3.

Jessica didn't have any work the next day, so after school she decided to stay around in town and help Chloe out with the school paper. Chloe had a particular story which had caught her eye and she wanted to follow the trail. Jessica went along for the ride.

When they walked up to the pharmacy on main street, there were crowds out in front of it. They pushed their way to the front of the crowd and saw yellow caution tape sectioning off the pharmacy. An unconscious man on a stretcher was being loaded away into an ambulance.

"What's going on?" Jessica asked, confused.

"Men around Smallville keep turning up injured from some sort of electrical attack," said Chloe. "That's the third one this week. They're all young men, and they're all former jocks. No one knows who's behind the attacks. The only connection I can see between the victims is that they all played football at Smallville High."

"Maybe someone they picked on in school is coming back for revenge," said Jessica.

Chloe looked thoughtful. "Actually, that's a valid theory," she said. "The only thing anyone could find wrong with jocks is their place in the high school hierarchy, and how entitled everyone thinks they are to everything."

Jessica was scanning the crowds. "Who's that?" she asked suddenly, pointing, as someone caught her eye. "I don't know him, but Smallville's small enough that I know everyone in town, and he looks young enough to go to our high school." He was a thin, pale teenage boy with straw colored hair. He was watching the ambulance quietly.

"I don't know, I've never seen him before," admitted Chloe. "Let's check him out." She lifted up the camera in her hand and clicked.

They went to the high school library and looked through old high school yearbooks. On Chloe's insistence, the first yearbooks they looked through were for the years the electric shock victims were in high school - they'd all played together. Sure enough, they found the boy. He'd been a freshman when they were seniors. His name was Jeremy Creek, and he looked exactly the same in his yearbook photo of twelve years ago as he did in Chloe's photograph of him taken that day. He hadn't aged at all.

Jessica's first idea was to look him up and see if he'd had any kids - perhaps familial resemblance? So they looked up Jeremy Creek online, and found a news article about him from twelve years ago. Jeremy Creek had been chosen as that year's Scarecrow.

"It's a ritual," Jessica explained to Chloe. "I didn't have to worry about it, because I'm a girl and it only involves boys. But every year before the homecoming game, the football players select a freshman, take him out to Reilly Field, strip him down to his boxers, paint an S on his chest, and then hang him up like a scarecrow. They leave him there all night. It's been happening in Smallville since before we were born, but everyone always looks the other way because high school football is so worshipped in Smallville."

"It sounds like years of therapy waiting to happen," said Chloe, her face twisted. "So this boy was hanging out in Reilly Field that day in October twelve years ago. But wait, wasn't that the date of...?"

Their eyes widened and they looked at each other.

"The meteor shower," they said together.

Sure enough, as they read the article further, they found Jeremy Creek had been found unconscious in a field less than twenty yards from a meteor strike. He suffered massive electrolyte imbalance, which was why he hadn't aged. But the thing was, Jeremy Creek had been sent to Kansas State Infirmary in a coma.

A coma he had apparently awakened from, because next, they checked with Kansas State Infirmary and discovered that there had been a huge electrical storm around the hospital a few days ago. The infirmary's generator had temporarily gone out. When they'd turned it back on, Jeremy was gone. He still hadn't been found.

"So he came here, hoping to gain revenge on the jocks who ruined his life..." Chloe's eyes had widened. "He's a meteor freak; a mutant. The electricity must have charged him up, and now he can use it to attack people."

"But what are we going to do with this information?" Jessica asked, leaning against the computer desk. "We don't know where Jeremy is, besides 'somewhere in Smallville'. And we have no proof that Jeremy's the one behind the attacks."

"We do have his photograph, though," said Chloe, "proof that we saw him in Smallville today."

"As long as we don't talk about our meteor infected theory, it should sound pretty credible," said Jessica, catching on. "We've seen Jeremy back in town. It would only make sense that he'd want revenge."

So they made the call to the local police. Chloe sent them her photograph via email, and they warned the police that all remaining remaining local Smallville High alumni from Jeremy's time should be placed in protective custody.

Jessica went to the homecoming football game that night with Chloe and Emily. (Lana was cheerleading and Whitney was of course quarterbacking.) They sat in the uncomfortable metal stands, watching the bright stadium lights shine down on the vast green field, and ate concession snacks. Jessica explained what was going on to Chloe and Emily - she'd been watching football with her Dad for years - while Emily texted a million people a minute and Chloe complained loudly about how worshipped people who threw around a pigskin were. Jessica's parents sat with Emily's Dad, Chloe's father, and Lana's aunt in another part of the stadium.

After the game, everyone drove home to prepare for the dance. Jessica's Mom helped her get dressed in her bedroom. Jessica's dress was secondhand. Still, she thought she looked rather nice in it as she stood there looking at herself in the mirror. Mom had helped her pick it out. It was just a short little thing, a royal blue color that matched her eyes. The skirt was A-line, the waist was tucked in, and the top was loose and flowy with a boat neck line. Her Mom helped her wash and curl her black hair and put a ribbon through it, tying it back from her face. The makeup came on last.

"You'd look best in vivid colors," said her Mom.

"But I don't want to look best in vivid colors," Jessica said plaintively. "Why do I have to wear my hair back? Can't I just wear it down like I always do?"

"It looks good this way," said Mom, laughing. "Sorry, kiddo, we don't get to choose how we look. You look best shown off."

"... Lex told me I'd look better with my hair back, too," Jessica muttered.

Mom paused and then smiled. "See?" she said. Then she helped her put on her makeup. Burgundy lip gloss, English Rose blush, Smoke eyeliner, and Jasmine eye shadow. Finally, she chose the sparkliest necklace she could find in her jewelry box and hung it around Jessica's neck.

At last, her Mom kissed her cheek. They smiled at each other in the mirror. "You look great," she said.

Her Dad had eyes only for her as she came down the stairs. "Oh, honey, you look beautiful," he said. Jessica smiled slightly, a little shy. She wasn't used to being so... girly.

She put on a snow white sweater against the cold. Mom took some pictures of her in her homecoming dress. Then Jessica went out to get in her Dad's old truck and drive over to Justin's place.

"I don't like that I won't get to meet this Justin boy," said Dad suspiciously. "I won't be there to give him the talk about my shotgun and what'll happen if he messes with my little girl."

Jessica privately thought that that was why her father wasn't meeting her date, but she didn't say that out loud. She drove into town and parked in front of Justin's house. Justin ran out in a black tux, jumped in the truck, and said, "Run, before Mom catches us with her camera!"

Jessica's eyes widened. She gunned it, and they drove away just as Justin's parents sprinted out of the house after him. Justin was laughing. Jessica smiled a little despite herself.

"You look beautiful," Justin added, smiling and flushing endearingly.

"Thanks," said Jessica, smiling slightly. "You look good, too." He did. He had messy brown hair and a friendly face, and he cleaned up nice.

"I'm so glad we did this," Justin enthused. "Tonight is going to be so much fun." Jessica gave no response. "... You're not regretting it, are you?" he asked, wincing.

"No!" said Jessica quickly, her eyes widening slightly. "I just - I'm always like this. It doesn't mean I'm not having a good time," she explained awkwardly. "I'm just..." An alien. "Quiet," she said.

"Oh. Well, okay. I can appreciate quiet." Justin smiled.

They parked outside the Smallville High auditorium, and Justin hurriedly pushed something into her hands. "I made you something," he said nervously, ducking his head. Jessica looked down at the piece of paper, and her eyes widened.

A detailed hand drawing of a beautiful dark-haired girl was staring back at her. Her straight black hair fell over one eye; she had delicate features and wrists. The girl had her chin in a hand, gazing dreamily out the window; the night sky sparkled above her. "You told me once you were into astronomy," said Justin in embarrassment, "while we were working on The Torch together. So I just thought -"

It was meant to be a portrait. "Thank you," said Jessica softly, touched. "It's lovely."

"I always - you know, I always noticed you," said Justin. "I've, I've been wanting to ask you out for a while."

"I can't believe I never noticed," said Jessica. Then she smiled. "But I've noticed now," she said.

They met up with Chloe and Pete just inside the auditorium, which was decorated beautifully with fairy lights. Lana and Whitney, and Emily and Dustin, met up with them once they were inside the dance. Then a bunch of jocks and cheerleaders naturally gravitated toward Lana, Dustin, and Whitney, and Emily was fairly popular too, so pretty soon Jessica found herself crushed in the center of the fray.

Then Justin pulled her out onto the dance floor, smiling - when had they begun holding hands? - and they stood close together.

"Confession time," Jessica admitted. "I'm a horribly awkward dancer. I'm sorry if that's a deal breaker for you."

Justin laughed. "Damn," he joked. "I was conned into a date with a horrible dancer. No, look," he said, as Jessica's face blanched. "I'm kidding. Here, let's try this."

Jessica stood on his feet, which worked since she was tiny anyway, and he danced for her. They stood close together, her head on his shoulder and his arms around her, and Jessica was blushing furiously, but Justin didn't seem to notice.

At last, the homecoming king and queen were announced. It was Lana and Whitney, naturally. Jessica smiled and clapped along with the rest as Lana and Whitney walked forward to receive their crowns.

Just then, the fire sprinklers all across the auditorium went off. Someone was playing a prank. There were squeals, shrieks, and laughter as everyone got soaking wet. Jessica immediately moved toward the back door. "I'll go turn them off!" she called. She walked outside, and was met by a pair of hands.

Jessica stared in shock as Jeremy Creek grabbed her, his face furious, and electricity flashed from his hands and onto her skin. But Jessica - wasn't hurt. On the contrary, she felt a sudden surge of power. She grabbed Jeremy, threw him away with her real strength, and kicked a heel into his stomach to make him fly across the alleyway and land against the far wall with a thud.

Jeremy looked up, his eyes narrowed. "How - how did you do that?" he asked.

Jessica glared. "What are you doing here?" she asked in a low voice. "You're that kid who's been going around attacking people. Why hurt the people in there? They never did anything to you!"

"I'm not doing it for me. I'm doing it on behalf of this year's scarecrow, on behalf of all the misfits, outcasts, nerds, the scarecrows of high school, the people who were never invited to the parties and never had any friends." Jeremy's face twisted as he said the words. "The people who were always turned down by girls like you. I figured, the sprinklers will get you all nice and wet, I'll handle the rest. But you -" He frowned. "It didn't work on you."

Jessica tried to bring his attention back to the point at hand. "I'm not letting you hurt my friends," she said. She walked forward.

"You don't have a choice," Jeremy responded. He stood up and put a hand on a rundown truck - the auto body repair shop was just across the way. The electricity jump started the engine and it revved to life. Jeremy jumped behind the wheel and drove the truck right into Jessica, who wasn't hurt but held onto the truck with an iron grip as she was rammed through a wall that held the water main system.

The brickwork and water collapsed around the truck, trapping Jeremy inside. Jessica got to her feet, shaken and damp, and was just in time to see electricity jump from Jeremy's hands. Charged by the water, it filled the truck with an eerie light. Jeremy seized as he was fried by his own electrical energy.

The minute the electricity died down, Jessica ran forward and pulled the truck through the brickwork, yanking the door off its hinges and tossing it aside to get to Jeremy within. Jeremy looked up, blinking. His aging had righted itself. He looked twenty six for the first time.

"Are you okay?" Jessica asked carefully.

"Who are you?" the aged Jeremy asked, confused. "Where am I?"

"My name is Jessica Kent. You're in Smallville," Jessica said. Then, tentatively, "... How much do you remember?"

"I remember being knocked out by the blast in Reilly Field," said Jeremy. "And then... nothing. I want to go home," he added plaintively.

"I know," said Jessica. Then she smiled slightly. "But how about we do something first? You never made it to your homecoming dance... But we're right near mine.

"How about we go turn that sprinkler system off and I'll give you a dance before handing you off to the police?"

Everyone was confused when Jessica led a bemused Jeremy back inside the dance. "He wanted to attack us because he didn't get to go to his own homecoming dance," she said, smiling.

"So your natural reaction was 'let's bring him in here'?" Pete asked skeptically.

"He's still bitter over that?" Whitney asked disbelievingly. "Talk about holding a grudge."

"I promised him a dance," said Jessica firmly. "Let's turn the music back on."

So the music was turned back on. Jessica sort of swayed on the spot with Jeremy, and slowly, others joined them on the dance floor. She put her head against his chest; she felt him smile and then place careful hands around her.

At the end, she stood back and smiled. "... Thank you," he said quietly.

She went to meet back up with Justin through the crowds. "So... you like him?" he asked tentatively, his face dark.

"No, don't be silly. I felt bad for him," said Jessica. "My date is you. Do you mind if we stop by the police station on the way home? He's technically a missing person."

So Jessica dropped Jeremy off at the police station, and left him full of memories of damp dark hair, glossy red lips, and shy smiles.