"Welcome family and alumni to the Smallville High 2013 graduation, it is my great pleasure to present to you...". Kara couldn't believe how bored she was. Already she had gone through the Kryptonian and Earth numeric systems twice, forwards and backwards. She had already picked Kal, Lois, baby Jonathan, and her adopted parents Martha and Jonathan Kent. Through the droning speech she heard Kal talking to her in Kryptonian at a level only the two of them could hear. *Calm down, Kara. If you get anymore excited you'll bust a blood vessel*

*I'm sorry, I'm just sooo bored*

*I understand, Dean Schuster was like this back when Pa was in school*

*Dear Rao, how old is this guy*?

*Legend says he's been in Smallville since the great ice age*

"Kara Kent"

Gotta go graduate cous*

I'm proud of you K, just as your parents are*. A tear glistened in Clark's voice and echoed in Kara's thoughts. Looking ahead to her future she knew one thing for certain. Things were about to change.

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"You'll make sure to email twice a week, right Kara"?

"Yes ma'am".

"And call us when you get settled in to your room. Are you sure you don't want Jonathan to go with you and help you move in"? Kara smiled at the dear woman's concern and worry, so much that reminded her of her own mother. "Yes Martha, I'm sure".

"Okay. Well, Clark and Lois are going to meet you at the train station",

"Yes ma'am, and I will let you know when I've arrived and am with Kal".

"All right young lady, you watch that sass". Kara chuckled, she had always had a way with words and, much like her own mother had been prone to do, Martha Kent made sure her adopted daughter knew her manners when it came to matters of conversing with another person, not that it stopped her from giving her two cents about...well, anything. Kara closed in and hugged Martha goodbye. "You know, I feel just as heartbroken as the day Clark left for college. You mean just as much to me as he does, Kara. I love both of you so much. Just like you were my own children".

"We are".

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"Clark," Kara didn't like Kal's Earth name, it sounded primitive and vulgar, not at all beautiful and eligant like his Kryptonian name that spoke of many generations and bloodlines of respectability, dignity and honor, "I told you, I am perfectly capable of carrying my own things, I am a lady after all".

"And I a gentleman, and a gentleman enjoys, relishes even, to carry a lady's things. It's what a man does".

"It makes me look weak".

"It makes you look important". Kara thought about that for a moment and considered, "well, I do like being important".

"You are, Kara. Now, how close are we? Even with super strength I'm getting tired of hauling your crap around".

"Clark Joseph Kent, I thought you were a gentleman".

"Well, the gentleman is getting anxious to see you properly settled in to life as a college student". As Kara's back was to him he couldn't see the extra large smile light up her face. Despite many things that she believes Earth is behind on, an education system where you are free to kearn what you wish and become what you want was a freedom it had that Krypton had lacked in. And she wanted to learn it all. "We're here", she nearly squealed, "alright. Here goes". Almost solemnly she slid her key into the lock and turned it. The door opened and inside the apartment was standard and nothing stood out. But to Kara, being on her own was more than she dreamed of. And, yeah she'd be sharing it with someone else but nothing could dampen her spirits. As she walked in she saw that her roommate had already arrived and was quite messy, having left boxes and bubble wrap with various items strewn about. In the back room she heard some rock music drifting in the air. "Well," she said, undeterred by the sight, "time to introduce myself". As she walked down the shirt hall the music roared louder and louder until it was deafening. In the room she saw a short brunette girl with a shirt layered a-bob haircut that was pulled back by a hair band. Her voice mixed beautifully with the varying notes and harmonized in a quite professional manner. She danced around the room with a paint brush turning the room into a beautiful sunset color. In one rotation she caught sight of Kara and beamed from ear to ear. "Hello", she said extending her hand, "you must be Kara, I'm Alex Benton, I'm very pleased to meet you". Something about Alex's exuberant happiness and cheerful disposition made Kara pull back a little out of fear that it was contagious. "Yes, and this is Clark, my cousin". Clark, ignoring Kara's reluctant handshake, took Alex's hand in his own. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Benton".

"Oh my gosh, are you Clark Kent"?

"Well, I don't advertise it but, yes, I am".

"Oh my gosh, you and Lois Lane are like, my total faves". Now Clark began to feel uncomfortable. "Thank you, but I must be going now. Miss Benton, again, it was a real pleasure to meet you".

"Thank you Mr. Kent".

"Kara, I love you. And don't forget to call Ma".

"I won't". As Kara hugged him goodbye she already missed him. As he leaned down she whispered in his ear, "The last time I hugged you goodbye we were separated for twenty-five years".

"Well, this time it's just till Thanksgiving". And with that Clark bid a final farewell to the girls and set off for anything that lay ahead for a superhero in disguise.

Kara shut the door and yurned to see Alex with a face all lit up. "What's got you grinning like a fiend"?

"Your cousin smells nice". Kara rolled her eyes and made a place on the couch while Alex sat across in a puffy white easy chair. "So, let's get to know each other".

"Uggghhh, I just got here, can't I relax for a bit"?

"Okay my turn. I'm eighteen years old and I'm from Arizona".

"I wasn't playing along, I was making a point".

"Okay... I'll just tidy up a bit then". And with that Alex began to pack bubble wrap back into boxes and carry them to her room. While there she made a phone call, not knowing that Kara could hear every word. "Hello Uncle John...yes I am doing well, hiw are you?...yes my roommate has arrived... she's okay, she's grumpy and tired but I'm sure she's really nice...no, I haven't had any incidents...yes, I'll make sure to call if I need you...yes, I will... goodbye".

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