Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville

Chapter Five

00 cool 00

It had come to my attention that I do not participate in many 'teenager activities'. I had gone to exactly one pep rally and one football game, but hadn't stayed for the ending of either. I visited the local coffee shop, but only when my brother took me as I hated coffee.

So when Chloe asked if I wanted to go to a bonfire by Crater Lake I agreed out of curiosity, wanting to see what normal teenagers did.

As it turns out, I wasn't missing out on much.

The bonfire was not much bigger than the average campfire, there were open coolers filled with various types of alcohol, which I did not enjoy, and I preferred to be inside when the temperature was below freezing. Cars littered the ares with their headlights on, wasting batteries, and a boom box sat on a truck playing 'modern' music which I had never gotten into.

The area was littered with couples making out, which always made me uncomfortable because I had been suppressing the hormones responsible for attraction ever since I had thought Clark looked good shirtless one day in middle school. The very fact that the thought had passed my consciousness was enough for me to swear to aviod any potential boyfirends until at least college.

"This is what I love about high school parties. People will gather anywhere as long as there's illegally purchased alcohol and the chance of hooking up," said Chloe.

"If I recall, you're the one that wanted to go to this party," teased Clark.

"Yeah, but I didn't know it was going to be so cold. It's like 20,000 degrees below zero out here."

"That's impossible, even theoretically matter cann-" I began, only to be stopped short by Chloe's look, "Oh, hyperbole, got it." I muttered, upset that once again I had failed to spot the use of a literary device.

"It doesn't feel cold to me," shrugged Clark, stupid Kryptonian physiology.

"What, are you from an ice planet? It's freezing! I'm going to go thaw out by the fire."

"I'll join you." I said.

As we settled on a log Chloe asked me, "So why did you come, anyway? I mean, I asked, but you never seemed one for high school parties."

I huddled closer to her, trying to absorb the heat produced by her body's metabolic system, "I realized that I don't go to high school parties like other teenagers, and I wanted to see what I was missing out on."

Chloe laughed, although I didn't think I had said anything particularly funny.

"So you didn't come looking for a hookup?" Chloe asked evilly.

I stood up, uncomfortable with the insinuation, "Could you do me a favor and leave the romance delusions to Pete? I'm going to go get a soda."

I walked off and began inspecting the contents of the open coolers, trying to find something other than cheap beer. I was finnaly able to locate a Coca Cola, but when I turned back to the fire I noticed that Chloe was talking to none other than Sean Kelvin. I was able to deduce from their body language that they were flirting, and though I immediately disapproved as Sean Kelvin was a complete player, I knew interfering would put me into the role of the bad guy.

I stood there with a cold pop in my hands until Chole wrote something, probably her number, on Sean's hand, and he got up to join his 'football brethren'. I went to join her but was beaten by Clark who got there first.

"Did you just write your phone number on Sean Kelvin's hand?" he asked.

"Yes, I believe she did," I answered sitting on the opposite side of Chole on the log.

"Don't sound so surprised. Guys do find me attractive even though I don't have raven hair," she said gesturing to me, and I fingered my long, wavy, dark brown locks, "and the initials L.L.," she finished, looking at Clark pointedly.

"Why'd you point to me?" I asked utterly confused as to why I was being used as an example of the pretty girl.

Chloe sighed, "Because if you actually noticed any of the male population other than Clark and Pete, you might notice the guys checking you out all the time."

"What guys?" Clark asked suspiciously.

"Why would they check me out?" I asked dumbly.

Chloe made a sound not unlike a growl, "Your petite, have nice skin, amazing hair, and eyes so blue they look purple. Basically, with your ever present smirk you look like a naughty fairy, a hot naughty fairy since the baby fat is going away and cute is turning into beautiful."

I folded my arms around myself self-consciously, "Guys check me out?"

"Yes."

"What guys?" Clark asked angrily, which Chloe soundly ignored.

"How do I make them stop?" I asked desperately.

Chloe looked at me, outraged, before choosing to ignore me.

"Anyway, just because I'm not Lana doesn't mean I'm not attractive," she said to Clark.

"That's not what I meant, the guys a dog," I agreed but was still too shocked to respond.

"Clark, relax. I just gave him my number to get rid of him. Get Pete, the taxi's leaving," she said, getting up.

I immediately lached onto her, "Don't leave me alone."

She rolled her eyes and continued walking, and I lost my soda trying to keep up, "Why is it such a big deal that guys might like you?"

I looked at her with haunted eyes, "You don't have a teenaged brother, you wouldn't understand." I shuddered, "The hormonal teenage boy is a dangerous creature, I don't want to attract their attention."

Chloe laughed, though I don't know why, I was completely serious.

0000

The next morning the kitchen counter was littered with bills instead of food, and the expenses that mom and dad were calculating were alarmingly high.

"The distributor get's 12.5," added mom.

"Feed bill over six months at %5."

"Plus the mortgage at 8.2, which gives us…"

"Fifty-four thousand five hundred and one dollars and thirty-eight cents," supplied Clark.

Dad looked up from the coffee pot to see us standing in the doorway. "Hey, kids. Look, I'm sorry. We didn't mean for you to hear that."

"You don't have to protect me. Is it that bad?" asked Clark.

"It's pretty bad. We might have to take out a loan."

"Another one? The interest would put us—" I began worriedly.

"Clara, don't. This isn't something you be worried about," cut in mom.

Sometimes I hated how they treated me like fine china, too much pressure and I might just break. Sometimes I hated how I felt like fine china, with my whole world seconds from falling apart and swallowing me whole.

"Maybe we can help," Clark suggested.

"You already have. Last season you saved us four hands," Dad said to Clark before pointing at me, "and you saved us thousands in repair on the harvester and anything else that brakes."

"I'm thinking bigger picture. Forget about this whole high-school thing and try out for a pro sports team. I could make a ton of money in endorsements," at our parents collective look of 'never gonna happen' he smiled, "Just trying to lighten the mood."

"I could help out with the electricity bill. If you get Clark to install my solar panels on the house and the barn. I have all the ones we need ready made, and I made an instruction guide for him on how to install them and where to put them."

"That's a great idea honey," mom said to me before turning to Clark, "and as much as we'd love to see your face on a cereal box, we'd settle for you getting to school on time."

Alarmed, I climbed on Clark's back and we sped out of the house.

Only to come back for his pop tart.

"Forgot."

"Let's go!" I shouted in his ear.

0000

We met Chloe and Pete on the way to the bus, since apparently Clark hadn't made me miss it.

"So did Sean call?" Clark asked Chloe.

"Negative," she responded. "Not that I was waiting for a phone call or anything," she tacked on unconvincingly.

"Personally I hope he never does," I grumbled, adjusting my bag so I could pull out my homework, "You could do so much better."

Chloe smiled weakly, but didn't respond, a response I interpreted as self-doubt. I frowned. Chloe, next to my mother, was, in my humble opinion, the best female human to walk the Earth. I hated that I didn't know how to make her believe that.

"Maybe he got caught up," interjected Pete, "One time my sister didn't hear from a guy for a week. When she called to tell him off, it turned out his grandmother died."

"As much as I appreciate the spotlight here, I'm fine."

"You're probably better off. Sean's a total dog anyway." Assured Clark.

"Your definitely better off," I muttered, pulling out a pen.

"He's not that bad. He's always been cool to me." Said Pete.

"You don't have breasts," I said to him, "unless he's bisexual I don't think your going to be victim of his player ways."

Pete scowled at me before turning to Clark, "Just because you can't get past your Lana crush, don't knock us for making a love connection."

"Oh, is Sean really bisexual then?" I asked faux-innocently.

"I thought we were focusing on me, here," Chloe interjected.

"I don't have a crush on Lana," denied Clark.

"Yes, you do," I said firmly.

"Then ask another girl out," challenged Pete.

"Like who?"

"Like Chloe."

"Okay wait!" Chloe said, charging forward, "I'm not a crash-test dummy you can use to try out your dating skills." She rounded on Clark, "You, if you like Lana so much why don't you just ask her out?" Chloe asked, ignoring the school bus puling in behind her, and turning to Pete, "And, you, stop acting like a Vegas bookie picks your dates. And both of you? Treat me better."

"You said it sister," I said to her, climbing on the bus behind her, unreasonably proud of her for 'tearing a new one' into those two, and thankful she hadn't decided to do the same to me.

0000

After a fruitful night repairing computers and writing antivirus programs that were probably much to advanced for current society, Clark found me and the regaled me with the tale of how he had scored a date with Lana.

I couldn't wait to hear what Chloe had to say.

"Let me get this straight, you walking in to get a cappuccino and walked out with a date with Lana Lang."

"It's not actually a date," Clark defended.

"Though he wishes it was," I added.

"Even with the 'just as friends' rider, I'm impressed," Chloe congratulated.

"How did you score the tickets?" asked Pete.

"I'm guessing a certain folliclely challenged individual was behind it."

"How come he never gives me the fancy presents?" I asked mournfully, even though there was not much I would actually be wanting to receive.

"Lex hooked me up. Actually, Chloe, I have you to thank."

"What did I do?" asked Chloe.

"You were right. I just had to get it out."

"I hope you don't mean what I think you mean, because declaring your eternal love to girls you're just a friendly acquaintance to is never a good idea," I warned him. "Trust me, I watch TV."

"I didn't say I was in love with her, I just asked her to a concert."

"Well, good. I'm glad," Chloe said, and though she smiled I couldn't help but wonder if Pete was right about the crush. It was then that Sean came out of the school doors, and came toward us.

Pete eyed Sean before turning to Chloe, "Maybe this is your chance."

"Chloe, don't I owe you a phone call?" asked Sean, bouncing slightly in place and almost obsessively rubbing his hands together.

"I guess so," Chloe said nonchalantly.

"What are you doing right now?"

"Well, I've got to put the paper to bed." I noticed that Seans attention had begun to waver as he scanned our surroundings, "Maybe afterwards we could do something."

Now Sean wasn't even pretending to pay attention to Chloe, instead choosing to stare at the girl I Chloe had mentioned he dumped. "Jenna, Jenna, wait up."

"Wow, that was short, I didn't even get the chance to insult him or anything," I said in annoyance.

"I know, I was playing barely hard to get. What's the problem?" We all shifted uncomfortably, and I was reminded that although I didn't like Sean, that didn't mean Chloe didn't want him to like her. "Clark Kent gets a date with Lana Lang and suddenly there's no luck for the rest of us."

I was suddenly almost irrationally upset at Sean Kelvin, and without even my conscious thought my brain started to form scenarios in which I would not be linked back to his untimely demise.

0000

That night I studiously avoided an unnaturally chipper Clark, who's ever-present smile was incredibly disconcerting. I avoided him even when he and Chloe tried to find an outfit for him to wear on his date, determined not to get dragged in. I was trying to work on plans for the car I wanted to build but my annoying easy to distract chemical brain kept focusing on how Lex never got me any presents. Then I began to wonder what he would give me, with Clark it was pretty straight forward, a date with Lana, but if I could have anything in the world what would it be?

My right hand unconsciously twitched drawing my attention and then suddenly I had it.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and I knew I couldn't do it with my current resources.

I grabbed my jacket and hopped on my bike, on a mission to the Luthor Castle.

0000

The guard at the gate let me through without a fuss, and once again I enjoyed the anytime pass I was given by Lex.

When I reached the room the guard said he'd probably be I was able to hear his voice from inside.

"Your father put your family's future ahead of his own pride. Are you willing to do that?"

I opened the doors without knocking, my excitement overruling my manners, to see Lex facing my parents.

"Hey Lex, how's it going?" I said cherrily to him, before turning to my parents, "What are you guys doing in the Luthor mansion?"

Mom sighed, "We told you, Clara, that we were going over here to have a business discussion."

I ran back through my memory and came back blank, "Nope, must not have been listening." At mom's annoyed expression at my cheek I immediately backpedaled, "In my defense I have been trying to block out everything ever since Clark came home acting like someone slipped him magic mushrooms over his new date."

Lex smiled, "I take it he told you?"

I scowled at him, successfully wiping the smirk off his off his face, "Getting him to talk isn't that hard, 1t's the getting him to shut up that's the problem."

And then the bastard laughed.

I huffed, "Regardless, you have now gotten Clark two very nice presents and me none."

"That's because I still haven't figured out what to give you!" Lex objected lightheartedly.

"But I have thought of a solution for that, I am working on a new project, but I won't be able to get all the supplies I need on my own," I finished grandly, handing him the list.

"Clara! Did you honestly come over here to demand things from Mr. Luthor?" asked mom, furious.

I sighed, "I'm not demanding, I'm suggesting, and if Lex gave me this I would count it equal to the date he set up tonight, and the next three he will undoubtedly set up in the future after Clark screws it up. Besides, none of these things are particularly expensive, but I wouldn't be able to find them at the salvage yard, and as the project is just for fun and not for profit I wouldn't feel comfortable asking for the money from you two with our current monetary issues." Dad's furious look silenced me from continuing on that vein, so I just turned back to Lex.

Lex looked at the list, "I could certainly get you these, but weren't you the one that said friendships have to be equal?"

"Yup, and that's why I brought this," I said, pulling out a flash drive and holding it up dramatically, "It contains an antivirus program I created, and as soon as I get it installed the pentagon will be less secure than your laptop."

I looked at him expectantly until he hesitantly handed me his laptop.

I place my headphones over my ears and got to work, effectively zoning out the room as Lex started pitching his plan to dad again.

0000

Just when I had finished integrating the antivirus program in Lex's computer there were some more guests in the mansion.

A security guard opened the door to reveal Whitney holding up a limping Lana.

"Lana," said mom.

"She's okay," said Whitney.

"Where's Clark?"

0000

"This kid sounds dangerous. I've got the gate down and the alarm on," said Lex, bringing Whitney, Lana, and I hot chocolate, "You're staying here until they find Sean. Sorry about your date." Lex said to Lana.

"Chloe's safe," I said, putting down my phone, "Sean did come by, but Clark got there in time to keep her from turning into his next victim. Any news on where Clark went after that?" I asked dad.

Dad sighed, setting down the phone, "No. I'm still getting the answering machine at home."

I walked over to them, wrapping my hands around my cocoa, using it's warmth for comfort.

"Remind me I don't have to worry," whispered mom worriedly.

"He's Clark, Martha."

I sighed, going over to the pool table to where Lex was just about to start a game, "Can I play?"

He smiled at me comfortingly, "Sure, care to tell me about that program you installed on my computer?"

I set down my cup and grabbed a pool que, "Probably overkill, definitely able to handle anything it gets thrown at it for the next 5 years, well, at least from this planet. But at least you won't have to worry about your competitors hacking into your private files." I smiled at him, thankful when he laughed, taking my offhanded comment as a joke. "You'll have to keep the flash drive plugged into your laptop, if I were to really download it the sheer size of the program would slow down your computer. Good news is that I used one of my own patent pending flash drives, so it has enough space to use as storage for secure files. Bad news is that you'll never want to go back to Mac again."

I went down to line up my shot only to stop when the lights flickered in the room, until they flicked out.

"Oh, it just keeps getting better."

As Lex went out for flashlights, my parents started lighting candles, and I was absurdly grateful for their light as I huddled next to the fire.

Lex eventually came back with two flashlights and handed them to my parents, "Here you go."

"Thanks. I'll go check the front gate," dad said, walking off.

"It should be secure," Lex called after him.

"I'll check the generator. Where is it?" said mom, stepping up.

"On the side of the house, but I can get it." Lex said, but mom paid him no heed as she walked off.

I chuckled, drawing Lex's attention, "Yeah, you are never going to be able to get them to sit still and do nothing when there could be trouble."

Lex sighed, sitting next to me, "So I'm supposed to do nothing?"

I smiled, happy for the pleasant glow all around us, "No, you can sit right here and provide moral support."

"For who?"

I leaned closer to him and whispered, "Me."

Lex raised his eyebrow, "Why would you need moral support?"

I grimaced, "I'm- just a little mind you—scared of the dark."

Lex chuckled, "Right," but his mirth stopped when I didn't smile back, "You're serious?"

I looked down, slightly ashamed, "I still sleep with a night light."

Lex collected himself quickly when it became clear I was not joking, "I won't tell a soul."

"You are a gentlemen, truly."

0000

About an hour later, Clark came in, apparently he had thrown Sean into the lake which he had then frozen with him inside.

So the villain caped, the date ruined, and I had Lex ordering my supply list as soon as his internet got back online.

I said goodbye to Lex, ecstatic that the power was back on, and we went home.

I don't think Clark and Chloe are the only one who had a crappy night, because the very next day dad went to the bank and took out another loan, despite my protests.

I guess it would take more than a sit down than for dad to trust a Luthor again.