from his hysterical fit.
"It's true little bro," Pete's brother confirmed. "So next time you cheat on a girl, make sure the principal is safely tucked away in their office and you have pants on."
Pete scowled but nothing could wipe the smile off his face tonight. Tonight was a Ross family outing, when he got together with his parents, all his siblings and their families, and not to mention his best alien friend, Clark Kent.
Nothing can put a damper on my mood tonight! Wait, hold on; I take that back.
"Clark, man, what's up with the long face?" Pete waved his hand in front of his friend's face when he didn't reply.
"What?" Clark said dazedly as if Pete had brought him out of his thoughts.
"You okay?" asked Pete quietly with a concerned expression on his face.
"Yeah, I'm fine Pete; don't worry about me." When Pete's facial expression didn't change Clark threw in a reassuring smile.
The truth was, Clark Kent didn't know what the word 'fine' meant anymore. He wasn't sure about anything lately. He wasn't sure what he was going to do with the rest of his life. To be honest, he was afraid; afraid of what the future may bring.
I'm bullet proof and I can run faster than a speeding bullet, and yet I'm afraid of something that isn't even here yet.
Clark sighed audibly. Most people in his position would think of themselves as lucky to have so many great things. But then again, not most people were an alien. In about seven days, he would be graduating and receiving a degree from the University of Metropolis; graduating from Metropolis U and with a wonderful girlfriend of nearly four years. How much luckier could you get?
And yet...Clark Kent wanted more. He wanted to live a life with the girl of his dreams; to have children and grow old with her. He wanted to become a journalist for the Smallville Ledger. He wanted to live in the house and farm that he grew up in. He wanted to live a normal life and who was there to stop him? Well only one little thing: destiny.
Ever since Clark had "bumped" into his biological father, the term destiny had taken a permanent place in his mind. It was always there; swarming and dragging his mind down to the point where he'd explode. Tonight, Clark Kent was almost at his boiling point.
"Ughh...Pete my stomach isn't feeling too good...I think I'd better head back...." Clark hated to do this to his best friend, especially on a Ross family outing but if he didn't get out of the jubilant atmosphere, he was going to breakdown.
"Are you okay man?" Pete asked his friend putting a concerned expression which left Clark feeling even guiltier.
"Yeah...I think it was the soup I had...."
Pete stared at Clark for a second. Then he said, "Okay...you'd better head back then; let Lana take care of you."
Clark managed a small smile at Pete's teasing. "I'm sorry Pete...."
"Don't worry about it. Now, get your ass out of here before my brothers start hounding you with questions."
