Whisper Part 2

At the Kent Farm….

Recap:

Clark is back home. His parents are concerned about what happened to their son and debate about telling his secret to a doctor. Clark reassured them that he is fine and that he may get better on his own. If not, Clark says that he needs to learn how to live with this disability and he should continue life as normal.

At Smallville High…

"Everyone's staring, aren't they?"

Pete couldn't deny that was exactly what the Smallville High population was doing as he guided Clark through the hallway by his arm. Thankfully the student body moved to make room for them.

"They're just digging your shades." Pete stopped when they reached Clark's locker.

"Clark, I didn't expect to see you back so soon." Van McNulty from two lockers down said. "It's Van, by the way."

"Yeah, I recognized your voice."

"I'm sorry about what that freak did to you."

"I don't think…" Clark tried to protest.

"Oh, come on, Kent." Van rolled his eyes. "Almost everyone who was in that store's been having hearing problems. It's weird your eyes got affected, but still. It's clearly that freak's fault."

"Yeah, well, me being back isn't that heroic."

"No, it is. Don't let those freaks hold you back. Good luck," Van said as he left for class.

"Clark!"

Pete began to open the locker as Alicia rushed over and hugged Clark. "I just heard. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Just visually impaired."

"Here." Alicia nudged Pete out of the way to grab Clark's Economics textbook. Pete tried not to take it personally; he could see Alicia was clearly concerned about his friend. Pete could relate to the desire of wanting to help. But was doing everything for Clark helpful? Or just patronizing?

"Thanks." Clark said as he took the book.

"Of course. I'm not leaving my boyfriend in his time of need."

Boyfriend? Pete was surprised but couldn't help but feel impressed that Clark finally made a move on someone. Some distance between him and Lana might do Clark some good, and Alicia seemed nice enough. Definitely interested enough. But the image in front of him brought only questions to Pete's mind.

Clark looked shocked by what Alicia said. And not in a happy way.

"Boyfriend?!" Clark's mouth hung open. Alicia moved forward, trapping him against the lockers. Clark, strong enough to lift tractors, was held in place by the petite blonde's fingertips pressed against his lower abdomen. "I think I missed this conversation."

"But," Alicia slid her hands up Clark's chest, "you kissed me."

You did?

"Did I?" Clark's voice squeaked.

Pete busied himself by closing the locker, wondering how he could help Clark out in this situation. The poor boy looked uncomfortable even though he was living out one of Pete's fantasies. Clark came up with his own distraction.

"Megan?" Clark said aloud.

Pete couldn't see Megan anywhere nearby. The hallway was almost deserted as students went inside their classrooms. Alicia's face twisted into a look of pure rage that sent a shiver down Pete's spine. It disappeared instantly when the bell rang and Clark yelped in pain, covering his ears.

"Clark?" Both Alicia and Pete asked in concern.

"This way." Clark pointed down the hallway.

Clark started walking in the direction he had pointed, one hand against the lockers. Alicia held on to Clark's other arm as he began leading them somewhere. Pete followed behind, not seeing anything out of the ordinary.

"Here." Clark stopped in front of the empty biology room. Now Pete was able to hear muffled voices coming from inside. Pete managed to open the door and the three walked inside to see Megan and Jake arguing in the dark.

"How could you not tell me about this!" Jake was shouting as he waved a piece of paper in the air.

"Jake, please." Megan was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Hey!" Pete shouted as Jake launched himself forward, grabbing Megan. She screamed as his hands reached out for her neck. Pete and Alicia ran interference between the two, pushing Megan backwards into Clark's arms.

"This doesn't concern you." Jake's face was red as he stared everyone down.

"I think you should go." Clark said, protectively holding Megan who was still crying.

Jake stormed out of the room. In his hast, the piece of paper he had been waving about fell to the floor. Pete picked it up, recognizing that it was a blown up photo, but couldn't make it out in the dark.

"Clark, I'm over here." Alicia said calmly, noticing Clark was holding Megan. Pete remembered the look of rage earlier and wondered if Alicia would do anything.

Without so much as a thank you, Megan ran out of the room. Alicia quickly filled the spot Megan was once in.

"Pete, something's happened. Take me home. Please."

"I'll do it," Alicia said.

"No. Um, I mean, could you stay and take Econ notes for me? Please?"

"All right," Alicia conceded. "I'll see you later, sweetie." She kissed Clark's cheek before heading into the hallway.

"Clark, man, I think you need to catch me up."

At the Kent barn….

"So, these sounds just hit you all at once?" Clark's dad asked as he led him up to the loft. His mother was right beside him.

"Yeah. It was like a giant stereo had been turned on," Clark explained as he was guided over to the couch.

Clark had recognized sounds of lockers closing, footsteps, and the opening of zippers on backpacks all at once, but he had been able to distinguish them. There was some relief when he was able to focus on the voices of Megan and Jake.

"Please, Jake," Megan had pleaded, and Clark had heard the opening of a door. "I don't want to be next."

"All this time, you've been lying. You've been hiding this. I want to see it," Jake demanded.

"Why does it matter? Why is it such a big deal? I'm still me."

"It does matter. Just show me and this is over."

"Don't touch me!"

The voices disappeared after the school bell rang, but Clark remembered there being only one classroom at the end of the lockers. Thankfully that was where Megan and Jake had been. Pete explained as he waited for his dad that Jake had almost attacked Megan. Pete couldn't wait around for Mr. Kent to arrive, so Clark would learn more when they could talk later.

"Hi." Clark heard Alicia's voice.

"Alicia?" Clark was surprised she was here so soon. The school day was not over.

"I'm right here." Clark felt the cushions sink as she sat next to him.

"Uh, Mom, Dad, this is Alicia. She recently moved back to Smallville."

"Nice to meet you," he heard his mom say.

Clark silently prayed Alicia wouldn't say he was her boyfriend again. He hadn't mentioned Alicia to his parents yet. Let alone the fact that she knew about some of his abilities. Thankfully, she didn't say anything past a pleasant greeting. His parents left, leaving them alone.

"Brought your notes. I can go over them later with you. Is there anything else I can do?"

"Thanks." Clark took the notes and managed to place them on the old trunk that acted as a coffee table. "Alicia…you can't go around saying I'm your boyfriend."

"Why?" She sounded confused.

"Because we're not dating. We haven't even gone on a date. I mean, I haven't even told Lana yet about…" The kiss.

For the life of him, Clark didn't know who started the kiss that night. It wasn't fair to say it had all been Alicia. Clark couldn't deny he wanted to kiss her. But had he been the one to lean in first? Anyway, before he could move forward with Alicia, Clark knew he needed to say something to Lana. He had been about to in the store before being interrupted by the robbery.

"You said we could go slow, and this isn't slow. It's the opposite of slow." Clark was thankful he couldn't see Alicia's face. It made this conversation easier. Clark didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he needed to be firm in expressing his.

Before Alicia could reply, Clark was distracted by Lex's voice.

"Assure the investors I'll be at the office within the hour," Lex was saying. There was the sound of a car door slamming.

"Lex?"

"It's just me, Clark. Are you…" Alicia grabbed Clark's arm in excitement, "are you gaining an ability?"

"No." Clark tried to brush it off, but if he had to guess that was exactly what was happening.

"You already have heightened strength and speed. Maybe your body is trying to adapt to its loss of sight by heightening your hearing."

Speed? He had been so stupid! It had felt so natural using his abilities when Alicia had helped him stack haybales in the barn. Clark had forgotten Alicia didn't know about that ability.

Why didn't she say anything? Is that why she kissed me the first time?

"Clark?" Lex's voice called from down the stairs.

"Up here, Lex," Clark called.

There was the familiar creak of the stairs and Clark could tell when Lex reached the top. "Who's your friend?"

"Lex, this is Alicia. Alicia, this is Lex Luthor."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." There was some silence as Clark assumed they shook hands.

"Well, I guess I better get back. Clark, I'll see you after school." Clark felt Alicia kiss his cheek again. No one spoke as the barn echoed with Alicia walking down the stairs. Lex didn't speak until the two of them were alone.

"Clark I don't know what to say."

"How about 'hello'?" Clark tried to joke.

"During my dad's illness I came in contact with the world's top ophthalmologists. Just say the word and one of them is available to you."

"Thanks, Lex. I appreciate that. But this isn't a problem to be solved, this is something I need to learn to live with. Anyway, let's not talk about my condition. Even when people don't mention it, I hear the concern in their voices."

"Yes. Let's talk about…Alicia. She seems concerned about you."

"A lot of people have been."

"That girl left grinning from ear to ear. You must have said something to make her really happy."

Clark didn't know what to say, so he decided to change the subject. "Have you gotten any other threats or…"

"Attempts on my life?" Lex finished. "No. I don't think I have much to worry about if he's been patrolling the streets of Smallville."

"Yeah," Clark mused thoughtfully. "Isn't it a little weird, what happened? If the shooter was stalking the robber, why wait to shoot him? And if he didn't, did he just happen to be passing by?"

"Clark, you're not going after this guy, are you?"

"What he's doing is wrong. He needs to be stopped."

"Well, if you're intent on waging war, I'll say: know thy enemy and know thyself. And, Clark, if there is anything I can do…"

"I'll let you know." Clark smiled. "I promise."