It's been almost a week since the meteors hit and the town of Smallville was turned upside down. The town has been working around the clock to repair the damage, but other than that, things are pretty much back to normal.
After parking the car, Clark walks through the doors and down the hallways of Smallville High for the final day of the week. The atmosphere around him is happy and excited for the weekend to come, but Clark couldn't care less. School has kept his mind off the latest developments in his life.
He gets to his locker and starts turning the lock, when a cheerful Chloe stops beside him. Her smile fades when she sees Clark's face. "Clark, are you still sulking over what happened last weekend?"
"Sorry to disappoint you, Chloe. I just can't be as cheerful as you." He says and grabs a few books out of his locker.
"That's not what I meant." She tells him. "You know how I hate to see you like this."
Clark slams his locker shut and turns to her. "I'm fine, Chloe." He insists and walks off to Class. Chloe sighs as she watches his retreating back and walks in the opposite direction to her class.
:o
The school day is over and Clark gets in his car to leave only for a blue mustang to slide to a stop behind him, blocking him in. Clark sighs and gets back out of the car to face the person who trapped him in.
Lois gets out of her car and smiles as she walks up to Clark. She just loves the look Clark gives her when she does something to annoy him. Its not a look of anger, more of a playful annoyance. If there is a such facial expression.
"Yes, Lois?" Clark asks.
"I know you've been avoiding me and Chloe as much as possible this week. This was my only chance at catching you before you left." Lois explains. "I was wondering if we could do something, something to cheer you up." She says and puts her hand on his arm slightly, leaning into him. This causes Clark to wake up and turn his gaze to her eyes.
That's great, Lois. Way to give him the wrong impression and turn his hormones on.
Clark takes his mind off of what he first thought of and returns to his depression. "You just dragged me to a movie and pizza last night."
"Drug you?" Lois says with a laugh. "Come on, you know you enjoyed our little date."
Clark can't help but smile. "Yeah, I guess."
Lois begins to melt at the sight of his smile again, but quickly pulls herself together. "See! You smiled. So, can we do something?"
"Alright, alright." Clark agrees. "What do you have in mind?"
"I did some checking, and found out there is a race in Grandeville tomorrow night, but I didn't think you'd want to go to that since… yeah." She says and gets a nod from Clark. "So, there is a race in Metropolis. Would you like to go?"
Clark looks at her skeptically. "You want to go to a race?"
Lois smiles. "What can I say? It's growing on me."
:o
The next night, Clark pulls up in front of the Sullivan's apartment to pick Lois up. Clark insisted that he drives this time. Sitting in the passenger seat of a sports car while a woman drives just doesn't feel right. I'm a racecar driver for goodness sakes, I don't need anyone driving me anywhere. He just begins to start feeling sorry for himself again, when Lois opens the car door. Clark smiles and pushes the thoughts out of his mind.
"Hey, you look… great." Clark comments when he sees her choice of clothes.
Lois smiles and can't help blushing a little. "Thanks, Clark."
Clark backs the car out of the driveway and pulls out on to the road. "You just don't usually wear stuff like that, but it looks… really good." He says as his eyes travel back to her. Clark's eyes slowly go over the light blue spaghetti-strapped top and white pleated mini-skirt.
Lois feels his eyes on her and blushes even more as the heat inside her builds every second his eyes are still on her. Seeing a road sign approaching quickly through the windshield brings her quickly to her senses. "Clark! Would you keep your eyes on the road?"
His eyes snap back to the windsheild and whips the wheel to the left, narrowly missing the road sign. Clark smiles, holding back his laughter. "Sorry."
"Do we need to go back for a cold shower, or do you think we'll be alright?" Lois asks playfully.
"Trust me, I'm not going to start shooting fire from my eyes. I'll be alright." Clark tells her. He's glad he wasn't in this position when his heat vision first started kicking in, it would have been disastrous.
:o
Clark pulls the car through the gates of Metropolis Motor Speedway and drives through the parking lot, finding a parking space. Clark and Lois get out of the car and she starts walking to the main entrance.
"Lois, this way." Clark tells her and points to the left, where the pit entrance is.
Lois looks at him, confused. "Uh, Clark… did you forget your not here to race?"
"Just follow me." He says and she follows him. "You might want to get a little closer." Clark tells her as they approach the man guarding the entrance.
"What?" Lois asks, not getting it.
Clark puts his hand on her waist and pulls her to him, and then bends down to kiss her cheek, whispering in her ear. "If it looks like you're my girlfriend, he might just let us both in."
"Sorry, pits are closed to everyone but race teams." The 'guard' tells them as they walk up to the gate.
Clark reaches into his pocket, taking a card out of his wallet and flashes it to the guard. "I'm a driver, and this is my racing license."
"Oh, excuse me. Go on ahead." The guard says and opens the gate. Clark and Lois walk through and cross the track, entering the inside of the track.
"I wanted you to see what it was like on the inside, so you can see what I see." Clark tells her as they walk up to the line of racecar trailers.
Lois looks at the cars and the people working on them with a look of curiosity and interest. "Well, I can't say I'm not surprised. I had no idea." She says while watching the activity. All the cars are outside of the trailers, raised up on jack stands as crew members get them ready to race. Other crew members line up tires and equipment on pit road for when the cars come in for pit stops. The drivers all look focused and ready to go.
Lois asks a few questions and Clark answers them as they walk down the line of cars.
Clark comes to the familiar blue and white #67 car he practiced with a month ago. "Lois stop, this is that car I practiced with when you came here with me."
"Yeah, it is. But why isn't it being jacked up with three guys all over it like the rest?" She asks and she's right. Every car except this one is busy being worked on.
"I don't know." Clark tells her and shrugs his shoulders. "Maybe this car is the only one that's done."
"Clark! Clark Kent!" Someone calls from behind them and they turn around to see who it is.
"Yes?" Clark asks, confused. "That's me."
The man smiles. "Hi, I'm James Chavez. Manager of Team SRC. You practiced for us a month ago?" He tells him.
"Oh yeah, hey." Clark says and shakes his hand.
"What are you doing here? I didn't notice your name on the driver list." James asks.
"Oh no, I'm not running. I don't have a car." Clark tells him.
"Well, I think your in luck. Our driver for #67 had some difficulties with the team and had to be let go about an hour ago, and we need a driver." James tells him. "Interested?"
Clark smiles. "Yeah, I'm interested. But, I've missed practice and qualifying. Isn't there some kind of rule against that?" He asks.
"No, you just have to start in the back. And trust me, there is absolutely no pressure. We were just about to load it up, so whatever position you can give us, we'll be grateful." James says.
"Alright, I'm ready." Clark agrees.
James smiles. "Ok, there is an extra suit and helmet in the trailer. Once your ready, come back out for a run-down on the car." He tells him with a pat on the shoulder and walks over to a couple crew members.
Clark turns to Lois. "Are you sure it's ok? I know we were supposed to come here together, and it feels like I'm just leaving you here."
Lois smiles and grabs his hand. "Clark, I'm sure. I would rather see you out on that track where it makes you happy, than stuck with me wishing you were out there."
"Lois, I wouldn't be…" Clark starts, but Lois cuts him off by kissing his cheek.
"Good Luck, Clark." She smiles and walks away.
:o