By Kal-El
Part 1
Disclaimer: Clark, Chloe, Lex, Lana, Pete, Whitney, Martha and Jonathan are property of DC Comics and the WB. 'Superman' and all related characters are property of DC Comics. I don't owe them.
Category: Clark/Chloe
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Takes place after 'X-Ray'
Cut to Clark's science class. Clark sits down as the class begins.
He sits down next to Chloe.
CHLOE: I swear, this teacher just bugs me, Clark.
CLARK: Oh? You don't say? What is he? Bug man? Shape-shifter?
Chloe rolls her eyes at him.
CHLOE: Funny, Kent. Verry funny.
Clark smiles, as the teacher walks in.
TEACHER: Good morning class. Now, tell me…what is the longest-lasting source of radiation available to us?
Whitney raises his hand.
TEACHER: Yes, Mr. Fordman?
WHITNEY: Plutonium?
TEACHER: Good guess…but wrong. Peter?
PETE: I don't know…uranium.
TEACHER: Incorrect.
Pete curses
TEACHER: Miss Sullivan?
Chloe points upwards.
LANA: Aliens?
The entire class laughs.
LANA: Sorry. I've just been watching Roswell way too much.
They laugh again.
TEACHER: All joking aside, Chloe is correct. Possibly the largest source of radiation around is the sun itself. It provides the entire planet with heat and warmth. It's the focal point for the entire solar system. A basically unlimited source of power, that scientists continue to try and tap into to this day. Think of photosynthesis. Imagine if human beings could receive nutrition the same way as plants do. By absorbing their energy and nutrition from basic sunlight.
He hands then all pieces of paper.
TEACHER: Here are instructions on how to construct a solar photocell. Your assignment for this month is to construct a device…any device…that is powered by solar radiation. As usual, you will all work with partners…
Out the window, the sun continues to blaze.
*****
Cut to after class. Clark heads over to Lana's locker with his books…but stops dead in his tracks.
She's standing there, talking to Whitney. They kiss…and Clark sighs in frustration.
Behind him, Chloe shows up.
CHLOE: You're pathetic, you know that?
CLARK: Sure, add insult to injury.
CHLOE: Ok. Sorry. But while the 'nice guy watching from afar eventually gets the girl' routine works in the movies, it doesn't cut it in real life that often.
Clark turns to face her.
CLARK: Anyone ever tell you you're a cynic, Miss Sullivan?
CHLOE: I'm not a cynic, I'm a realist. Why are you so into her anyway?
Clark sighs.
CLARK: She's sweet, she's smart, she's beautiful.
CHLOE: If you go for the 'damsel in distress' thing, I guess.
CLARK: She's perfect.
CHLOE: Perfect? Puh-lease. Sure, on the outside, she's got everything. But if there's anything I've learned about people, it's that they are always examples of duality.
They start walking down the hallway.
CLARK: Duality? As in…
CHLOE: As in every single person is really two people. The person they show to the world, and the person they are inside. Even you, Clark.
Clark smirks.
CLARK: Even you?
CHLOE: We all have our secrets, Clark. Don't you? I'll meet you at your house for the project.
*****
Cut to the Kent farm. Clark is on the couch, watching television
Just then, Jonathan walks in.
JONATHAN: Hey Clark? Whatcha watching?
Clark smirks
CLARK: Roswell.
Jonathan quickly sits down next to him.
JONATHAN: Did Valenti get a new job yet?
Clark turns to face him. A giant smirk appears on his face.
CLARK: You watch Roswell?
Jonathan sighs.
JONATHAN: It's your mother's favorite show. It's addictive.
Clark laughs.
CLARK: Don't look for any 'updates', dad. It's my tape of the older episodes. I'm thinking they might give me some insight on my…current condition.
JONATHAN: So now you're treating a sci-fi drama about aliens like an after school special.
Clark shuts off the tape.
CLARK: I don't know if you've realized this yet, pa, but…I'm an alien technically.
JONATHAN: It's not the same thing, Clark. Sure, you may have come from another planet, but you don't really act like it.
Clark gets up off the couch.
CLARK: That's not what I'm talking about dad. I can do all these amazing things…but I can't tell anyone about it. I mean, sure, the characters on that show keep where they're from a secret, but they get to share it with their friends.
JONATHAN: And one of those friends died because of it, remember?
Clark doesn't answer.
JONATHAN: Look, Clark. I'm not trying to scare you or anything. It's just that…because of what you are, you have to keep it a secret. Your mother and I accepted the responsibility of whatever might happen with you in our lives. But telling someone else will drag them into this too.
Clark sighs.
CLARK: Every once and awhile I look at my friends and I imagine how much they'd save time on waiting for a bus by me running them somewhere. Or showing up a street card scam by looking through the cards. Heck, when Greg, or Coach Walt, or Tina, or anyone like them threaten someone, I have to make sure no one sees me. What if one day I can't do it in secret…
JONATHAN: We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Clark…I'm your father. But I can only tell you what I think about this. I can't order you to keep this a secret. Now, if you feel you have to let someone else in on it, that decision is entirely up to you. But please don't do anything rash without thinking.
Clark smiles.
CLARK: I promise.
They hug.
Suddenly, Chloe comes in the door. Beads of sweat cover her forehead.
CHLOE: Well, leave it to me to interrupt a 'father knows best' moment.
CLARK: Hey Chloe.
She wipes off her forehead.
CHLOE: God, it's like a sauna out there.
Clark can't help but stare at her for a moment. It quickly passes, though.
CLARK: Ready to get to work, Chloe?
Chloe lifts up her bag for him to see.
CHLOE: Aren't I always?
*****
Cut to somewhere in Smallville, at a local bar.
Lex Luthor is at a pool table, playing pool with Pete Ross.
PETE: Lex, I don't think this is such a good idea. I'm sort of underage.
LEX: Relax, Ross. I started coming to bars when I was your age.
PETE: Ok, ok…don't get me wrong, I'm not above the thrill of going against the system. Buy not just ask Clark to come with you instead.
LEX: Simple. Clark would have given a stronger argument. Besides, if I'm going to fit in here, I'd better get involved in some sort of clique.
Pete laughs.
PETE: 'Clique'? Oh please…
LEX: Don't play dumb, Mr. Ross. You, Clark, and…and…that blonde girl. What's her name again?
PETE: Chloe?
Lex sinks another ball, and snaps his fingers.
LEX: Yeah, Chloe. You three, and to a lesser extension, Lana, makes up your own personal 'Scooby Gang' here in Smallville. With the absence of a 'Buffy' that is.
PETE: Having someone with super powers around would probably make things a lot more easier.
LEX: Anyway, I want in. I have a personal stake in this.
Pete looks confused.
PETE: 'Personal stake'?
LEX: I was in Smallville during the meteor shower. It cost me my hair, and I'm wondering exactly what else it might have done to me. Although…there's something familiar about your friend.
PETE: Chloe? What do you mean?
LEX: I don't know. It's almost if…I've seen her somewhere before. I can't put my finger on it, but…
He shoots again. The ball skips and flies off the table.
Suddenly, someone walks in. Lex looks at him, curiously.
LEX: Pete, who is that?
PETE: That's Chloe's dad. Why?
Lex examines him, with a look of familiarity.
BARKEEP: What'll it be Mr. Sullivan?
He turns his head ever slightly…and Lex's eyes go wide.
LEX: (whispering)Oh…my…god. It can't be.
PETE: What?
Lex turns back towards Pete.
LEX: Nothing.
*****
Cut back to the Kent farm. Chloe and Clark are out in the field putting together some sort of fan-like mechanical device.
CHLOE: Ok, most of the time, these solar cells can only absorb so much sunlight at a time. I just hope that this heat wave doesn't fry their circuits.
CLARK: Wouldn't more heat just mean more power.
CHLOE: The only way to get more power would be by making the cells bigger. They're only designed to have a limited intake. If there's too much sun, it overloads the machine. Making it go too fast, or eventually short circuit if the power circuit gets too full. Sort of like how if you eat too much when you're already full.
CLARK: Say no more, Chloe. I still have nightmares from that Monty Python sketch.
Chloe laughs.
CHLOE: Hand me that screwdriver over there, will you?
Clark reaches over and picks up a screwdriver. Then he turns around to hand it back to Chloe…
…and his jaw hangs open.
CHLOE: What's wrong, Clark? What gives?
He drops the screwdriver in shock.
From his point of view, every single piece of clothing that Chloe was wearing had miraculously disappeared.
Immediately, Clark covered his eyes.
CHLOE: Come on…what's wrong with your eyes?
CLARK: Sun got in my eyes. Sorry.
Chloe rolls her eyes.
CHLOE: (sarcastically)Awww…poor baby. Do you need to start wearing glasses or something, since your eyes are sooooo sensitive?
CLARK: Very funny.
Slowly, Clark removes his hand. Chloe's clothing is now back.
Clark sighs in relief.
CHLOE: What is with you today?
She picks up the screwdriver and goes back to work.
Clark, realizing what just happened, silently curses himself.
CLARK: (whispering)It's happening again.
CHLOE: When did you become such a wuss, farmboy?
CLARK: Oh, so I'm a wuss, huh? At least I don't cower under the kitchen table during a storm.
Chloe gives him a dirty look.
CHLOE: You wanna fight or something?
Clark laughs.
CLARK: Be serious. You couldn't take me.
CHLOE: Oh yeah? I bet I'm stronger than you.
CLARK: I really doubt that, Chloe.
Without another word, she tackles him.
They roll around in the field for a moment, each trying to get the upper hand. Eventually, Clark pins her down.
CHLOE: Ow. Ok, enough is enough.
Clark smirks.
CLARK: Give up?
CHLOE: This isn't funny. You're hurting me.
Then Clark notices her facial expression. She's in pain.
A worried expression crosses his face.
He lets her go, in total shock. Then he notices red marks on her wrists where he grabbed her.
Chloe gets up, and starts to rub her wrists. She looks at Clark, confused and slightly scared.
CHLOE: What did you do that for?
CLARK: I'm…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I…I guess I don't know my own strength.
Without another word, Clark walks back towards the house. Chloe stands there, perplexed.
Next: Why can't Clark control his powers? Is he getting stronger, or is it something else? Meanwhile, Lex Luthor digs into the Sullivan's background.