ChApTeR ElEvEn

Clark's eyes shot open and he looked around, disoriented as to where he was at the moment. He finally recognized the room to be Chloe's livingroom and when he looked down he saw the clothes were not his. After blinking a few times he heard creaking on the floorboards and looked up to see Chloe smiling at him.

"Morning sleepy head. Do you always sleep this late at home?"

"Yeah. Where is everyone?" Clark looked around. Chloe looked up the stairs and sighed.

"Lana is trying to help Lex find some of my clothes that fit and my dad's at work."

"School!" Clark scrambled up, but Chloe stopped him by laying a hand on his chest.

"It's Sunday, big guy. Calm yourself." She smiled a big toothy grin, her eyes crinkling slightly.

"Do my parents know where I am?" Clark asked quickly, his eyes darting around the room again and he stood, now looking down at Chloe instead of up.

"No. We tried to call but. . ." Chloe began but there was clumping noises coming down the stairs and a frustrated sigh. Clark and Chloe looked to see Lex wearing a pink shirt and long denim skirt. A pink bandana was wrapped around his head and Lex said it was unnecessary but Lana just smiled. He absentmindedly put a hand on his hip as Lana joined him at his side.

"I'll do whatever it takes to get these back to you." Lex sighed again and scratched his head, moving the wig around a little.

"You can keep them. It looks better on you anyway." Chloe shrugged and Clark tried to stifle a laugh.

"Ha. Ha." Lex laughed sarcastically and made a face as he fixed the curly wig.

"What are you stuffing your bra with, anyway?" Lana finally, though sheepishly, asked. Lex looked down at his chest and back up at his friends.

"You don't want to know."

"I'm sure I don't." Clark smiled and shook his, stifling a laugh once more.

"I heard your question earlier Clark, and we're going to hitch a ride with Chloe back to the mansion. I'll drive you home."

"Thanks Lex." Clark found his and Lex's old clothes, now dry, by the ashen fireplace. The four friends piled into Chloe's car and she started it up, the engine rumbling. The tires splashed through deep puddles which smacked the windows with dirty water. Everyone was glad the window's were closed. They finally reached the mansion, the silence in the car almost unbearable.

"I'll have to park out here. Doesn't look like anybody's home." Chloe put her foot on the brake and craned her head to peer into the darkened windows of the monstrous house.

"That's strange. My father usually stays in on Sundays. Nevermind it though, let's just go and get one of my cars." Lex stumbled uncomfortably out of the car and slammed the door.

"There's something I'll never be able to say." Clark squeezed out of the car, pulling the bag of dry, wrinkled clothes behind him. Chloe and Lana waved goodbye and tore off, dirty water spraying everywhere.

"Why don't you ever criticize her about the speed she's going?" Lex pointed at the disappearing car.

"Because she's usually leaving when she goes that fast." Clark approached the gate and ran a hand through up the back of his head, messing his dark brown hair.

"Ouch." Lex commented and realized he had no key.

"We'll have to climb it." Clark looked up at it's massiveness.

"In this skirt?" Lex pointed at the tight denim skirt that was already difficult to walk in. Clark stared at Lex with curiosity and a little worry.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear you ask me that."

"Then how am I going to climb the gate?" Lex regretted asking when he saw the glint in Clark's eye and the smile dancing on his rosy lips.

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"I didn't know your plan involved ripping the skirt past my KNEES!" Lex looked embarrassingly down at his exposed legs while Clark smiled.

"You can walk now, can't you?"

"Yes. . . but. . ." Lex just growled deep in his throat as he flung open a cabinet lined with numerous car keys.

"So, you think your dad's home?" Clark asked to cover the silence.

"You know what Clark? I don't care." Lex snatched a key from the cabinet and slammed the door shut. "Let's just go and see what keys I grabbed."

They exited the mansion and scrambled to the cars. Lex found the one they needed and they squeaked into the leather seats. Before getting ready to drive, Lex removed the clunky shoes he was wearing, which made Clark laugh.

Most of the ride to Clark's farm was silent, neither man sure of what they should talk about. While they were at least five minutes away, Clark turned his attention away from the water splashed window to ask Lex a question.

"Do you think your father was anything to do with this?" Clark whispered as if he feared there were recorders in the car. Lex kept his eyes on the road and sighed, as he craned his head to spot the Kent farm.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he was."

"Well I. . ." Clark began to comment when he was thrown forward against his seatbelt when Lex suddenly slammed his foot on the brake. "What was that?" Clark asked, catching his breath, but Lex's eyes just widened as he stared. "Lex? What's the matter?"

Lex finally pulled up a shaking finger and pointed in front of him. Clark followed the finger and sat a moment before throwing the car door open so hard it came off. Lex followed after he turned off the car and joined Clark at his side.

The pair looked around with utter terror as they stared at the Kent Farm. Or what little was left of it. The house, the barn, the place the corn was kept. . .

The entire area had been burnt to the ground.

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Sorry if that seemed really short. . .