Chapter 2: First

Journalism had always been Chloe Sullivan's rock solid foundation in her life. Things have a nasty way of changing though.

Chloe could still remember her days in that leafy little hamlet called Smallville. When writing for The Torch she felt a sense of accomplishment. Even if her friends were the only ones who believed everything she wrote. Chloe remembered the mysteries they solved, the lives they saved.

Despite the sometimes-bizarre nature of her articles people still respected her writing, even if they didn't believed. Everyone in Smallville had seen enough really strange or freaky stuff that they didn't laugh at her. They just preferred to not know.

Respect was the difference between the past and now. In Smallville Chloe didn't need to demand respect. It was given freely. If she walked down the hallways of Smallville High, no one pointed her out while whispering to each other. No one avoided contact with her like she was some diseased corpse. Her teachers believed in her talent, if not her subject matter.

Metropolis University was a different world, no friends, no respect. When she walked down the hallways, the people who knew her from class turned away.

Chloe could remember the first day of orientation. It was supposed to be one of the best days in her life. She was in college, and in four years she was going to be a journalist.

Her class of new aspiring journalists was small, only forty-two other people, and a dozen or so of those had plans for Law School. All nine professors in the Journalism department showed up. Chloe felt on top of the world. She sat at the front of the small auditorium, eagerly awaiting the beginning.

A slight bit of vanity had compelled Chloe to look her best for this day. Her short, blond hair was smoothed perfectly into a fashionable flip-out. She wore a neat gray suit that fitted her like a glove. It was one of most expensive outfits Chloe had ever purchased, but she thought the cost had been worth it. Her lipstick accented the dark red of her shirt. Chloe felt proud of how she looked that day.

The head of the Department of Journalism, Dr. Wendell Jenson, stood up for an opening address. He was middle-aged, his blond hair combed over a bald spot on the back of head. He wore a snazzy gray suit belonging on a younger man, with a red silk ascot. "Welcome to the best years of your young life. I'd like to congratulate you on choosing the best department at the Metropolis State University." Dr. Jenson continued his speech, his voice smooth and ingratiating. At first Chloe felt the welcome in his speech, but then slowly, she got the feeling that every time he looked at her, the welcome in his eyes disappeared. The first time Chloe thought it was just her imagination. But it happened a second, then a third time.

Other professors got up to speak after. But on the stand, behind them, Chloe could still see Dr. Jenson. Every time his eyes settled on her, his expression grew cold.

A mixer was planned for after the speeches. Everyone was asked to move to a large classroom down the hall. The room had been emptied of desks allowing the journalists and students to move around for the meet and greet. The first professor Chloe spoke to knew her.

"Chloe Sullivan…yes I've heard about you. Worked for the Torch in that place…Smallville, right?"

Chloe blinked in surprise. His voice carried enough scorn to torch a tree, as if she was some nasty bit of cow remains. "Yes, I wrote for a school paper called the Torch."

He snorted. "I wouldn't call that trash writing." The man turned his back on her, walking away without another word, making it obvious he didn't want to talk to her.

Chloe could feel the eyes of her fellow student descend upon her. They started at her as if she was a pariah, a side note to a freak show. They wondered what she had done to earn the animosity of a professor she had never met before, but no one dared ask, afraid they might be associated with this girl from Smallville.

Sticking around to the bitter end of the assembly felt like torture, but Chloe stayed. Only one professor spoke to her. The lady's name was Dr. Alice Widdle. The woman looked like a well-aged flower, hung up in the closet for years. Her corolla of petals orange with gray roots showing around her hairline. She wore thick red spectacles that clashed with her hair. Her makeup was thickly applied over the deep creases of her smile lines.

Chloe didn't know if Dr. Widdle felt sorry for her or if she was a just a nice old lady. They talked about everything but journalism, trees and dogs and the apple cider they were drinking.

The end of the day took forever to come. On her way out the door Chloe suddenly stopped, forcing several other students to walk around her. Chloe ignored the odd looks. She walked back inside to find Dr. Widdle.

"Why?"

Dr. Widdle looked at Chloe in confusion. "Why what?"

"Why do the other professors hate me? I haven't done anything to them. I wrote good articles for the Torch!"

Dr. Widdle blinked twice, a thoughtful frown forming between her brows. "Chloe. Chloe Sullivan?" Suddenly her face cleared as a memory bubbled to the surface. "Oh, yes, now I remember. Dr. Jenson sent a memo around about you. I still have it." Dr. Widdle dug around in her bag for a moment, pulling out a single slip of white paper. "I didn't bother to read it. I don't care for his methods or morals. Here, I don't want it."

With a vague smile Dr. Widdle finished picking up her coat and left after the other professors. Chloe was left alone in the room with a paper she was afraid to look at. Her fingers trembled slightly.

There were several single chairs lined along the back wall. Chloe made her way over to the closest one. She sank down onto the hard orange plastic surface. The cool surface quickly warmed beneath her. Through the silence of the classroom Chloe could hear cars starting up outside, pulling away.

Memorandum
TO: Faculty and Staff of Journalism
FROM: Dr. Wendell Jenson
SUBJECT: Incoming Students

Did you know that the Inquisitor reporters are going to our college these days? Did you know that one is going to be in your classroom? Yes Ladies and Gentlemen we are training the future of supermarket tabloids.

I was looking through the applications of our new students and found Chloe Sullivan's resume. At first it looked quite impressive. She wrote for and edited her school newspaper, even interned at the Daily Planet. Impressive right? But then I started reading the hogwash she considered legitimate journalism. The articles were aimed at sensationalism and shock. She wrote about so called 'Meteor Mutants', obvious creations of her own imagination. One can even wonder if she illegally created events to back her creative writing.

Don't believe me? Read it for yourself, it's all in her records.

Wendell Jenson, PhD of Journalism, Head of Dept. of Journalism, Ambassador of Metropolis Press Core

Breathe. Chloe closed her eyes. Breath. A tear rolled down her cheek. Listening she could hear her breath rustling harshly through her clenched teeth.

Chloe suddenly slammed her hand down on a table. Half full cups of watered down cider toppled. A sticky mess pooled over the tabletop, dripping over the sides. Slowly Chloe crumpled the paper. Her eyes, unfocused, distractedly scanned the room. A large crack in the wall across from her caught Chloe's watering eyes.

With a snarl, Chloe leapt up and crossed the room. The noise of her fist crashing into the wall startled Chloe out of her mood. Looking down her eyes fell on the spots of blood on her knuckles. Around her the room was dim in the twilight of evening.

In the stillness of the room Chloe's voice sounded harsh. "I will not back down. I will be a journalist. I promised my father, I promised myself, I promised I would find my dream and I won't let some stuck up snob stop me."

"I promised my dad."

NOTES: For those who don't know the DC Superman story: Lana was a real character. During the brief time DC spent with Clark in Smallville, Lana had a crush on him (not visa versa). In the end while he didn't end up with her, he did take her flying with him when he first leaned how and that was how she found out he wasn't human. Also note that Lana Lang ended up married to Pete Ross…ya, I know, it don't seem quite right, but that's what happened in the comics. Chloe, on the other hand, is not an original DC character; she was made up for Smallville. In this story I'm using some premises of how the characters end up in the comics, ie, Lana & Pete married, Clark & Lex are enemies. Does that help with the confusion I inspired?