The sound of the bus brakes echoed through the air as students began to rise from their seats. Clark, Pete, and Chloe got off together, ready to face whatever the day had in store.
"Look who's over there," Pete commented, giving Clark a light nudge with his elbow.
Clark looked in the direction Pete pointed and saw Lana Lang stepping out of her car, a soft smile on her face as she walked toward the school entrance.
'Clark's teenage crush,' he thought, feeling a slight pang in his chest at the sight of Lana, but he quickly dismissed the thought, looking away. 'I'm not going to hold on to feelings that aren't mine.'
Clark averted his gaze from Lana.
"What about her?" Clark asked, looking at Pete with a neutral expression, without the usual excitement his friends expected.
Pete blinked a few times, clearly caught off guard by Clark's lack of reaction. He opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't find the right words.
"Er... nothing, man," he replied, somewhat confused, scratching the back of his neck as he tried to cover up the failure of his attempt at teasing.
"Let's go in," Clark said, nodding toward the school entrance, taking the lead as he started walking ahead.
Pete and Chloe exchanged curious glances, noticing that Clark hadn't lingered on the sight of Lana as usual. Chloe raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but decided not to comment, while Pete just shrugged, accepting that Clark was acting differently today. The two followed him, matching his pace.
"So, any plans for today besides surviving classes?" Chloe asked, trying to ease the tension with some light conversation as they walked into the school, their steps echoing through the crowded hallways.
"Not much," Clark replied casually, opening the school door and stepping inside, his words carrying a tone of indifference as he made his way toward his locker.
Pete and Chloe exchanged another glance, even more curious about what was going on with Clark that day, but they decided to drop the subject, at least for now.
"I'll catch up with you guys later," Chloe said, veering off into another hallway while Clark and Pete continued toward their lockers.
"I need to drop off some things before we head to class," Clark said as he approached his locker. Pete, who had the locker next to his, nodded, already fiddling with the lock on his own.
Clark opened his locker, pulling out his Chemistry book and quickly organizing its contents.
"Clark, I'm heading to History class. See you later," Pete said, closing his locker with a light bang, giving a quick wave to his friend before walking off down the busy hallway.
"Alright, see you later," Clark replied, watching Pete walk away before closing his own locker.
...
In another part of the school, Jeremy Creek stood alone, staring at a row of trophies inside a display case. The surrounding area was quiet, allowing Jeremy to get lost in his thoughts. His eyes were fixed on an old photo, highlighted among the trophies. In it, three football players smiled proudly, their uniforms gleaming with the reflection of the ambient light.
'I still remember… they thought they were untouchable,' Jeremy thought, the suppressed anger evident in his expression as he stared at the photo. He ran his fingers along the frame of the display case as if trying to capture something beyond the image.
After a few minutes, Jeremy stepped away from the display case, his somber demeanor reflecting the intensity of his emotions. He left the area silently, the echo of his footsteps fading in the empty halls.
...…
Clark was walking alone through the halls, on his way to Chemistry class, when his eyes were drawn to the school's trophy display, a place where past glories were proudly showcased. He stopped for a moment, observing the gleaming shelves that housed trophies, medals, and photos from old championships.
'Damn, I knew I was forgetting something,' Clark thought, feeling a slight annoyance as he realized what he had just ignored. Memories of the villain from the first episode of the series, Jeremy Creek, started to flow through his mind. He knew exactly what was going to happen, but at the same time, he felt it wasn't the right moment to get involved.
'I could do something, but maybe I shouldn't mess with what's already destined to happen,' he reflected as he stared at the display for a few more seconds.
After a brief moment, he made his decision. With a sigh, Clark turned his gaze away from the trophies and continued on his way to Chemistry class.
"Excuse me," Clark said as he opened the door to the Chemistry classroom, already a few minutes late. He entered discreetly, drawing a few curious glances from his classmates.
Clark made his way to the back of the room, choosing an empty seat by the window. He sat down carefully, placing his backpack beside the chair as the teacher continued her explanation on the board.
While pretending to pay attention in class, Clark got lost in thought. 'Should I save Lex?' he pondered, recalling the upcoming events that were about to unfold. 'Lex could be a good financer in the near future,' he concluded, knowing that saving Lex Luthor wouldn't just ensure the future billionaire's safety, but also open doors for possible opportunities.
Clark remembered the truck accident that was about to happen. It was the turning point where he was supposed to win his dream truck.
....
"Finally over," Clark muttered to himself as the bell rang, signaling the end of class. He stood up, packing his books into his backpack with quick movements while the other students left the room in a steady flow. His mind was focused on what was coming next.
Clark walked through the school halls, seemingly unhurried but with a destination in mind. As soon as he spotted the empty boys' restroom, he entered and locked the door behind him, ensuring no one would see him. 'Time to test the Martian Manhunter's powers,' he thought, a slight smile forming on his lips.
Clark took a deep breath, concentrating. In a matter of seconds, his body began to fade, becoming invisible. He felt the familiar sensation of intangibility taking over, as if his body was merging with the environment around him. "This is amazing," he murmured, almost unable to believe what he was doing. Still invisible, he passed through the bathroom walls as if they were made of air, exiting into the empty hallway on the other side.
Clark left the school, still invisible and intangible. He was heading toward Loeb Bridge, where Lex Luthor's fate was about to unfold. The path was clear, and Clark moved with supernatural agility, using his new powers to remain unseen by anyone.
Upon arriving at the bridge, Clark stopped, still invisible, and positioned himself strategically. He watched the deserted road, waiting for the right moment. The distant sound of a powerful engine approaching quickly caught his attention. He knew what was coming.
Vruuum!
Lex's Porsche appeared on the horizon, speeding down the road. In a matter of seconds, the car skidded on the curve of the bridge, the tires screeching against the asphalt. The rear of the vehicle lost control, sliding toward the edge of the bridge, which was worn and fragile.
Crack!
The structure of the bridge gave way under the impact of the Porsche, destroying part of the barrier. The car began to tilt dangerously toward the river below, almost in slow motion, but Clark was ready.
With a quick movement, he emerged from his invisible form and grabbed the Porsche firmly before it could fall into the river. The force of the impact made the bridge tremble beneath his feet, but Clark remained steady, his muscles flexing with the effort.
Clark opened the car door. Lex was unconscious, his head slumped to the side. Clark carefully pulled him out of the vehicle, avoiding causing further injuries.
Splash!
The sound of water being disturbed echoed across the bridge as the Porsche, without Lex's weight, slipped from Clark's hands and fell into the river, quickly disappearing into the deep waters. Clark briefly looked at the river, ensuring Lex was safe and that there was no more danger.
Clark laid Lex on the ground, still unconscious, and quickly checked his vital signs. His heart was beating, but the impact had been severe. "You're going to have a hell of a headache when you wake up, Baldy," Clark murmured, letting out a laugh.
Clark pulled his cell phone from his pocket and quickly dialed the local hospital's number. As the phone rang, he looked at Lex, still unconscious on the bridge. The river below flowed calmly, contrasting with the intensity of what had just happened.
"Smallville Hospital, how can I help you?" A receptionist's voice sounded on the other end of the line.
"I need an ambulance at Loeb Bridge. There's been an accident, and a man is injured," Clark responded.
"Understood. The ambulance is on its way. Can you tell me your name and the patient's condition?" the receptionist asked.
"My name is Clark Kent, but I don't know the driver," Clark replied over the phone. "He's unconscious, but he's breathing. Please come quickly."
"The ambulance is already on its way, Mr. Kent."
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