Clark walks in to school on Monday and walks toward his locker. The weekend is over and it's time to get back to school. He starts to turn his combination on his locker Chloe leans up next to the locker beside his.
"Hey, Chloe." He greets her and notices a huge smile on her face.
"Thank you so much, Clark! It was really sweet." She says.
"Uh… what was?" Clark asks, confused.
"Come on, don't act like you don't know."
Clark laughs. "Sorry, but I don't."
"I found this in my locker." She tells him and holds up a heart shaped card with a rose hanging out. "I know you don't feel anything for me, but it was a really sweet thing to do."
"Well, now I feel bad." Clark says.
"Why?" She asks.
"Because I honestly did not put that in your locker." He tells her.
"You didn't? Huh, that's strange." Chloe says, realizing he's telling the truth.
"You must have made quite an impression on somebody."
"You don't think… CJ would have? He doesn't even go to school here." She says.
"He's related to Lex Luthor. If he's anything like his cousin, he wouldn't let that get in his way." Clark says.
"Your right. I'll go over and talk to him after school." Chloe tells him.
"Listen Chloe, I'm sorry I didn't get you anything for Valentines Day. I just didn't think I should since we're not… dating."
"Don't worry about it, Clark. I have to get to class. I'll see you later." She says and walks off.
The final bell rings and Clark is on his way out of the school. He has to get to Metropolis Motor Speedway. Today is a practice day for the up-coming season. Todd arranged for Clark to test drive a Whelen Modified, the next step up from the car he drove last season. Clark starts to walk around the building out of sight, so he can superspeed off to Metropolis when a familiar voice calls out his name.
"Clark!" Lois calls from the parking lot.
Clark sighs and turns around. "Lois, what are you doing here?"
"I came to catch you before you went home. I'm tired of pouring coffee and cleaning people's desks, so I've decided it's time I write a story they consider "worth printing."
"And I can help with that?" Clark asks.
"Yeah, you can. You're my story." She tells him.
Uh-oh, this can't be good.
"Lois… I don't think a story about me is worth printing." Clark laughs.
"How does this sound? "Plaid wearing Farmboy is on his way from Smallville, to Nascar". Different wording of course." Lois tells him.
"Um… interesting? Listen Lois, I'm honored that you want to write a story on my racing ambitions, but now isn't a good time." Clark tells her.
"What do you mean, now isn't a good time? I've been waiting in this parking lot for an hour, waiting for you. Whatever you have to do, I'll come with you." She says.
"I actually have to go to Metropolis. It's practice day at the racetrack and I have to test a new car." Clark explains.
"Great! It would probably be a good idea to anyway, since I've never been to a racetrack in my life." Lois laughs.
"You don't know what you're missing, let's go." Clark says and they both walk to the parking lot.
Lois drives up in her mustang into the Metropolis Motor Speedway parking lot.
Clark points to the pit entrance. "Drive in there." They pull into the pits and park beside a semi-truck trailer. Beside the trailer are two Whelen modifieds, a black one with red stripes, and a white one with blue flames with a couple of people standing around them.
"They sure went all out on this one." Clark comments as they get out, looking at the expensive trailer and the clean, perfect racecars.
"What did you expect?" Lois asks.
"Well, I'm used to racing a beat-up old camaro, and these are… 30,000 dollar racecars." Clark tells her.
"Oh, that's right. Milking cows and selling fruit doesn't get you that kind of money." Lois teases him.
"Clark! It's about time you showed up." Todd says as Clark walks up.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I'm used to driving faster." Clark says and gives Lois a look. "This is my friend, Lois. She's here to write a story on… me." Clark introduces her.
"Hey, nice to meet you." Todd greets her.
"Same here. Is Clark the only driver here?" She asks.
"No, there's one more. Most drivers didn't show up since this is the first practice session of the season. Hey Jimmy, come out here." Todd calls to the area around the cars. The same kid that beat Clark at Grandeville steps away from the cars and turns to them.
"Jimmy! What are you doing here with Modifieds?" Clark asks, surprised to see him.
"Same thing you're here for, looking to race a real racecar." Jimmy says and his attention is suddenly turned to Lois. "Hey, I'm Jimmy." He introduces himself.
"Lois. So, you're a driver too?" Lois asks and Clark goes over to look at the car he's driving.
"Where did you get these cars? There worth more than what our farm makes in 6 months." Clark asks Todd.
"Team SRC let us borrow them for the day. They heard about your race down in Miami and the impression you've made in Grandeville and they're interested in how you'll do. I raced for them for a little while, so I was able to pull a few strings." Todd explains.
"All right, I can't wait to drive it." Clark says with a smile. "Jimmy, you ready?" He asks, interrupting his conversation with Lois.
"Yeah, let's do it." Jimmy agrees and walks toward the white and blue car. One of the crew members hands him a helmet and Jimmy begins to climb in. Clark grabs a helmet and climbs in to the other car. Jimmy's car fires up as Clark straps himself in with the assistance of Todd. Clark flips up the toggle switch and pulls out behind Jimmy. The two cars drive down the pit road toward the track.
"Can you hear me now?" Todd asks over the racing radio and Clark jerks the wheel, startled. The car veers onto the track and he corrects it quickly.
"Whoa, I'm not used to hearing voices from my helmet." Clark says with a laugh.
"Yeah well, these cars are a little more serious than what you're used to." Todd replies.
"Nothing I can't handle." Clark says and takes off onto the track, shifting into second gear.
"Ok, just take it slow for a few laps and get a feel for the car." Todd instructs. Clark takes it easy for a few laps and then Jimmy starts to pull away.
"I think I got it, now." Clark tells Todd and puts his foot the rest of the way down. The engine revs get louder and the car picks up speed. Clark speeds down the straightaway and lets off of the throttle as he drives into the corner. He drives through the corner on the high side above Jimmy's car and then gets on the throttle, passing him easily.
"That's the way to do it, good job." Todd says over the radio. Clark leads Jimmy around the track for a few laps and then Jimmy gets under him going into the corner. Clark has no choice to let off and let him by. They exchange the lead a few more times until their tires can't handle anymore laps.
"I don't think these tires will last much longer." Clark says, feeling the effects of the worn tires.
"That's ok, you don't have much fuel left either." Todd tells him.
"I'm coming in." Clark responds and pulls the car onto the apron, approaching pit road. He stops the car beside the truck and starts to get out.
"You did a real good job, Clark. Your lap times were just about as good as the regulars." Todd says and pats his shoulder.
"Thanks. These cars are a lot of fun…" Clark says and the sound of tires screeching fills the air. Clark turns his head toward where Jimmy was on the track and watches as he spins the car out. Jimmy's car does a 360 and slides into the grass.
"And you know when you need new tires." Todd laughs.
"So, Lois… Did you get enough for your article?" Clark asks and walks over to where she's sitting.
"Yeah, I think so. Along with the interview we had on the way here." She says and gets up off the wall.
"Has it hit you why I like it so much, or do I need to take you to a race too?" Clark asks.
"Oh yeah, riding around in circles until you run out of gas… real exciting." Lois says sarcastically and rolls her eyes.
"Hey now, it's more than that." Clark laughs.
"Yeah, I know. I'm just kidding." Lois giggles.
"I'm hungry, you know of anywhere good to eat?" Clark asks.
"I think I know somewhere, let's go." Lois tells him and they walk back to her car.
A/N: This is a Whelen Modified: http/en.