Magnetic Part 5

At the Metropolis Power Plant…

"What happened?" Clark asked. The sound of sirens began to fill the air.

"Clark, we need to get you to a doctor right now." Alicia reached forward to grab his arm.

He leapt backwards, out of her reach. "No, Alicia, I'm fine."

"Clark, listen to me. Your adrenaline is going to wear off very soon and you will be in a lot of pain." Alicia chased after him, trying to grab a hold of his shoulder or hand. Meanwhile, Clark dodged her attempts.

"No, look, I'm fine." Seeing no way around it, Clark lifted his shirt up. "See?"

Alicia stared at the unmarked flesh. In disbelief, she reached her hand forward and touched Clark's smooth chest. Clark noticed his shirt was torn beyond repair; no wonder Alicia had been worried about him.

Clark coughed. He felt himself blush. "Sorry," he muttered, after realizing he just flashed his abs.

"No. Don't be." Alicia was blushing herself, ever so slightly. She quickly removed her hand and Clark pulled his shirt down.

"Maybe you should take Seth to the hospital?"

"Yeah. Right. I'll just…drop you off at school first?"

Clark nodded to show he agreed. Alicia put her hand on Clark. He felt the tingle, saw a blur, and was once again surrounded by the familiar setting of the now ransacked Torch office.

"Woah."

Clark stared at Alicia. "That's…how…I mean, what did you just do?"

"There's a complicated explanation of quantum physics, but basically, I can…teleport myself."

Alicia was biting her lip. She looked scared. Clark knew only too well how it felt to share your abilities with someone.

"That's incredible," was all he managed to get out.

She smiled and seemed to relax. "Well, I should get going…I mean, get Seth to the hospital. You should change."

"I'll do that." Clark said.

He stared as Alicia disappeared in a cloud of green mist.

At the Sullivan house…

"Chloe, thanks again for Lana-sitting all day."

"What are friends for?"

Chloe and Lana sat on the couch with bowls of ice cream. In contrast to their polished nails and perfectly applied makeup, they wore sweatpants and old t-shirts. For a reason Chloe would have to find out tomorrow, Lana's sudden infatuation with Seth ended abruptly. Clark had sent a small message explaining Seth had been admitted to the hospital and they would talk more tomorrow. Chloe asked him to attend the dance for a Torch article and Clark agreed.

Meanwhile, Chloe filled Lana in on how Seth had been manipulating her, and, this time, Lana believed her.

"Clark tried to warn me." Lana stared into her melting bowl of ice cream. "I just didn't want to listen. A part of me enjoyed thinking he was jealous."

"You can't really blame yourself for that. Seth was manipulating you."

"Still, I probably owe him an apology."

"But not tonight. Tonight is ice cream and a Keanu DVD-athon."

"Agreed. What do you think my chances are of getting that dress returned?" Lana motioned upstairs to the discarded item that lay on her bed. The dress Lana had finally chosen had been a red, low-cut number that ended one inch above her knees.

"Hmmm…no tag and the Homecoming weekend…I think you're out of luck." Chloe couldn't help but smile at Lana's groan. "If you don't mind me asking, what did it feel like?"

"It might sound weird, but freeing. My life was simple; it was all about Seth and what I could do to please him. And it made me realize something. I've always been known by who I date. First it was Whitney. Then, it was like the school was waiting for who I would pick. Until…"

"You picked Clark."

"And you know how long that lasted. But I don't want to be known for who I date. I want to be known for who I am, if that makes any sense."

"You're talking to an amazing journalist who happens to be single. Of course, it makes sense. But what exactly are you saying?"

"I think I want to take a break from dating. To just focus on me and what I want."

"Sounds good. But I got to ask. Lana, did Seth make you…do anything, like…"

"No," Lana stared down again. "He didn't get around to doing that. But he could have. Chloe, you and I have been attacked several times by these people."

"Ah, yes. Justin Gaines and Sean Calvin. One tried to psychically impale me with farm implements and the other one just wanted me for my body heat. Thanks for the memories. But, luckily for the both of us, we've come through with the help of a certain farm boy."

"Clark won't always be there. Sometime our luck will run out," Lana insisted. "Seth was small minded. But what happens when these meteor freaks start thinking bigger? Chloe, who will be there to save us?"

At the Homecoming Dance…

Clark used his superspeed to run home and change into his best suit. He wanted to check on Lana, but from Chloe's message she needed some space right now. The Torch office was still a mess; something he would have to clean after he got his Homecoming story.

Clark stayed on the sidelines of the gym, watching the rest of Smallville High dance poorly to the current radio hits. Pete was officially with Erica Foxx and he was all smiles on the dance floor.

"Hi again." Alicia was suddenly at his side.

"Hi." Clark smiled. "How'd it go with dropping Seth off?"

"I didn't really stay to get questioned, but I circled back and found out he's in a coma."

"Oh." It was moments like this when Clark was torn. Seth had done something wrong and hurt his friend, but did he really deserve that? "Well, thanks for all your help back there. We made a pretty good team."

"Yeah, we did."

"How'd you know what to do? And what did you do?"

"Grabbed a spark plug. The spark on the magnetized metal caused an electric current that…you know, I bet this is boring you. Let's just say I'm a science geek."

Clark took a long look at Alicia. She was dressed simply compared to the other girls in the gym. Her hair hung loose, and she wore an un-sequined, blue dress that rested at her knees. Alicia held that simple beauty he often admired in Lana. Tonight, Alicia looked stunning.

"You don't look like one," Clark confessed.

Alicia blushed. "Thank you. Want to dance? I'm not sure exactly what was going on, but I'm thinking a hero should get a dance for his trouble."

"Oh, I'm not a hero." Clark shook his head. "And I can't dance."

Alicia laughed. "Come on. You can't stay on the sidelines your entire life." She held out her hand. "Besides, it's the 'Cha Cha Slide'. The song literally tells you what to do."

Clark was welcomed on the dance floor by Pete. He found himself smiling as he followed the lyric's instructions. The next song was Justin Timberlake's "Rock your Body". A few of the jocks tried to do the worm. Clark found himself laughing as he was among the crowd. In that moment, it felt like he belonged.

The song changed to Elton John's "Are you Ready for Love". It was one of those songs that felt weird to slow dance to, but it wasn't upbeat enough for people to "rock out" to. Most of the dancers decided to slow dance with their partners. Pete wasted no time in pulling his date close. Clark wanted to make his retreat, but Alicia took hold of his hand, keeping him on the dance floor.

I'll write a symphony just for you and me
If you let me love you

Alicia moved Clark's arm so he was holding her waist. She encircled her arms around his neck, and they were staring into each other's eyes.

I'll paint a masterpiece just for you to see
If you let me love you, let me love you

Clark cleared his throat as they swayed to the song. "So, how long have you been able to do that?" His questions were covered by the loud music. There was no danger in them being overheard.

"As far back as I can remember. I always thought I was the only one. But now…I just can't believe that you're like me. I mean, not exactly like me, but…like me. You know?"

"Yeah." Clark found himself nodding. "I do."

You'll always be the one for me
Say the word, I'll be there
Lovin' you forever
Don't let me go, just say it's so

For a moment, Clark forgot everything; everyone and the entire world around him. All he could focus on was the beautiful girl he was holding in front of him.

Are you ready, are you ready for love?

At Smallville Medical…

Dr. Scanlan rested back in his chair with a cup of lukewarm coffee. The night shift tonight was quiet, besides the unconscious teenager that had been brought in several hours ago. Seth Nelson's condition had been stabilized; he was currently in a coma and resting in a room. When he would wake up was uncertain. The parents had been notified and informed of their son's current situation. That was one of the hardest parts of this job.

But right now, the ER was quiet. There were empty beds and an empty waiting room, save for the man with a cough filling out his form.

A blaring sound interrupted Scanlan's break, and he rushed to the room that indicated a patient had flatlined. It was none other than Seth's.

In one look, Dr. Scanlan knew there would be no reviving Seth. The boy had been shot through the head; the wound oozing blood from his forehead. Resting beside the body on the bed was a meteor rock. On it was painted a solitary word in white.

FREAK