Wow, pretty good turnout for the first chapter, this chapter is dedicated to Celtic Cross, my first reviewer for this story (on FFNET).

Note: Both Clark and Annette are sixteen in this. And just in case you don't know, review responses are at the bottom under the title 'review responses'. Just find your name (it should be underlined).

My usual updating period: I have about six and then some chapters written – but it will probably be once every ten days or so owing to the fact that I am also currently working on my other three stories. I may be able to spurt everything out faster if I get enough reviews for certain chapters.

Once in a While…

Chapter Two: An Appointment

Annette glared at the man in front of her angrily. He was an old client, she now remembered. He was particularly rough in bed and her last night with him had left her unable to move around without feeling discomfort for weeks.

She had no desire to repeat the experience. Unfortunately for her, the man blatantly refused to listen to answer.

"Mr. Dermir-"

"You are getting on my nerves, little girl." The man hissed at her. "I want you tonight – whether you say yes or no, I will have you." Annette swallowed trying to force back the panic. She knew that showing fear was not one of her options. Fear was the thing that got you raped in an ally next to a dumpster.

'I could just do a little, teeny tiny – No.' Annette knew that once she gave in to the desire to do something, her oath to abstain from it would be broken. Annette brushed her curls out of her eyes once again and gave him an angry look.

"I don't give a fuck as to what you want, Mr. Dermir." She spat between clenched teeth. "I am not available tonight." Mr. Dermir took a step forward and Annette forced herself to keep from taking a step back. "Maybe you should try the S&M club two blocks down. I'm sure they'll cater to you rather – eccentric – " Annette winced. "tastes." Mr. Dermir's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to reply but was cut off.

"Hello gorgeous…" A boy who looked about eighteen, perhaps even older, whistled at Annette; walking up to her with a swagger that told Annette he believed he owned the earth as well as all of its inhabitants.

Annette quickly ran her eyes over him. He excluded power and wealth…yet, even though the smirk on his face said else wise, there was a hint of pain in his eyes. Annette ran her fingers through her hair. She knew that she could probably use the brunette to get rid of Dermir but she also knew that bad boys were not as great as they first seemed.

"We're busy." Dermir curtly told the boy and he rolled his eyes.

"I've got an appointment." He countered smoothly and Annette's eyes narrowed at the lie. Somebody didn't seem to be playing with a full deck… "Right, baby?" Annette forced a smile unto her face.

"Yes, that's completely true." She flashed Dermir a triumphant smirk and he angrily walked away.

"So," Annette reached over, plunked his drink out of his hand and downed it in one swing. "Who are you and what do you want?" The boy smirked.

"I'm…Kal-El," She noticed that his eyes didn't shamelessly slide down her body like most men's. "and I want tonight." Annette frowned.

"Huh?" Sighing, the brunette pulled out a wallet.

"What's your rate?" Annette bit her lip. She didn't know if she wanted to go home with the brunette, yet she didn't feel up to sleeping out in the cold; it was mid-October after all.

"Twelve hundred a night." She ran her tongue over her dry lips. For some reason, she felt odd… "More for extra services." Kal-El shook his head.

"Fifty thousand for a week." Annette felt shocked. She made about thirty-six thousand a month; this offer was so much more. She'd be an idiot to refuse.

"What would I have to do?" Kal-El flashed her a self-satisfied smirk and Annette swallowed. He made her feel as if he could see right through her. See all her secrets…

"Let's go. Car's out front." Annette followed him silently, biting her lip in worry. What had she gotten herself into?

I know this is short, I always start off short – but the chapters will gradually get longer. I hope every body liked it. Roll down for review responses. Okay, so I was reading msn's TV guide and it shows Smallville at 8 tomorrow (Thursday) and – so, I looked it up and the season's already started. SO then I looked up the eps at TwizTV and SPIOLER (DON'T READ IF U HAVENT SEEN THIS YET) – Clark punched Lex! I'm so sad! Clark and Lex's friendship is one of the bigger reasons I watch SV, Clark and Lana's shudder relationship is not. Hopefully, Lex and Clark will make up soon…. Did you know that a now brunette James Marsters (played Spike on Btvs) will be on tomorrow's episode? James is definitely the best.

Review Responses:

Celtic Cross: Your wish is my demand. Here's to you, my first reviewer at ff.

Lovelyfanfics: "I don't know what he wants with a prostitute though." You know how Romeo & Juliet looked at each other and just KNEW – well, it's like that. Only Clark sees Annette and his heart kinds knows but he doesn't really understand it. And well, Annette's not really a prostitute. She's kinda something else too… "But you would think even as Kal-El he would be less cave man with the jealousy and lust." LOL. The ring's kinda the real reason why I chose to make him so horribly jealous and possessive (with Lana he was always "I want her but can't have her. I'll just sulk about it."). When he's around Annette he just has thins thing where all his bad (and good too) features just come out.

Max: I'm glad I was able to hook people with only a chapter. My friend read the seven chapters I have so far and she's like "That's all you wrote? I want more!", and so things get more interesting as time goes by.

South manager 2004: "Where are his parents?" Hon, you watched season three of Smallville, right? Remember when he ran away? Under the influence of the ring? Yeah…his parents are at home, looking for him. We get there around chapter sevenish.