"Sorry, got here as fast as I could." He says as he notices that the only ones there are Jason and he. "Where is everybody?" Clark asks.
"I called it off." He says.
"What! Why? We have the championship next week." Clark asks, confused.
"The coaches and I have something to talk to you about." Jason says.
"Is everything ok? He asks.
"Just follow me." Jason tells him and walks toward the locker room. Once Clark and Jason arrive, there is the head coach waiting for them.
"Clark, I have never in my career seen someone with so much strength on the field." The coach says.
"Yeah, well it must have been all those years working on the farm." Clark says with a smile.
"I'm just going to come out and say this. Clark, I hate to do it, but your off the team." He says simply.
"What?" Clark asks with a laugh, not taking him seriously.
"The coach here thinks your taking something to boost your strength." Jason tells him.
"Like Steroids? You know I would never do that!" Clark says to Jason.
"Yes, Clark I know. And that's exactly what I said. But this is out of my hands." Jason says.
"There has to be something you can do!" Clark begs.
"Your lucky that's all I'm doing." The coach says.
"Sorry, Clark." Jason tells them and they both walk out of the locker room. Clark stares at the red lockers for a second, and WHAM! Clark punches a locker with his fist, denting it. Once he gets control of himself, he and walks out of the locker room.
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When he gets home, he finds his parents sitting around the table working on financial papers.
"Hey, Clark. How was school?" His mom asks.
"Not so good." Clark says, getting something to drink.
"What's wrong, son?" Jonathon asks.
"I got kicked off the team." Clark tells them.
"What?" His mom asks, concerned.
"The coach seems to think I'm on steroids." He says.
"I was afraid something like this would happen." His dad says.
"They can't do this to him, it's not fair." Martha tells them.
"I didn't push the issue too far. The last thing we want is for them to want to give me a drug test." Clark says.
"I guess it's better this way." His dad says, expecting protest by Clark.
"Yeah, it was going to happen sometime." Clark says.
"Not that I'm complaining, but you never agreed with me before." Jonathon says, surprised.
"Just a change in heart, I guess." Clark says with a smile.
"Chloe dropped something off a little while ago." His mom says, changing the subject. She carries a small lead box to the table.
"Oh, that." He says, smile fading.
"Clark, you know why we are concerned." His dad tells him. The red kryptonite in the rings before changed Clark's personality. It made him want to reveal his secret, and act recklessly with his powers. Who knows if the new rings are really safe.
"That's why I didn't put it on. I wanted to make sure it didn't affect me like the red kryptonite." Clark says.
"Well, it doesn't look like kryptonite." Martha says, staring at the purple rock in the ring. Clark takes it and slips it on his finger.
"How do you feel?" His dad asks.
"I feel fine." Clark says.
"Well, looks like we don't have anything to worry about then." Jonathon says with a smile. "Clark, how about you help me work on the truck in the barn." He says to Clark.
"Sure, dad." Clark says and follows him out of the house.
"You lift up the front and I'll get underneath." His dad tells him as they get to the barn. Clark puts both hands under the front bumper and lifts. The truck doesn't budge. "Clark, lift up." He says again. Clark pulls up with all his might.
"I'm trying! I can't lift it." Clark says.
"Are you sure? You always could lift it before." Jonathon says. Clark focuses at the truck, trying to use his x-ray vision.
"I can't use my x-ray vision either." Clark tells him.
"Wait a minute, take that ring off." He tells Clark. Clark takes it off and tosses it to his dad. He goes to lift the truck and has no problem.
"The ring is causing me to lose my powers." Clark says.
"Must be another kind of meteor rock. I have to destroy it, where's the sledgehammer?" Jonathon asks.
"Wait! This is perfect, I'm finally normal." Clark says.
"We don't know if this is safe. Are you sure you never want to use your powers again? He asks.
"That doesn't mean I can't use them anymore. Just not when I have the ring on." Clark tells him.
"We need to talk to your mother about this." Jonathon says. They walk out of the barn.