Author: Phoenixnz
Title: The Outsider
Main characters: Clark, Lex, Bruce, Callie (OC)
Rating: PG (at most)
Genre: angst
Spoilers: Season Four
Summary: A new person comes to town and quickly sets about matchmaking our two favourite boys.
a/n: I initially had my doubts about putting the story in this forum, because it is written in an entirely different way than I usually do. But the main pairing in this is Clark and Lex, even if the p.o.v is not theirs. I hope you'll understand what I mean.
BTW - I make no apologies for making the character from my own part of the world.
August 2004
Dear Diary
Well, I’m all moved in to the Potter place. At least that’s what the realtor called it when they showed it to me. After I unpacked some of my stuff, I took a walk over to my nearest neighbour. The Kent Farm. It seems so quiet over there. I heard the couple who own the farm have been through some pretty bad times recently. He’s still in the hospital and Mrs Kent spends all her time over there. They have a teenage son. Forgot his name. But he apparently hasn’t been seen since spring.
I took a drive into town just to have a look around. There apparently used to be a really good coffee shop here, but it’s all boarded up. It’s supposed to be owned by the same guy who owns the big fertiliser plant on the other side of town. Somebody Luthor. Anyway, his father, Lionel, is up on murder charges. Apparently it’s a huge scandal in town. From what I hear, the son, god, I still can’t think of his name, is practically the town pariah, despite the fact that he employs a lot of people.
I heard he was sick – poisoned or something. Someone was gossiping about it. They reckoned it was something to do with Lionel. Why am I not surprised there?
I get odd looks when I’m in town. I dropped by the hardware store the other day, getting some paint to do the walls of the house. They looked at me so strangely, as if I was from another planet. Geez, it’s not like I am, you know? Just because I grew up on the other side of the world!
God, I miss good old Enzed. Life was simpler there, not so rushed. You’d think a town like Smallville would be just the same. Just as laidback. But it isn’t. They’re a pretty conservative bunch here. Don’t take kindly to strangers. Little do they know.
I really must get on to that research. I have to find out who my birth mother is. All I know is that she lived here. It says on my birth certificate that I was born at Smallville Medical Center. But the records are pretty much sealed. Well, this was back in the seventies.
I went and saw the doctor who delivered me. He was in a retirement home. I hate those places. It’s not because they’re full of old people, but why do they all have to look so miserable?
Anyway, I managed to get my birth records, even if the mother’s name was blacked out. And this doctor’s name was on it. But he wasn’t very forthcoming.
“Don’t know what to tell you there darlin’,” he said.
I really hate it when people call me that. Especially strangers. It’s almost as bad as being called dearie. I’m not a corner store, I want to say to them. That’s what they’re called back home. Dairies. Stupid people.
“Please,” I begged him. “I just need to know who my mother is. Can’t you help me out?”
“Your momma didn’t want nothing to do with it. It’s not cause she didn’t want you.”
Right, I thought. Generally when people give their kids up for adoption that’s precisely the reason why they do it.
“She was real young when she had you. Seventeen. Poor kid.”
Poor kid? What about me? Didn’t I have the right to know at least something about my biological parents. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I loved my parents. To me, they were real parents. It didn’t matter that they didn’t actually make me. But there are just things you need to know. Things that they can’t give you.
The old man seemed to drift away at that point and I couldn’t get anymore out of him.
I miss my parents. It’s been almost a year since they died. I wish there had been something I could have done to prevent that horrible, tragic accident. But I know they wouldn’t want me to wallow. They always wanted me to look forward to the future. And thanks to them, I was able to come back here. To start over in the country where I was born. And it’s not like they left me with nothing. I’m quite comfortable, thank you very much.
***
Well, diary, it’s been a month since I last wrote. Things have really changed. My business has really got off the ground and there are people in Smallville coming to me for advice on their own businesses. Which is great. I’m finally able to put my masters in business to good use. I’d built up a steady clientele back home, but of course, after Mom and Dad died, I just lost heart. Plus with everything else that was going on in my life, I just couldn’t find the motivation.
This move has been just what I needed. Of course, there are a few farmers here who kind of resent the idea of someone with a business degree telling them how to run their farms. Little do they know that my parents both came from farming backgrounds, since they both actually came from Smallville themselves. I grew up around a farming community so I do know a little bit about it (okay, more than a little bit).
Ooh, I must tell you this, diary. I met the Kents the other night. Well, first I met Martha Kent. She came over to the house. Knocked on the door. So of course, I opened it. For a woman in her forties she looked amazing!
“Um, hi?” I said.
“Hello. I’m Martha Kent. Your neighbour.”
“Oh!” I said, raising my eyebrows. “I meant to drop by and visit. I heard your husband was in the hospital. But everything’s okay now?”
Martha smiled. “Yes. Jonathan is doing well.”
“Well, that’s good to hear.” I fell silent. I’ve always been the shy type. Which is funny, considering I run a business consultancy. You can’t be shy with that sort of thing, but I guess it’s a different story when it’s work.
“Anyway, we wondered if you would like to come over and have dinner with us sometime?” Martha suggested warmly. I felt a huge grin grow on my face.
“That would be lovely! I’d like that very much.”
So, in the end, we decided we’d meet on Friday. That was last week. And oh god, did I ever make a fool of myself! Because I met their son, and wow, is he big. I mean, tall, and sooo good-looking. I swear if I was ten years younger!
“How’s the weather up there?” I joked when I entered the kitchen and bumped into Clark. He just looked at me oddly and I realised it’s a joke that seems to have been completely lost on him. But he is almost a foot taller than me. I mean, I’m kind of average height. Five six. Clark’s got at least nine inches on me. And isn’t it funny how I still think in terms of feet and inches when back home it’s all about metrics?
I made a pavlova to take to dinner. It’s a sweet treat that is sort of native to my part of the world. Former part of the world. I’m an American. I have to remember that.
“What’s this?” Clark asked when I presented it.
“It’s called Pavlova. Don’t ask me why. I think it was named after some ballerina. Anyway, it’s made with egg whites and sugar and a whole bunch of other stuff, and it’s really quite delicious. I figured since I was invited for dinner, I shouldn’t come empty-handed.”
Martha beamed at me. “Thank you. That’s so sweet of you.”
Dinner was great. Conversation quickly turned to local events and I learned a lot about Smallville. Of course, Jonathan had lived there all his life. So had his parents before him. Clark kept giving me these odd looks.
“You sort of remind me of someone,” he said.
I looked at him. “Oh really? Who?”
“Uh, nothing ...” He shrugged. “I just mean you look kind of familiar.”
I swear dear Diary, there was something odd about that boy. The way he kept looking at me, like he was sizing me up.
But as soon as the subject fell on the Luthors there was an eerie silence. Almost as if the subject was taboo. Of course, everyone in town knew by now that Lionel Luthor was convicted of murder. It was surprising, really, how quickly the trial was over. Two weeks. And Lex, that’s his name, is being touted as the saviour of Luthorcorp. Stocks went down, of course, after the scandal hit. But Lex has brought their value back up again.
It will be interesting to meet him. He certainly sounds like quite a character. And word has it that he is reopening the coffee shop. The Talon, I think it’s called. Good. I need a decent coffee. Instant’s okay, but I really need a proper caffeine fix.
Title: The Outsider
Main characters: Clark, Lex, Bruce, Callie (OC)
Rating: PG (at most)
Genre: angst
Spoilers: Season Four
Summary: A new person comes to town and quickly sets about matchmaking our two favourite boys.
a/n: I initially had my doubts about putting the story in this forum, because it is written in an entirely different way than I usually do. But the main pairing in this is Clark and Lex, even if the p.o.v is not theirs. I hope you'll understand what I mean.
BTW - I make no apologies for making the character from my own part of the world.
August 2004
Dear Diary
Well, I’m all moved in to the Potter place. At least that’s what the realtor called it when they showed it to me. After I unpacked some of my stuff, I took a walk over to my nearest neighbour. The Kent Farm. It seems so quiet over there. I heard the couple who own the farm have been through some pretty bad times recently. He’s still in the hospital and Mrs Kent spends all her time over there. They have a teenage son. Forgot his name. But he apparently hasn’t been seen since spring.
I took a drive into town just to have a look around. There apparently used to be a really good coffee shop here, but it’s all boarded up. It’s supposed to be owned by the same guy who owns the big fertiliser plant on the other side of town. Somebody Luthor. Anyway, his father, Lionel, is up on murder charges. Apparently it’s a huge scandal in town. From what I hear, the son, god, I still can’t think of his name, is practically the town pariah, despite the fact that he employs a lot of people.
I heard he was sick – poisoned or something. Someone was gossiping about it. They reckoned it was something to do with Lionel. Why am I not surprised there?
I get odd looks when I’m in town. I dropped by the hardware store the other day, getting some paint to do the walls of the house. They looked at me so strangely, as if I was from another planet. Geez, it’s not like I am, you know? Just because I grew up on the other side of the world!
God, I miss good old Enzed. Life was simpler there, not so rushed. You’d think a town like Smallville would be just the same. Just as laidback. But it isn’t. They’re a pretty conservative bunch here. Don’t take kindly to strangers. Little do they know.
I really must get on to that research. I have to find out who my birth mother is. All I know is that she lived here. It says on my birth certificate that I was born at Smallville Medical Center. But the records are pretty much sealed. Well, this was back in the seventies.
I went and saw the doctor who delivered me. He was in a retirement home. I hate those places. It’s not because they’re full of old people, but why do they all have to look so miserable?
Anyway, I managed to get my birth records, even if the mother’s name was blacked out. And this doctor’s name was on it. But he wasn’t very forthcoming.
“Don’t know what to tell you there darlin’,” he said.
I really hate it when people call me that. Especially strangers. It’s almost as bad as being called dearie. I’m not a corner store, I want to say to them. That’s what they’re called back home. Dairies. Stupid people.
“Please,” I begged him. “I just need to know who my mother is. Can’t you help me out?”
“Your momma didn’t want nothing to do with it. It’s not cause she didn’t want you.”
Right, I thought. Generally when people give their kids up for adoption that’s precisely the reason why they do it.
“She was real young when she had you. Seventeen. Poor kid.”
Poor kid? What about me? Didn’t I have the right to know at least something about my biological parents. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I loved my parents. To me, they were real parents. It didn’t matter that they didn’t actually make me. But there are just things you need to know. Things that they can’t give you.
The old man seemed to drift away at that point and I couldn’t get anymore out of him.
I miss my parents. It’s been almost a year since they died. I wish there had been something I could have done to prevent that horrible, tragic accident. But I know they wouldn’t want me to wallow. They always wanted me to look forward to the future. And thanks to them, I was able to come back here. To start over in the country where I was born. And it’s not like they left me with nothing. I’m quite comfortable, thank you very much.
***
Well, diary, it’s been a month since I last wrote. Things have really changed. My business has really got off the ground and there are people in Smallville coming to me for advice on their own businesses. Which is great. I’m finally able to put my masters in business to good use. I’d built up a steady clientele back home, but of course, after Mom and Dad died, I just lost heart. Plus with everything else that was going on in my life, I just couldn’t find the motivation.
This move has been just what I needed. Of course, there are a few farmers here who kind of resent the idea of someone with a business degree telling them how to run their farms. Little do they know that my parents both came from farming backgrounds, since they both actually came from Smallville themselves. I grew up around a farming community so I do know a little bit about it (okay, more than a little bit).
Ooh, I must tell you this, diary. I met the Kents the other night. Well, first I met Martha Kent. She came over to the house. Knocked on the door. So of course, I opened it. For a woman in her forties she looked amazing!
“Um, hi?” I said.
“Hello. I’m Martha Kent. Your neighbour.”
“Oh!” I said, raising my eyebrows. “I meant to drop by and visit. I heard your husband was in the hospital. But everything’s okay now?”
Martha smiled. “Yes. Jonathan is doing well.”
“Well, that’s good to hear.” I fell silent. I’ve always been the shy type. Which is funny, considering I run a business consultancy. You can’t be shy with that sort of thing, but I guess it’s a different story when it’s work.
“Anyway, we wondered if you would like to come over and have dinner with us sometime?” Martha suggested warmly. I felt a huge grin grow on my face.
“That would be lovely! I’d like that very much.”
So, in the end, we decided we’d meet on Friday. That was last week. And oh god, did I ever make a fool of myself! Because I met their son, and wow, is he big. I mean, tall, and sooo good-looking. I swear if I was ten years younger!
“How’s the weather up there?” I joked when I entered the kitchen and bumped into Clark. He just looked at me oddly and I realised it’s a joke that seems to have been completely lost on him. But he is almost a foot taller than me. I mean, I’m kind of average height. Five six. Clark’s got at least nine inches on me. And isn’t it funny how I still think in terms of feet and inches when back home it’s all about metrics?
I made a pavlova to take to dinner. It’s a sweet treat that is sort of native to my part of the world. Former part of the world. I’m an American. I have to remember that.
“What’s this?” Clark asked when I presented it.
“It’s called Pavlova. Don’t ask me why. I think it was named after some ballerina. Anyway, it’s made with egg whites and sugar and a whole bunch of other stuff, and it’s really quite delicious. I figured since I was invited for dinner, I shouldn’t come empty-handed.”
Martha beamed at me. “Thank you. That’s so sweet of you.”
Dinner was great. Conversation quickly turned to local events and I learned a lot about Smallville. Of course, Jonathan had lived there all his life. So had his parents before him. Clark kept giving me these odd looks.
“You sort of remind me of someone,” he said.
I looked at him. “Oh really? Who?”
“Uh, nothing ...” He shrugged. “I just mean you look kind of familiar.”
I swear dear Diary, there was something odd about that boy. The way he kept looking at me, like he was sizing me up.
But as soon as the subject fell on the Luthors there was an eerie silence. Almost as if the subject was taboo. Of course, everyone in town knew by now that Lionel Luthor was convicted of murder. It was surprising, really, how quickly the trial was over. Two weeks. And Lex, that’s his name, is being touted as the saviour of Luthorcorp. Stocks went down, of course, after the scandal hit. But Lex has brought their value back up again.
It will be interesting to meet him. He certainly sounds like quite a character. And word has it that he is reopening the coffee shop. The Talon, I think it’s called. Good. I need a decent coffee. Instant’s okay, but I really need a proper caffeine fix.
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