Chapter 1

"Dear Diary,

"Clark beat me again. Just cause he has super-speed he thinks he's so much better than me. Whatever, I get way better grades than he does, and I'm only 10. Once he tried to let me win, but I so caught on to that. Sometimes it makes me mad that he can do all this stuff that I can't. Like, dad still won't let me help with the chores. He's so old fashioned sometimes. Oh sure, Clark's super-strong so he can help out. He just likes to show off that's all. Tossing bales of hay like they were nothing. I can't even lift one with both hands.

But he can't cook. Mom taught me how to make cookies last night. I wouldn't let Clark have any till he took me for a super-speed piggyback ride. Sometimes there's cool things about having a super-powered older brother. Sometimes. I guess."

"Hello?" Lana called out, knocking on the door. "Anybody home?"

"Hi Lana," Martha greeted her with a smile, "Dawn's in the barn with Clark."

"Oh, okay," she said, turning, "Thanks."

"Care for a cookie?" Martha asked. "Dawn's special recipe."

Lana grinned and took three, one for herself, and two for Dawn and Clark.

"Lana's nice. But she kinda makes me sick sometimes. Mostly cause of the way Clark turns into a total klutz around her. He so has a humongoid crush on her, and she has no idea. Puhleeze. If someone had a crush on me, I'd figure it out. I know all the signs, just watching Clark. Does he fall flat on his face every time I get near him? Sure sign apparently. Plus Clark's started to get all creepy stalkery. He has his telescope in the loft pointed at her front porch. How much more gross could he get?"

"Hey Lana," Clark said, swallowing hard and smiling awkwardly. Dawn rolled her eyes behind her back and waved.

"Hey Clark," Lana smiled brightly, then produced the extra cookies. Dawn could have sworn her older brother actually turned a little green at the close proximity to the girl when he took his cookie.

"Ready for your riding lesson?" Lana asked her.

"So am." She said, grabbing her helmet in one hand and Lana's in the other. The less time these two spent together the less nauseous it would make her.

"Really, Lana's almost like an older sister. She lives right next door, sort of, and we spend so much time together. She's teaching me how to ride horses, which is so cool. We used to play dress up till I got too old for that. She even taught me how to put on makeup, but I wiped it off before Mom could see. She doesn't want me wearing makeup until I'm like, 15. She says it'll make dad cry, whatever that means. Anyway, today's the day dear diary. Just call me Emma."

"Clark totally has a crush on you." Dawn blurted out.

Lana's head snapped around and she pulled hard on the reins of her horse. "What?" She was used to Dawn spouting off suddenly, but this was certainly a surprise.

"It's true." Dawn went on. "He has for like, forever."

"Clark and I are just friends." Lana said uncertainly. "I'm sure you're just imagining it."

"Uh uh." She said adamantly. "The only time he ever trips is around you. Plus he like, looks at you all the time when your back is turned. It's really gross."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because, it's getting stupid. He doesn't have the guts to tell you himself, so I'm helping. He's my brother. I have to look out for him."

John Kent greeted Mr. Ross as Clark helped Chloe and Pete get their sleeping bags from the trunk of the car. Dawn sat watching, shaking her head in bemusement.

"I can't believe Clark's in eighth grade and he's still having sleepovers in the barn. He doesn't go trick or treating anymore, but he still has sleepovers. He is so weird sometimes. But it's okay, I like his friends."

"Hey Munchkin!" Chloe grinned, giving Dawn a hug. "When are you gonna help me out and become my ace reporter?"

"Chloe is the awesomest person. She's the only person I know who already knows just what she wants to do with her life. She wants to be a big hot shot reporter. She's so smart she's already taking classes in High School. Plus she's all into like, weird stuff like Bigfoot and stuff. I love her stories.

"Pete's cool too. Okay he's beyond cool. He's handsome and funny, and strong, and he's gonna get his dad's cool car when he's old enough to drive. He promised me I'd be the first one he'd give a ride too. Smiley face. Heart. Okay so I have a crush on my big brother's best friend. So? At least I don't trip over my own feet whenever he's around."

To be continued…