4.
Jessica was asleep in her bed the next morning, and she was dreaming. In her dream, she was in a lacy white wedding dress, holdings hands with Justin at the altar. She looked down modestly, smiling and blushing, and just as the minister said, "You may now kiss the bride," she looked up... and standing there was Lex. She awoke feeling very confused. For this reason, it took her a ridiculously long time to realize something important:
She was floating.
Jessica looked down, gasped, her eyes widened, and she fell hard onto the bed below. She lay there for a moment in shock - and then shot straight upright, her feet hitting the floor.
What had she been thinking of when she'd been floating? She thought back. She'd been thinking of romance... but she tried remembering the dream and nothing happened. She thought of dancing with Justin at the homecoming dance... and she began hovering a little. She thought of romance in the abstract and she came back down again.
So... if it wasn't romance that made her float... was it happiness? She thought of some other happy memories from her childhood. Baking apple pies with her Mom, going on tractor rides across the golden farm fields in the setting sun with her Dad. Sure enough, she began floating again, hovering just a few inches above her seat.
She came slowly back down, in something like disbelief.
"Jessica Mary Kent! We leave for the farmer's market in fifteen minutes and you haven't done your chores yet!" her mother called up the stairs. That was right. It was Saturday.
Jessica got dressed and came down into the kitchen. "Hey, guys... check out what I can do." Blinking matter of factly, she pushed some energy into her feet and began floating a few inches above the ground. "I figured out it happens when I get happy."
Her parents stared. "You're breaking the law of gravity," said her father.
"It wouldn't be the first law of physics I've broken," Jessica pointed out. She floated back down again.
Mom smiled. "It certainly wouldn't be," she admitted. "So... do you think you can learn to control it?"
"With some practice. You know, it's kind of ironic," Jessica said flatly. "I can fly and I'm afraid of heights."
They met up with Justin at the farmer's market. Justin had decided to get in the good graces of his new girlfriend's parents by helping them out on market day.
Jonathan stopped in front of Justin and looked him over suspiciously for a moment. Justin was nervous and endearing. At last, Jonathan grunted. "Help us set up the stall," he ordered, and stalked away. Jessica was exasperated; her mother Martha hid a smile behind her hand.
They got started, setting up the stall and putting the produce out on display. Jonathan kept Jessica and Justin pretty far apart. They shared a secret, amused smile, and then Martha moved so the two of them could stand next to each other. Justin held her hand underneath the table. It wasn't much, but it was something.
Farmer's market was one of Smallville's biggest to-dos. It was practically a fair. There were long lines of stalls, selling everything from fruit and vegetables to jams and hand carved wooden knick knacks. Everyone came out and wandered around, looking at the different displays.
Whitney and Lana stopped by their stall on the way through the farmer's market. "Congratulations, Whitney!" said Dad enthusiastically. "That was one heck of a game. I haven't seen an offense that good since I played." He was talking about homecoming night.
"Thank you, Mr Kent," said Whitney, shrugging and smiling.
Just then, a boy walked up behind them. "Lana," he said.
"Buzz off, Arkin," Whitney snapped.
"Hey, now, that's unnecessary -" Jonathan began.
Lana said what Jessica was thinking. "Greg Arkin? Whatever happened to your glasses and all your..." Lana paused, embarrassed, unsure how to continue.
"I think what Lana is trying to say is that you found some sort of miracle skin cure. You look great, man," said Justin helpfully. Greg Arkin was one of the least popular boys in school; he was insect obsessed and got "Bug Boy" comments a lot. Jessica only knew him through the school paper. But today, he'd never looked better - it was like he'd gotten some weird makeover.
"I... I just wanted to know if Lana could help me with my English paper," Greg muttered, shrugging and looking at the ground, hands in his pockets.
"I'd be glad to," said Lana sympathetically. "How about we meet in the library after sixth period Monday?"
"Sounds great," said Greg, and he left quickly.
"Now, Whitney, why'd you have to go and act like that?" Jonathan had asked the question, but it was what everyone seemed to want to know.
"He's always following Lana around; it's creepy," said Whitney darkly.
"He has a bit of a crush," said Lana delicately. "But that's no excuse for acting like an ass. Come on, let's go." Displeased, she pulled Whitney away.
"Trouble in paradise," a voice noted. Jessica turned around to find Lex standing there. "Hey, Mr Kent. Can I borrow Jessica for a minute?" Lex put out his hand as he spoke. Jonathan glared at it suspiciously, and then at last grudgingly he shook it.
"Make it quick," said Jessica's father, and Lex pulled her off to the side.
"At least I got a handshake this time. Anyway, that kid who just left," said Lex. "What's his name?"
"Greg Arkin. He's science reporter for The Torch - the school paper I work on? He's obsessed with two things, and they're insects and Lana. He gets picked on a lot for it. That's why Lana just pulled Whitney away. Whitney treated him the way everyone treats him and I guess Lana didn't like it. Why?" Jessica asked.
"Because I found him strung up in a field last night on my drive home from work." Lex raised his eyebrows frankly. "I heard him calling for help and I went out with a flashlight to find him. What the hell was going on there? Even the Romans saved behavior like that for special occasions; he could have died out there."
Jessica's eyes widened and then she winced. "Poor Greg. He must have been made this year's Scarecrow. I guess it would make sense, if Whitney doesn't like him..." She explained the tradition to Lex.
"That field belongs to me," said Lex darkly, "and I don't particularly like the idea of playing host to some freaky Children of the Corn tradition. Consider the problem dealt with." His voice was so decisive, Jessica privately pitied whoever crossed his path.
"You would really involve yourself so deeply in a high school prank?" Jessica asked. "Don't get me wrong, I'm impressed. I'm just surprised."
"I have two reasons for wanting the Scarecrow problem dealt with," said Lex. "First, I was picked on myself in school. Don't look so surprised; rich kids at private schools are just as shitty as poor kids at public schools - maybe even more so. And second..." He paused. "I was here during the Smallville meteor shower," he revealed. "I was on a business trip with my father. I wandered out into a field and caught sight of some kid who I guess was the Scarecrow for that year. He's the last thing I saw before the fiery meteors started falling from the sky. It's not exactly a pleasant memory. I wasn't jumping for joy to come back here. Not that I'm not glad I met you," he added.
"I'm amazed you survived," said Jessica sympathetically.
"I nearly didn't. I could have died. As it was, exposure to the blast did something to my body - I lost all illnesses, including my asthma, and in the same stroke I also lost all my hair. Thanks for never mentioning that, by the way."
"For all I knew, it could have been a personal choice," said Jessica. "You'll get no judgment from me. I'm sorry," she added guiltily, "that you had to go through that."
"It's not your fault," said Lex. Well, Jessica thought, actually, it is.
The Kents parted ways with Justin at the end of market day. Justin had asked her about Lex Luthor, but Jessica had been able to wave him off.
"I guess I'll see you at school on Monday," said Justin.
"Of course," said Jessica, smiling a little. "How about we meet in front of The Torch office and have lunch together?"
So Jessica got in the truck with her parents and they began driving back home. They had been driving for a while on some dusty back country road lined with willow trees when they came across something odd. A truck was crashed off to the side of the road...
"That's Whitney's truck!" said Jessica, her eyes widened. "Did Lana go home with him?!" The second her Dad stopped the truck, she was out and pulling Whitney from the wreckage of his car. He was alone. It took her an average of about half a second to make it from one place to the other.
Just then, a gasoline leak in the truck ignited. The truck exploded. Jessica threw Whitney to the ground and shielded his body with her own. She felt the flames engulf her, felt warmth lick her body, saw the mass of bright red and orange colors... and yet there was no pain. Nothing.
The flames retreated, leaving Jessica completely unharmed. She was flame retardant.
Her parents ran over; her father touched her skin and ripped his hand back, burned by it. Jessica looked up, and got up off of Whitney... there were soot and scorch marks all around him, and where he was, nothing.
The minute she got home, Lana was on the phone, sobbing her thanks and making apologies. She'd gone home with her aunt instead of her boyfriend, a choice which might have saved her life. Jessica said over and over again that it was no big deal. Mom retreated out to the barn, seeming rather shaken. Dad called the hospital to make sure Whitney was okay.
He came out onto the porch to talk with Jessica. "Whitney's going to be alright," said Dad. "He's got a couple of cuts and bruises, but nothing serious."
"Does he remember anything?" Jessica asked in dread.
"No. Just that something smashed his truck and he woke up in the ambulance."
Jessica relaxed in relief. There was silence on the porch for a while. Jessica rubbed her arms, holding them around herself. She'd changed clothes, into a pair of black camo pants and a black off-the-shoulder sweater. Her old clothes needed a serious dunk in a bucket of ice water.
"Jessica, I just want you to know how proud we are of you. All this saving people," said her father at last.
"Thanks, Dad," she said. Then, looking down, softly, "It should feel weird, what I'm going through... but it doesn't. I like saving people. I - I think it could be my thing. You know, like how everyone has a thing," Jessica explained at her father's stare. "For you and Mom, it's being farmers and amazing parents. For Chloe, it's being a reporter. Lana's a community service oriented cheerleader. Emily's a bossy, chatty science nerd. Lex is a rich playboy. Well, I think I've found my thing. It's rewarding, thinking my powers are actually good for something for a change. I feel like I could start making up for all the damage I caused by arriving here."
"Jessica, there's nothing to make up for -"
"People keep telling me that." She winced. "But it doesn't feel that way. Dad, how do I stop feeling guilty, aside from telling myself to stop feeling guilty?"
"... You can't," Dad said after a moment. "But that's what makes you human."
"It's just - there's Lana's parents. And Lex's disfiguration. And the meteor freaks, and the weird mutations, and the - Maybe it would have been better for everyone involved if I'd never arrived at all," said Jessica, looking down, her hair tucked over her shoulder.
"Now, you know that's not true. Jessica, if you'd never arrived, almost everyone you've just mentioned would be dead."
Jessica looked up, staring at him.
"It's true," said her Dad intently. "Lana or Emily or even both of them would have drowned in that river. Chloe might never have made any Smallville friends. Lex would have died during his car accident. And your mother and I would be unhappy and childless." He put his hand on her cheek. "Never feel like you don't matter, sweetheart. And I'm glad you've found your thing. Just - don't go throwing yourself off of any tall buildings, okay?"
Jessica smiled, but her face was emotional, vulnerable. "Thanks, Dad," she said. Then she brightened. "Ooh! If I master flying, can I throw myself off of tall buildings?"
"... The jury's still out on that one," Dad admitted.
"I'm going to go practice!" Jessica ran out into the field by the back porch. She stood there, closed her eyes, and thought of something happy. After a moment, that floating feeling came back. She opened her eyes, looked down at the ground... freaked out at how fast it was falling away from her, and crashed again.
"Okay," she said, wincing in pain and getting up. "Let's try something else." She looked up at the sky instead of down at the ground, floated further and further upward... Her mind started wandering to the clouds in the sky, and she crashed again.
She sat up. "This is going to take some time," she admitted.
Jessica practiced flying all through Sunday, breaking up time only to do things like sleep and do her chores. She went back to school on Monday, had lunch with Justin, and got through the day, only for Emily and Chloe to meet with her after school was over.
"Do you know where Lana is?" they asked, worried. "We haven't heard from her all day."
"Last I heard, she was meeting Greg Arkin in the library," said Jessica. "Let's check there."
They went to the library, but Greg and Lana weren't there. They asked the vast, bespectacled librarian. "Oh, they were here for a while," she said in surprise. "But they left. I don't know where."
Lana's friends frowned in concern. They met up outside the library. "Maybe they went to Greg's house?" Emily suggested. "Do we know where it is?"
"Do we really need to go that far?" asked Jessica.
"I don't know," said Chloe slowly. "I just have a bad feeling... It's not like Lana to go somewhere with a strange boy without telling anyone." Then Chloe's eyes lit up. "Pete used to be friends with Greg," she said. "Pete will know where his house is."
They went to Pete, a dark-skinned boy with a round, boyish face, who seemed a little nonplussed but agreed willingly enough to take them to Greg's house.
Greg's house was unassuming - small, but intimidatingly neat, even on the outside. They knocked on the door and rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Pete peeked through the window. "It's a mess inside," he said in surprise. "Greg's Mom was always such a neat freak. It's like she just up and disappeared."
"Is it all dark inside?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah, no one's here," said Pete, shrugging.
So without further ado, Chloe broke open the window and slid through into the house beyond.
"Chloe!" everyone else shouted in disbelief.
"Call it a hunch," said Chloe intently, and she moved on further into the house. Chloe's friends looked at each other helplessly. Pete was the first to follow, and the rest shrugged and followed them.
Breaking and entering, Jessica thought. Chalk that up as the first law I've ever broken.
Something was wrong right from the get-go. The temperature in the house was incredibly hot and humid, with the heater on full-blast despite the fact that it was sunny out. Dirty handprints were painted all over the walls, sticky footprints were stuck to the ceiling, and the house was completely trashed. They went into Greg's bedroom and found it covered in huge, human sized spiderwebs.
"This isn't fake," said Jessica in realization as she fingered the spiderweb. Her eyes were wide. "Something really made this."
"Guys, I'm getting really freaked out," said Emily nervously.
"Whatever happened to all the tanks of bugs Greg used to keep in his room?" Pete asked, confused.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Emily snapped.
"Everything," said Chloe, turning around. "I knew it. I think Greg's become a meteor freak. That would explain his sudden new makeover."
"You're saying he's become part bug?" asked Jessica disbelievingly.
"His insect containers were filled with green meteor rock for the bugs to climb over," Pete remembered. "I used to hang out at his place before his parents divorced. After that, Greg just stopped calling."
"If he was attacked by a swarm of his insects while moving them somewhere else, that could explain his sudden new abilities," said Chloe.
"So what would he want with Lana?" Emily wondered.
"Bugs mate," said Chloe grimly, "remember?"
The three girls turned to Pete. "Pete, if Greg were taking Lana somewhere, where would he go?" Jessica asked worriedly.
Pete was uncomfortable. "Well... before he left the family, Greg's Dad built this great tree fort for him out in the woods, near the old Creekside Foundry. We used to play there. It would have special significance to Greg because it's something his Dad gave him. It's also pretty far removed from town. If I had to hazard a guess... I'd say to check there."
Emily, Pete, and Chloe went back toward town to report a kidnapping while Jessica speed ran over to the woods. She found the old foundry first, an open stone building that had been abandoned since the meteor shower, and then followed the shadowy forest trail to a giant wood tree fort up in a tree. She paused, and then shot some energy into her legs, floating up toward the tree fort. She swallowed, keeping her eyes upward and trying not to be nervous or dizzy as the ground fell away from her. In a moment, she was beside the tree fort.
She rammed her way straight through the tree fort's wall, flew over Lana's unconscious form, and hit Greg, pushing him through the opposing wall and down to the ground.
Jessica floated there above him, glaring, as he landed on his feet and looked up at her. "You're not sexually assaulting my friend," she snapped.
Greg smirked. "Alright. Try and stop me, then."
Greg was just as fast and strong as Jessica. They flew at each other with great impacts at high speeds, connecting again and again, circling around each other. At last, Jessica looked at the ground around Greg and her eyes lit up.
Fire sprang to life on the ground, entrapping Greg in a tight circle. Greg cringed, looking for a way out - bugs weren't invulnerable to fire. Now was the ultimate test - to see if Greg had some sort of tough exoskeleton.
Jessica flew up to a tree and grabbed a branch, ripping it clean off the tree. She dropped the tree branch straight onto the trapped Greg's head. There was a snap and he crumpled there, unconscious. Jessica landed and ran over the fire in a great spurt of wind, putting it out.
Jessica flew into the tree fort and found some rope. She landed beside Greg in a kneel and tied him up. His eyes fluttered open and he looked hazily at her. Jessica smiled sadly, and kissed him on the cheek.
"There. You can't hurt anyone anymore," she said.
A day later, Chloe, Emily, Lana, and Jessica were walking one of the fields of Lana's property together.
"He threatened to kill everyone in the library if I didn't go with him," Lana was saying later. "I had to go. Thanks for saving me," she added apologetically. "First my boyfriend, now me."
Jessica smiled slightly. "No problem," she said. "I just knocked Greg out from behind and tied him up." That was their story for people who weren't 'in the know.'
"Greg's mother was found dead in their house," said Chloe seriously. "And he also admitted to trying to kill Whitney Fordman by attacking his car. Greg will be sent to a local asylum called Belle Reeve."
"That's where Jeremy Creek went, too," Jessica added, remembering. "So are you guys okay?"
"Are you?" Emily asked. "You're the one who defeated him."
"I actually feel great," Jessica admitted, smiling. "I love the feeling that comes with saving people."
That night, Jessica had her next shift at The Beanery.
"There she is, in the throes of indentured servitude." Jessica whirled around, smiling, to find an amused Lex standing there. "You weren't kidding about that whole waitress thing."
"Nope. Not all of us are lucky enough to be rich, Lex." Jessica moved past him with a tray of drinks to carry over to table three
"No, hey, you're hardworking. I admire that." Lex sounded sincere.
"There she is, the freak. Enjoying your shift, freak? I'm surprised any restaurant wanted to hire a freak like you. Aren't waitresses supposed to be happy and pretty?" Shrill laughter. Jessica turned around, her face aflame, to find Felice Chandler standing there.
Great. Felice was going to pick on her in front of Lex, of all people.
"If you have a drink to order, I'll be glad to handle it, Chandler," said Jessica in a low voice. "Otherwise, let me do my job." She moved past Felice to head to table three.
Felice pushed her tray of hot coffee, spilling it all over the front of Jessica's shirt and apron. Jessica stopped, covered in coffee, as the mugs clattered to the floor. People all over the restaurant started clapping sarcastically.
Jessica really wanted to cry, but no way was she crying in front of Lex and Felice. She did what she always did when she got really upset - she shut down emotionally, became robotic and blank faced. Quietly, hiding behind her long straight hair, she kneeled down to pick up the cups of coffee.
Felice went to kick her in the face and Jessica's hand was there, stopping her foot. Jessica's eyes narrowed as she glared up at Felice, her face twisted. There was a moment of silent tension.
"What's your name?" Lex asked at last, alerting everyone else to his presence. He was looking sharply at Felice.
"Mr Luthor." Felice smiled, preening, and Jessica's teeth set. "My name is Felice Chandler; are you interested?"
"Chandler. Your father works for me," said Lex, smiling pleasantly. "Well, then, this is perfect. I'll just fire him and deal personally with his family. Problem solved!"
Felice's face blanched. "You - you can't do that!" she said shrilly.
"That sounds like a challenge." The pleasant smile hadn't left Lex's face. His eyes were sharp. "I can assure you I most certainly can. It's amazing what throwing around a little money can do. You'd better treasure those clothes you're wearing, Felice Chandler, because they're the last expensive things your father will ever buy you."
"Let's - let's be reasonable," said Felice nervously. "I'll stop talking to the freak. I promise I'll never do anything to her again!"
"That's a good start," Lex agreed. "But first I want to hear an apology."
Felice paused. "... What?"
Lex seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. "I want to hear. An apology." He took out the cell phone in his hand. "Otherwise, I'm making the call that ruins your father's life."
Felice looked, trapped, between Lex and the cell phone. "Well - well -" she sputtered. Then at last, she turned around to Jessica, her face screwed up. "... Sorry," she said forcedly.
"That didn't sound very sincere, did it, Jessica?" Lex asked thoughtfully.
"Lex, it's fine," said Jessica cautiously, standing. "Don't be cruel."
Lex paused. "You're lucky Jessica is forgiving," he said at last. He moved closer to Felice. "If I ever hear of you picking on Kent or her family again," he said darkly, "I will personally ensure your life is destroyed." There was something terrible about Lex as he was in that moment.
Felice backed up, her face blanching. "Fine - fine - let's get out of here!" She and her posse scurried away. Zoe paused by the door and looked after them curiously.
"They looked terrified," she said in surprise. "What happened?"
"I set Lex on them," said Jessica. Lex looked rather pleased with himself.
"I should probably scold you for scaring away customers..." said Zoe. "But considering how those girls always treated you when they came in, I guess I'm glad someone told them off. By the way, Jessica." She gave a sly smile. "There's someone else here to see you." She pointed. Justin was standing behind the counter, smiling.
"Justin!" Jessica smiled and hurried over, which for her was indicative of positive delight.
"Hey, Jessica," said Justin. "Thought I'd visit you at work. I was wondering if you wanted to go to Sam's Diner sometime next week? Like... you know... On a date?" Justin looked hopeful.
"That sounds great," said Jessica, smiling. Then she revealed, "I have your drawing of me hung up in my room."
Justin's smile widened and seemed to fill his whole face. "I'll - I'll make you another," he said breathlessly. They talked for a few minutes and then Justin left.
"Who was that?" Lex asked, smiling a little, coming up behind her.
"That was Justin. He's - sort of my boyfriend," said Jessica shyly.
Lex's smile widened. "He's lucky," is all Lex said.