Chapter 19: First Day Nerves*

Clark Kent walked through the bustling streets of Metropolis, gripping a cup of hot coffee he had just picked up from the cart outside the *Daily Planet* building. His glasses were perched low on his nose, and his briefcase was slung over his broad shoulders. Despite everything he had seen and done as Superman, this moment—walking into the most iconic newspaper in the world for a job interview—had him feeling unusually nervous.

You can handle this, Clark* he reminded himself. But as he entered the revolving doors and stepped into the grand lobby of the *Daily Planet, the buzz of the newsroom hit him full force. Phones ringing, reporters talking hurriedly, and keyboards clattering away at rapid speed—it was the heartbeat of a living, breathing institution. Clark was in awe, but at the same time, he felt slightly overwhelmed.

He made his way to the elevators, adjusting his glasses nervously as he glanced around. The closer he got to the editorial floor, the more his anxiety climbed. *What if Perry White doesn't think I'm good enough?*

The elevator dinged, and Clark stepped out, greeted immediately by the frenetic energy of the bullpen. People rushed by, papers stacked high in their arms, the smell of burned coffee mingling with the scent of fresh ink.

Clark stood at the edge of the bullpen, looking around, feeling just a little bit lost.

"Hey! You new here?" a voice called out, snapping him out of his daze. Clark turned to see a young man with a camera slung around his neck—Jimmy Olsen. He had a friendly grin on his face, his expression curious.

"Uh, yeah," Clark stammered, gripping his coffee a little tighter. "I'm looking for Perry White. I have an interview with him."

Jimmy's eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh, cool! You must be Clark, right?"

Clark nodded, a bit surprised that Jimmy already knew his name.

"Jimmy Olsen, photographer," Jimmy said, extending his hand. Clark shook it, giving a small, nervous smile.

"So, first time at the Planet, huh? It's a bit overwhelming at first, but trust me, you get used to it. Come on, I'll show you the way," Jimmy said as he motioned for Clark to follow him through the maze of desks.

As they weaved through the bustling newsroom, Jimmy peppered Clark with questions. "So, what brings you here? You looking to cover crime, politics, human interest stuff? You must have some pretty good experience under your belt."

Clark smiled, relaxing a little under Jimmy's friendly demeanor. "I've been a foreign correspondent for a while. Covered war zones, politics, and international issues."

Jimmy let out a low whistle. "Man, you're gonna fit right in here. Perry loves people with that kind of grit."

Clark chuckled softly, adjusting his glasses. "I hope so."

They reached Perry White's office, and Jimmy pointed to the door with a nameplate that read *Perry White - Editor in Chief*. "That's the big man's office. Just knock, and you're good to go."

Clark hesitated for just a second before raising his hand and giving the door a solid knock.

From inside, Perry's booming voice called out, "Who is it? I'm waiting on a candidate for an interview! Can it wait?"

Clark cleared his throat and stepped closer to the door. "Uh, it's Clark Kent. I'm here for the interview, Mr. White."

There was a brief pause, then the door swung open, and Perry White stood before him. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a gruff exterior and eyes that missed nothing. He gave Clark a firm handshake, sizing him up as he pulled him into the office.

"Come on in, son" Perry said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "Let's see what you've got. Have a seat."

Clark sat down, trying to calm the nervous energy running through him. Perry took his seat behind his desk, leaning back slightly as he glanced at Clark's resume.

"So, Kent, you've been around the block, I see. War correspondent, political reporting, some investigative work. Quite the resume." Perry looked up, studying Clark's face. "Tell me, what brought you to Metropolis? Why the *Daily Planet*?"

Clark adjusted his glasses. "I've been all over, Mr. White. I've seen a lot of the world, covered a lot of ground, but Metropolis… it's where I want to set roots. The Planet is the best in the business, and I want to be part of that. I want to learn from the best, work with the best, and grow as a journalist."

Perry nodded, seemingly pleased with the answer. "Good. And you're right about one thing—we are the best. But that means I need the best reporters. Can you handle the pressure? The deadlines? The grind?"

"Absolutely," Clark said confidently, but not arrogantly. "In my line of work, pressure's part of the job. I thrive under it."

Perry raised an eyebrow. "Alright, let's get into it. Show me what you've got."

For the next half-hour, Perry grilled Clark on his experience, pulling up articles Clark had written, asking him to explain his process. Whenever Perry mentioned a specific story, Clark would pull the relevant article from his portfolio, offering insight into how he handled each assignment, how he navigated dangerous situations, and what it took to bring the story home.

Clark spoke fluently, and with each passing minute, his nerves began to fade. He knew his work, and he could see that Perry was impressed.

By the end of the interview, Perry leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well, Kent, you've got quite the background. And you're lucky. Starting Monday, you'll be working with and learning from the best investigative reporter we've got."

Clark smiled, standing up and shaking Perry's hand. "Thank you, Mr. White. I'm really excited for the opportunity."

"Good. HR will give you the paperwork, and they'll take care of the background check. Be ready to start Monday," Perry said, handing Clark the necessary forms. "And Kent—don't make me regret this."

Clark laughed softly, nodding. "I won't, Mr. White."

With that, Clark left Perry's office, his heart racing with excitement. He had done it. He was officially going to be a reporter at the *Daily Planet*.

After he finished handling everything with HR, Clark pulled out his phone, his fingers hovering over the screen for a moment before he started typing a message.

Clark: Guess who's the newest reporter at the *Daily Planet*?

Lois: Congrats, Smallville! I knew you'd ace it. How'd it go?

Clark: It went great. Perry was tough, but I think I impressed him.

Lois: Of course you did.

Clark: I was thinking… you up for a PG-13 weeknight celebration? ;)

Lois: PG-13, huh? You sure you can keep it that tame?

Clark: I'll do my best.

Lois: Alright, I'm in. Where are we celebrating?

Clark: My place. I'll cook.

Lois: Oh, cooking too? Impressive. I'll be there. Just don't burn anything.

Clark: No promises. See you soon.

Lois smiled as she read the last message, her heart skipping a beat. She couldn't wait to see him again.

To be continued...*