Revised 08-07-25
THE NEW GIRL IN SMALLVILLE
by Christopher Leeson
Part 3
Claire had dressed and returned to school before anyone supposed that she had left the building. Trying not to look at the faces of her classmates, she entered the room and sat down at her desk. Determined not to act embarrassed, she went for a cafeteria lunch as usual. Spotting Lana sitting with friends, she joined them. Claire didn’t need company, but wanted some feedback about whether she had become the school’s laughingstock.
"Hey, Claire," Lana greeted her in a subdued tone. "I heard what happened. It must have been terrible."
Claire forced a smile. "I'm good, thanks," she replied.
“You must have gone home to dress,” said Lana.
“I did, but I came right back.”
Lana nodded. "That's the spirit. Embarrassing moments are all parts of high school life."
While they chatted, Claire noticed Pete watching from another table. She felt the welling of anger and loss. Because he had laughed at her, their friendship was over!
#
At the end of the school day, Claire noticed Pete Ross standing by the main exit. He was looking her way and seemingly waiting for her.
She didn’t want to talk to him, but was not such a coward that she would run away from a confrontation, either. She decided to try walking past him without looking his way.
"Claire, wait up!" Pete called out, scuffling up beside her.
Claire spun about, her eyes angry eyes flashing. "What do you want, Pete?" she snapped.
"What’s wrong? You sound angry. I just want to talk."
"I saw you laughing at me, just like all the others,” Clair accused.
“I didn’t laugh at you!”
“Don’t lie. I saw the smirk on your face!”
“I wasn’t laughing or smirking. I smiled to encourage you, to say that I was on your side!”
“Do you expect me to believe that?” Claire demanded.
Pete shook his head. “You should know me better than that!” He suddenly caught himself. Super Sister couldn’t know how much he knew?”
“I’m not sure I know you at all,” Claire said.
“Isn’t it just possible you misunderstood what my smile meant?”
"I don't know what to believe anymore, Pete," she declared. “I just want to stop thinking about that stupid incident."
“You can believe this,” Pete said. "I was your cousin’s best friend, and for his sake, I want you to have a good time in Smallville. I’d like to become your friend as much as I was his.
“I’ve got to go shop downtown,” she said, pulling away.
“Can I keep you company?”
“No!” Claire said sharply and left.
#
Less than half an hour later, Pete stood outside the Kent town home, his mind racing. When Claire lost her skirt, he had noticed something. What she was wearing were trunks that looked exactly like Super-Sister’s trunks in the country fair snapshots.
He had been 95% sure that Claire was Clark, but now he’d become more than 99% certain that she was also Super-Sister. To become 100% sure about everything, he decided to talk to the Kents while Claire was still away shopping.
This had been the Kents’ home since they had sold the farm and moved into town. But Jonathan had been too restless for genuine retirement. Instead, he had partnered with the old and increasingly infirm grocer, Abe McKinny. They were only joint managers for a few months, until McKinny’s health got worse and he retired. Jonathan had gradually bought out Abe’s share and continued with the store as sole owner. Clark helped him on weekends and after school.
Taking a deep breath, Pete strode up and knocked on the front door. Martha Kent answered the door wearing a warm smile.
"Pete, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you by?"
Pete returned the smile and answered casually, "Hi, Mrs. Kent. I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by. I just heard that Clark will be out of town for a while. Is Mr. Kent around?"
Martha nodded. "He's out back in the garden. You're welcome to join him."
Pete walked around the house to the backyard garden, where he found Jonathan Kent harvesting watermelons. Those melons being heavy, Pete offered to help load them into the wheelbarrow. “Much obliged,” said Mr. Kent.
As they worked together, Pete was gathering his thoughts. He wanted to find out if Jonathan would tell him anything believable about Clark’s disappearance.
"Mr. Kent," Pete began, "I was wondering why Clark went off so suddenly. Is he all right?"
Jonathan looked up thoughtfully. "Clark's with his uncle. Mike’s not as young as he used to be, and he needs help to do home repairs before winter. In return, he sent Claire here to fill in for Clark at the store."
“Could you give me the phone number where Clark is? I’d like to keep in touch.”
“That’s inconvenient,” said Jonathan Kent. Mike’s an eccentric guy, and he got so steamed when his phone bill went up a few years ago that he took his phone out. For the last few months, we’ve been communicating by postcard.”
This did not sound credible, but Pete said nothing.
"That's good to hear that Clark will be earning a little college money," he said lightly. "How does Claire like Smallville?” he asked.
“She seems to like it fine. But isn’t that a question you could be asking the young lady herself at school?”
“So far, we haven’t had a proper conversation together. I was hoping she and I could change that.”
“She’s up in her room. If you have time now, the two of you can have a friendly chat.”
Pete had not expected to encounter Claire at home. But it was hard to predict the movements of a girl who traveled at super speed.
“She might be tired after school.’
“She’s always full of energy,” said Mr. Kent. “Please push the wheelbarrow into the garage for me. Then we’ll call Claire downstairs.”
Pete pushed the heavy wheelbarrow into the garage and then followed Jonathan into the house. He had forebodings. Claire was already angry with him, and there was every chance that this meeting might not go well.
Claire, already seated on the living room couch, looked up in surprise. Pete offered a tentative smile and tried to gauge her reaction without seeming to do so.
"Claire," Jonathan began, "Pete stopped by to say hi. He says the two of you haven’t had the opportunity to get to know each other properly yet.
Claire's eyebrows raised, though her expression remained guarded. "Oh, really?”
“While you two talk,” said Jonathan. “I’ll go help Martha get supper on the table. You’re welcome to join us, Pete!”
“Thank you,” said Pete.” He waited until the old man was out of earshot before addressing Claire. He had to think quickly to explain he he had come here directly from school.
“Ahh, Claire, you left school so quickly that I wasn’t able to tell you why I wanted to speak to you. I’ve been building up courage the last couple of days to ask you to the Homecoming dance next Saturday night, as my date. Getting to know the kids when they are out having fun could be a good way to feel at home in Smallville."
I see, Claire replied without warmth. "That's... very kind of you, Pete. But I'm still not sure what to make of you."
Pete nodded with understanding. “No pressure, Claire. I just thought that the best way to take my measure is to spend some time together in an easy-going social function. You may not have noticed, but life in Smallville can be fun. If you change your mind about my escort, the offer stands."
Claire returned only a small, uncertain smile. "Thank you, Pete. I'll let you know if I change my mind by next Saturday." At that, she stood up and returned upstairs.
#
Pete, alone in the living room, stood where he was, his mind racing. Martha poked her head out of the kitchen. “Are you two done with your talk already?” she asked.
“I guess so. I invited her to the Homecoming dance, and she said she’d think about it.”
“That’s very good.” She smiled. “Listen, I’ll do my best to encourage the lovely girl to go with you. Jonathan has already invited you to supper. If you wait around, you two can resume your conversation.”
“That would be wonderful,” said Pete. Actually, it hadn’t been on his mind to ask Claire for a date.
Claire came downstairs to her mother’s call and looked dismayed to see Pete seated at the supper table. After his rejection, she hadn’t supposed that he’d be staying.
“We’ve had Pete over many a time,” said Pa Kent. “We’ve haven’t known him for years now.”
“Sure,” Claire replied, taking her usual place at the table, which was next to Pete in the guest’s chair. This wasn’t Pete’s usual guest spot at the kitchen table. She wondered if her parents had wanted it this way. If so, what did they think they were doing?
The four ate quietly, and Ma and Pa Kent, right after finishing and left the kitchen abruptly. That left Claire and Pete sitting.
"Claire," the boy began, holding his voice steady. "I understand that you're going through a lot right now—being away from home and friends and starting school in a new town. I respect that. But you haven’t smiled too much since you arrived, and I’d like to change that."
Claire’s eyes met Pete's. “Pete, I appreciate your offer," she replied, her tone measured. "But I just don’t have the right headspace for party going. I have a lot of heavy stuff to sort out."
“Is there anything I can help with?”
“I’m pretty sure you can’t. It’s personal stuff.”
"I get that, Claire,” he said, having expected her refusal. “I just want you to know that if you need another friend in this town, I’ll do all I can to make you feel welcome."
"Like I said, I'll think about it," she said finally.
Pete smiled. "That's all I ask, Claire. I’d like to get to know you better. If you have the same qualities as your cousin, you have to be a very nice person."
After Pete made his goodbyes, Claire returned to her room.
Sitting on her bed, her thoughts rolled through her mind like autumn leaves. She had only been a girl for a few days, and out of nowhere, a boy had already asked her to a dance. That was almost funny.
But her instinct her that there may be more to Pete’s behavior than he was admitting to. It was like she had suddenly lost her ability to “read him.”
Had Pete laughed at her, or had it only seemed like he had? Could she have misunderstood? She could see planets that were light years away, but had no power to look back into a Smallville classroom to see what happened a few hours ago.
As she sank her head into the pillow, she couldn't help but wonder whether it wasn’t a mistake to cut herself off from social interaction as long as she was a girl. There was no way to know how long her condition would last, or even if it would ever end. She felt reluctant to show her face anywhere, but though a Kryptonian would be safe anywhere she traveled, Claire Kent had no place to go where she would have friends and family.
The thought of going to a dance with a boy was so weird. What next? Would Pete next be asking for movie dates, lunches, picnics, or a trip out to Milford Lake for a swim?
She didn’t want to shove Pete away if she didn’t have to. Pete’s friendship was one of the few things she might salvage from her old life. She didn’t want to let it slip away. But dating would compel her to play “girl” with Pete, and she wasn’t sure that she could bring that off. Embarrassment was another thing that her Kryptonian physique could not ward off.
She reached for the phone, but then settled back against the pillow. Pete might not be home yet. Also, the dance was more than a week away. If she called him right away, it might make her seem flighty. Worse, she might sound too eager. For appearance’s sake, she would wait until the following night to accept his dance invitation.
Claire turned out the light and turned her face to the pillow. She wondered if natural sleep would come, or whether she would have to go into a meditative trance to escape the thoughts buzzing through her mind.
TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 4
