Metamorphosis Pt.1

Greg POV

I would show my mom. She couldn't control me. And she was wrong about Whitney, too. She was perfect for me, and I'd prove it to her. I just had to take my bugs somewhere safe and hide out for a while. I'd show her. "Don't worry, guys. I'll take you somewhere safe."

I took a turn a bit too sharp. One of the tanks knocked over and let loose a bunch of my bugs. I tried to slap at them. I lost control and crashed. The rest of the tanks spilled over. Then I blacked out.

Clara POV

I was talking to Luke. He was furious. "It's all your fault, Clara. Everything is your fault."

"Clara!" I jerked awake. I gasped as I saw I was looking over my bed from a foot and a half in the air. I fell with a soft thud. I blinked. "Clara! We're leaving for the farmer's market in 15 minutes and you still haven't done your chores!"

I shook my head, trying to clear it. "Alright, dad!" I groaned, rolling out of bed…literally. I pulled on a pair of black capris and a red scoop neck. I had to speed through my chores. Then we all piled into the car and headed into town. Chloe and Pete were hanging around. Me and Chloe had already made up from our "fight". I set up our 'Kent Produce' sign. I looked around to make sure nobody was watching before driving in a nail with my thumb.

I jumped when Chloe suddenly shouted. "All hail the homecoming King and Queen."

I turned to see Luke and Whitney approaching. Luke nodded at me. "Hey, I didn't see you at the dance last night."

I ducked my head, glancing up at Whitney. "Yeah. I was a little tied up."

Whitney rolled her eyes. My dad stepped forward. "Hey, congratulations on the game last night, Luke."

Luke grinned. "Thank you sir." Jonathan nodded. "Well, I'm gonna get the rest of my things out the truck."

Luke grinned. "I'll help."

Whitney POV

While Luke and Kent's dad started unloading, I took the opportunity to grab Clara's arm. I drug her a good distance away. "Hey, look. The other night? It was just a joke…and I need that necklace back." She frowned, jerking my arm out of her grasp. "I don't have it."

I rolled my eyes. "Look. Luke gave it to me, so…" She glared at me. "Then I'd suggest you go out to that cornfield and find it." She stalked away. She stood next to Luke and he laughed at something she said. I frowned, pursing my lips. I turned my attention to a butterfly mobile.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" I spun angrily, intending to smart off to whatever loser dared to speak to me. As I did, I saw Luke and Clara laughing. Envy boiled in me. I smiled sweetly. "Yeah… Greg isn't it? I didn't recognize you without your glasses…" I'll show Luke I'm not one to be taken for granted…

Clara POV

Pete interrupted my conversation with Luke. "Yo, man. I think bug boy is putting the moves on your girl."

I wanted to strangle him. When I finally was having a real conversation… Luke turned to look. Sure enough, Greg was talking to Whitney. She was smiling, and then she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Luke frowned. "I gotta go."

He walked over to them and I picked up him warning off Greg. Whitney turned on the charm. It was sick, how she had him wrapped around her finger. She had on this pouty face and I'm sure she was apologizing. She leaned up and kissed him deeply. Snotty, two faced, manipulative- "See something you want?"

I jumped as Lex suddenly appeared next to me. I frowned. "Yeah, but what I want isn't on the menu."

Lex raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't think that would stop you. So, you wanna tell me what happened last night?"

I rolled my eyes. "Just some stupid prank."

"You were tied up in the middle of a field. Even the Romans saved that for special occasions. You could have died."

"But I didn't. Lex, I appreciate your help, but I'm a big girl. I can handle Whitney myself." I lifted another box out of the truck.

"Whitney? That girl who was just teaching that guy French?" I slammed the box down. Dangit. Would I ever learn to shut up? "I just want to forget about it."

I was saved from further interrogation when my dad showed up. "Clara? What's the hold up?"

Lex nodded to my father politely, offering his hand. "Mr. Kent. It's good to see you again." My dad shook his hand hesitantly. "Lex." He looked at me. "Come on, we've got to finish up."

I nodded as my dad walked away. Lex smiled. "Hey, at least he gave me a hand shake this time."

I smiled. "We can throw a party later. I gotta go. See ya, Lex"

~Smallville 2.0~

Clara POV

Dear Diary… just kidding. Today was slightly more hectic than any other day. I mean, it's not every day I save a somebody from a certain death by motor vehicle. Oh, wait. I've done that at least twice in my life. Luckily, Whitney didn't remember much of anything from the crash, so my secret was safe for now.

My dad nodded to me. "You made us both very proud, Clara."

I frowned. "Dad. There's something else. This morning when I woke up I was… floating."

His eyebrow shot up. "Floating?"

"Just for a moment. I fell as soon as I was fully awake. But I was a good foot off the bed." I frowned. "What's happening to me?"

He sat down heavily. "I don't know. When you start defying the laws of gravity, we're in uncharted territory."

I sighed. "I just wish it would stop."

"Clara," he sighed. "I don't have the answers. I'm sorry I don't. All I know is you've been given gifts."

I frowned. "All I know is these things are happening to me. I'm scared." He draped his arm around my shoulder. "I know, Clara. I know."

~Smallville~

Lex POV

Why was I here? Clara had jokingly said I was desperate for friends. Well, she was half right. I wasn't used to having people that spoke to me without wanting something. Heck, when she didn't recognize who the Luthors were immediately, I nearly jumped for joy.

Besides, the entire car crash sparked my curiosity. More than that, Clara Kent sparked my curiosity. She was different.

Thus the reason I was skulking around a barn, waiting for some guy I didn't even know. Speak of the devil… "Nice horse. Gaits off though. Might want to check the shoes. Lex Luthor. I'm a friend of your aunt's."

"Sneaking up like that is a good way to get kicked." He frowned. I nodded. "You must be Luke. Nice to finally meet you."

He ignored my hand. "We've already met."

I frowned, trying to rack my memory. "I'm sorry. I'm usually good with names."

He smiled, but it wasn't a cheerful smile. It was more mocking. I recognized it easily. "You were a bit preoccupied at the time."

"I take it I didn't make a good first impression."

He grimaced, and started untacking the horse. His body language was completely ignoring the fact that I was there. "When I was ten, I was in Metropolis for a riding competition. Your father invited me and my aunt to stay over. He mentioned you had an indoor pool. When I went to find it, you and this chick were skinny dipping." He raised an eyebrow. "I think you were teaching her the breast stroke."

I tried not to laugh. "Wow…that was you, huh?" I looked away and pointed to the trophy case, hoping to change the topic. "Impressive."

He shrugged. "Tacky. But it's the least I can do for my aunt."

I gestured to a picture of Luke and a girl wearing the green necklace.

"Who's the girl?" As if I didn't already know. "Whitney Fordman. My girlfriend."

"The one Clara saved today?"

"Yeah. It's just lucky Clara was there." I begged to differ. It was a strange coincidence, but back to business…

"That's a pretty strange looking necklace."

He nodded. "It was from the day my parents died. I gave it to her last year."

"She have it now?"

Luke frowned. "Of course."

"Are you sure?" I nodded towards the picture. "You might want to ask her where she was before homecoming. It may surprise you." Luke frowned in concentration as I turned to leave. I hid a smile and slipped my hands into my pockets. This was too easy.

Clara POV

Last delivery of the day, thank goodness. I admit I left Lex for last on purpose. He seemed a bit…different. He was actually one of the first people I couldn't read like a book and it unnerved me. I climbed out of dad's truck and "hefted" the box of produce onto my hip. I don't think anybody can realize how degrading it is to have to pretend that something is heavy just because I'm a girl.

It was a bit cool, so I opted for my red hoodie. They let me in the front door and told me to wait for Lex in some room I hadn't seen before. Not surprising, I guess, considering how big this place is. My eye caught a large display of an ancient city. Fascinated, I set the box down to take a closer look.

I was so focused in my observations I didn't notice when Lex entered. "Save any lives on the way over?" I stood straight. Lex grinned. "Keep it up and you could make a career out of it."

I raised an eyebrow. "But what would I do with all those 'thank you' trucks?" I gestured to the box. "Just came to drop off your produce. Sorry my parents gave you a hard time." And by 'my parents' I meant my dad.

He shrugged. "Ah, if push came to shove I would have arm wrestled them for it." The mental image of Lex arm wrestling my dad made me smile…then I thought of him arm wrestling my mom…I started laughing. He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

I calmed down enough. "I now have a very vivid mental picture of you and my mom arm wrestling."

He shook his head. "You are a strange one."

"So they tell me…so what's up? You planning an invasion? Can I get in?"

Lex looked at the model. "My father gave me that when I was nine."

Well what do you say to that? "Cool gift."

"It wasn't a gift. It was a strategy tool." Yeah, and the guys in the model were 'action figures' not dolls… oh wait. He was still talking. My father equates business with war. Take the battle of Troy. It started because two men were in love with the same woman, kind of like you and that cheerleader. That's why she strung you up in that field, isn't it?"

"First, calling Luke Helen sends a whole new set of mental pictures I do not need. Secondly, if we're at war, I've already lost."

"One battle does not a war make. Besides, I don't think it's as hopeless as you think." I rolled my eyes. "She's gorgeous, head cheerleader, and she's pretty much willing to do anything he wants. I'm Clara Kent, the dorky nobody from journalism who gets strung up in cornfields for fun."

Lex shrugged. "If you hadn't pulled him out of that truck, your problems would be solved." I gave him a look. "I'm kidding of course. Don't worry, Clara. I've got your Trojan horse." He picked a box off the fireplace and opened it. Whitney's necklace. I stepped backwards, automatically feeling woozy. "Clara, you okay?"

"Yeah… sorry. Just really bad memories." Lex closed the box and I immediately felt better. My curiosity was peaked. "Cool box. What's it made of?"

"Lead. My mother bought it in a Kasban in Morocco. A guy told her it was made from the armor of St. George, the patron saint of boy scouts. She gave it to me before she died. I think she was trying to send me a message." I shook my head to clear out an image of Lex as a boy scout. He held the box out to me. I frowned. "I can't take that."

Lex shook his head. "What is it about Kents and gifts? It's yours. Hand it to Luke. Tell her what happened. Trust me, once he finds out, Whitney will be out of the picture.. That necklace gives you the power. All you've got to do is use. it." I cautiously took it. "I don't know…"

Lex shook his head. "And here I thought all teenage girls were supposed to be back stabbing and catty."

I glared. "Yeah, just like all Luthors are supposed to be bloodthirsty sycophants who don't care about anything but their bank account."

He held up his hand in mock surrender. "Touche. Sorry. I just don't understand your hesitation."

I paused, wondering if I could talk to him. Why not? He was probably the one person I could speak to without worrying about it getting back to anybody at school. "It's just I'm not so sure Luke is…right." I can't believe I was saying this. I'd been crushing on Luke since forever.

He raised an eyebrow. "And who is?"

I shrugged. "When I find out you'll be the first to know. In the meantime… who knows?" I sighed. "I don't know what I'm saying. I'll see how it works out with Luke. Thanks for your advice, Lex."

He nodded. "Anytime, Clara."

Greg POV

Whitney was late. I went to go find her. She seemed to be arguing with Luke. Well, good news for me. I approached her. "Hey. I missed you in the library. I've been waiting for like an hour."

She glanced over her shoulder. "Sorry I forgot. I just had something big come up."

She tried to brush past. I grabbed her arm. "You blowing me off for Luke?"

"Not now, Greg. I need to see Kent." Kent? She hated Clara. I should know. I'd followed her. My blood boiled. "You'd rather spend time with Clara then me?"

"Not now! I have to go." I glared as she left. Soon, Whitney. Nobody would come between us.

Clara POV

I went up to my loft, intending to read. Anything to get Luke off my mind. Imagine my surprise when none other than Luke Lang was waiting for me in my loft. He was checking out the telescope. "Luke?"

He turned to face me. "Your mom said I could wait up here. I hope that's ok? This is an amazing place."

My mom sent a boy up to my loft? Yeah right, but I'll let it slide for now. "My dad made it. Calls it my fortress of solitude."

He gestured to my telescope. "I didn't know you were into astronomy." I shrugged. "Hobby."

"Did you know you can see my house from here?" I swallowed. "No. Really?" I said as if I didn't spend last summer watching him cut grass shirtless. Hey, just because he's dating Whitney doesn't mean I can't enjoy the view. I cleared my throat. "Um. We've lived a mile apart forever and you've never come over before, so…"

"You want to know why I'm here." There is a brain behind the cute. "Not that I don't enjoy the company, but…"

"I found out what Whitney did. That was really uncool. I'm sorry."

I shrugged. "Not your fault." What else was I supposed to say? 'Hey, better keep that girlfriend of yours on a tighter leash'? Don't think that would turn out well.

"I know, but I can't stop thinking about it. What she did was awful and then you go and save her." He frowned. I shrugged. "Okay, but I still don't know why you're here. You aren't the one who should be apologizing."

"I didn't come to defend her. I came to see you." Well, that was unexpected. I swallowed. "Who told you?"

"Lex Luthor. Hinted something might be off with Whitney, so I checked it out. He's was just being good friend… you are just friends, right?"

I felt my eyebrow shoot up. Was Luke fishing? I shrugged. "We're friends. Lex is one of a kind." I wanted to change the topic. "So what are you going to do?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. What she did makes me wonder if she's been lying about other stuff." Oh, you mean like making out with your best friend when your back is turned? I resisted rolling my eyes. It was so cliché it was pathetic. I'd even bet money Whitney would go to him, weepy and begging forgiveness. Luke of course would accept and the cycle would begin all over.

He continued. "She even lost the necklace I gave her."

"Can't you replace it?"

He shook his head. "This is gonna sound crazy, but its from the meteor that killed my parents." I flinched. He mistook it. "Gruesome and gory, I know. But it was like the last link to my parents." He stepped forward to grab my hand. I stepped backwards, hoping he'd take the hint. He shrugged. "I'd better go. I'm glad you're ok, Clara."

I blinked as he left…what the heck was that about?