Thursday afternoon, Clark is on his way towards Grandville to practice the car. Sophie decided not to go with him so she is walking out of the school to the parking lot. Chloe said she could get a ride with her. As she walks, someone is in the bushes following her.
"Is someone there?" She asks, turning around. Sophie hears nothing so she keeps walking. She is just about to walk around the side of the building when someone grabs her shoulder. "What the h…" She starts and stops when she recognizes him. It's John, that guy they met in Ohio.
"It's ok." He says with a chuckle.
"Were you following me?" She asks.
"Just making sure you were alone." He tells her.
"Why would you…?" She starts asking, getting nervous.
"So Clark doesn't hear what we talk about." John answers.
"What is this about?" Sophie asks.
"Clark seems to be very special… would you know anything about that?" He asks.
"Yeah, I'm his girlfriend." She says, still not getting what he wants.
"So, you know?" John asks her.
"Know what?!" She asks, getting angry.
"Just give me your information on Clark and I'll leave you alone!" He insists.
"What! No! Even if I had any idea what you're talking about, I wouldn't tell you." She says to him.
"You're going to regret that answer." John warns her.
"Is that a threat?" She asks. "You know what? I'm going to leave, and you better not follow me. Because I can take care of myself better than you think." With that, she walks away.
------------------------------------------
Clark pulls his dad's truck in to the Grandville Speedway parking lot and through the gate to the pits. Next to a black trailer, is an all red 70's Camaro with a white #87 on the side. Clark parks his car and gets out, walking over to his new racecar. Todd walks over.
"What do you think?" He asks and sets a flat black helmet on the hood of the car.
"I think it's great." Clark answers with an excited smile.
"Now this isn't Nascar, but it's a start. This car, with the right driver, is capable of being in the top five. With as much money as I've put in to this car, it dmn well should. Think you can handle it?" Todd asks.
"The question is… Can it handle me?" Clark asks and grabs the helmet. Clark's response brings a smile to Todd's face. Clark climbs in through the window and flips the toggle switch on the dashboard. The engine rumbles to life and Clark joyously revs the engine a couple of times. He pulls out of the pits and roars out on to the track. The first lap, Clark runs around in 2nd gear just to get a feel of the track. Then he shifts into the next gear, taking off. After about 15 laps, Clark pulls it back in to the pits.
"How was that?" Clark asks, climbing out.
"That was great. 31.61 was your best lap, and that was only two tenths of a second off the pole from last week's race." Todd tells him.
"Now, just gotta see how I do in a crowd." Clark says.
"I have a feeling that won't be a problem. All we have to get now is a sponsor that doesn't mind a driver with no experience." Todd says.
"I have an idea on that." Clark tells him.
"Oh yeah? I know your friends with Lex Luthor, you think you can pull a few strings?" He asks.
"No, I doubt that people will respond nicely to a car with the Luthor name plastered all over it. This deal is a little closer to home. You mind if I take the car for a few days?" Clark asks.
"Not at all, go right ahead." Todd agrees.