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Nocturne: Fredric Chopin
"Morning." Clark says and I stop in my tracks as he sits by the counter.
"Morning." I reply. "What's up?"
"Told my parents I'd go out and get breakfast. And I wanted to see you."
"You don't need to keep apologizing. Your allergic reaction was at fault, not you. It's water under the bridge."
"Bri, a woman in my section wants to know if we do anything gluten-free." Jackie walks over to me. "What do I tell her?"
"Tell her she's not allergic to gluten, she's just masking an eating disorder." I head out from the counter while carrying three plates. "Look alive, people. Club sandwich, burger medium, and a shrimp salad for the gamblin' man. Lunch for breakfast, that's new one. But I like it." I serve the family their food.
"I asked for salt and pepper." The son says and I take out the shakers from my apron.
"I wanted mayonnaise and mustard." The father inquires and I take out the packets from my hoodie pocket.
"You forgot my diet soda." The mother tells me and I take it out from the back pocket of my apron.
"Enjoy." I head back to the counter. "What do you want?"
"Surprise me." Clark nods. "Then we'll go to school. Unless you can't, you look busy."
"That's why I took a morning shift. I'm going to school." I pour him some water and head into the kitchen.
"Great. I'll wait until you're done and we can go together. You can put your bike in the trunk."
"If that's what it'll take for you to stop being nice to me, I'll happily oblige."
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Ah, the sentiment's nice. But the fact that you found this in a graveyard seems a little Amityville." Chloe looks down at the letter as we walk down the hallway.
"I think it's kind of romantic. I haven't had a love letter since third grade." Lana replies. "It seems like a lost art."
"Hey." Miles wraps his arm around my neck.
"Hey." I grin.
"Not true, not true. This morning in Trig, I intercepted a note from a wrestler to a cheerleader. It wasn't exactly poetic, but, um, he definitely got his point across." Chloe informs.
"Who do you think wrote it?" Pete joins us.
"I have no idea." Lana tells him as we enter the Torch.
"Hey, guys." Clark heads over. "So, what's going on?"
"Lana has a secret admirer." Chloe says.
"It's nothing." Lana shakes her head.
"What do you mean, nothing? What happened to romantic?" She sits with her on the couch.
"Just let the boy read it." Pete hands the letter to Clark.
"It's a little mushy." Clark reads it.
"I almost forgot. Clark Kent, the man of steel." Lana inquires and I share a quick look with Miles. "I'll see you guys later."
"Bye." Chloe waves.
"Bye." Pete mutters as Lana leaves.
"Agent Brady." She nudges me.
"If you ask me, it sounds more like a stalker than a secret admirer." I tell her. "Dammit, I should've taken a picture of the handwriting."
"Why?" Pete questions.
"So I can break into every teacher's classroom and go through the assignments of all the students to find a match."
"Okay, well, how do you know it's someone from school?" Chloe wonders.
"Kent said it was mushy. Nothing screams puppy love like a fifteen year old kid." I get up and exit the Torch.
"Brianna Brady, ladies and gentlemen." Miles calls out.
"Thank you." I mockingly bow before I turn and continue walking down the hallway. "Lana, hey." I catch up with her. "Don't let 'em get you down, the structure of it actually sounds really sweet."
"Thanks. That means a lot coming from you." Lana smiles.
"But you wanna hear some real poetry?"
"Sure." She chuckles.
"From the moment I met you...all those years ago...not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you. And now that I'm with you again...I'm in agony. The closer I get to you, the worse it gets. The thought of not being with you—I can't breathe. I'm haunted by the kiss that you should never have given me. My heart is beating, hoping that that kiss will not become a scar. You are in my very soul...tormenting me."
"Brianna...that was...that was beautiful." She whispers in disbelief.
"And I meant every word of it, my lovely." I twirl her around. "So did Anakin Skywalker." I send her a wink before walking off. I make my way to my locker and put in the combination. I open it and a piece of paper falls out. It hits the floor and I pick it up. I then unfold it, noticing that it's Devin's handwriting.
When does the hurting
start, Coach?
"When should I clear my very busy schedule?" Devin heads over.
"Depends on your answer to this question." I tell him.
"Hit me."
"How did you know my locker combination?"
"I don't. Slipped it through the slots up top." He nods to the slots on top of my locker. "I promise I'm not Norman Bates."
"Only Norman Bates would say that." I cross my arms.
"Guess you got me there." He grins.
"After school? Three o'clock?"
"I'll text you."
"You don't have my number."
"I don't?"
"No." I shake my head.
"Huh, I thought I did." Devin scratches the side of his head.
"Maybe you got me mixed up with one of the several other girls in your contacts."
"Very untrue."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Because I don't play games. Not like that. It's not really an attractive quality."
"Very true." I grab a pen from behind my ear and write my number across his forearm. "Now you'll have to decide. Do I choose to call this number and risk getting an answer from a scammer or give up and wash it off as soon as I come home?" I place the pen back behind my ear.
"There's always the third option." Devin clutches his backpack strap.
"Which is?"
"Try again tomorrow." He raises his eyebrows before walking off.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Football and baseball?" Devin says as I hit the ball off the post with my bat at the field in the park.
"Hardly." I scoff. "My uncle used to watch the games whenever I visited him during summer vacation. I had no choice but to watch."
"Same thing with my mom and tennis."
"Tennis? Oh, boy."
"Yeah." Devin laughs. "But it's not as bad as you think."
"So, you ready to be coached by a pro?" I joke.
"You bet." He hands me the football.
"Okay." I set the bat on the ground and we both go long. "Remember, always keep your arms up. It's better to have a sprained finger than a black eye." I throw the football in a spiral and he runs to the side before catching it. "Yeah, like that. Not bad! Now throw it back!" I nod and he does so. "Alright, McClain, let's see your speed!" I take off.
"Hey!" Devin runs after me and I chuckle, now picking up my pace. "You cheated!"
"How?" I now slow down a bit and he grabs me. We hit the ground and laugh as he lands on top of me.
"You did that on purpose."
"Did what?" I heave.
"You know what."
"Prove it. Oh, wait, you can't." I raise my eyebrows.
"You got..." Devin pulls some grass out of my hair.
"Thanks."
"Anytime." He helps me up. "Did I hurt you?" He pushes some hair behind my ear.
"Please." I toss him the football. "C'mon." I run.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"I just have to take a few shifts." I say as we enter the diner.
"Take your time." Devin tells me and we share a grin before parting ways.
"Who's the hottie?" Zayn questions.
"Straight." I scoff before putting my apron on.
"They always are." He sighs. "Pick up. Table 10, table 12, table 7." He rings the bell and I take the plates.
"Here you go." I serve the food.
"Thank you." The woman tells me.
"Enjoy." I grin before turning.
"Pick up. Table 6." Zayn rings the bell again.
"Go it." I grab the plate and stop before locking eyes with Clark. "So can I get you anything else?" I set down his plate. "Coffee? Dessert? Morning-after pill?"
"Can I take a minute?" Clark asks.
"You have thirty seconds to explain why you keep following me."
"I'm not following you. This is a diner, where people come to eat and I'm hungry."
"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not mad until it goes through your thick skull?" I head back over to the counter. "Oh, hey, Johnny. Usual? Two coffees to go?"
"Yeah, and can I get two of your cupcakes?" Johnny requests.
"Which two?"
"You know which two."
"The discounted day-olds?"
"Duh."
"Coming right up."
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"What am I doing? This is crazy." Lana whispers as I walk over to her.
"I'll take you home." I tell her.
"Brianna?"
"I knew I'd find you here. Besides, I know a way we can find out who wrote the note."
"How?" Lana stands up.
"Handwriting match. It think it's someone from school. I just need to look at the note and the assignments in every teacher's classroom."
"That sounds like a lot of work."
"Hello, it's me."
"That's true." She chuckles. "Thanks, Brianna."
"We're married for a reason." I lead her with me before I see someone running away.
"Wait! I got your other poem. It was beautiful." Lana calls out and I wave my arm out in front of her.
"You really think so?" The figure turns around.
"What's your name?" She picks up an envelope he dropped.
"Byron."
"Like the poet?"
"Like my great-uncle. But there's nothing poetic about him."
"Why do you leave me these poems?"
"Because you inspire me." Byron inquires and Lana turns on her flashlight and slowly raises it to his face. "No, don't!" He knocks it out of her hand.
"Hey, Byron, what's going on?" I start to walk towards him.
"Get away from her!" Clark shouts.
"Clark!" Lana yells and Byron tries to run away and trips, landing hard on a headstone. "Oh, my God." She runs over to him and I join her.
"Are you okay?" I kneel down.
"Yes. I'm fine." Byron holds up his fingers and they have blood on them before blacking out.
"Dammit." I take off my hoodie that's around my waist and I fold it before placing it on the back of his head.
"Brianna, is he-"
"He's okay." I tell Lana.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"I can't believe I passed out." Byron inquires as I lean my arms against the counter.
"I'm sorry I scared you." Clark replies.
"It's okay, Clark. You were protecting two beautiful young ladies. It was chivalrous. You're lucky to have a boyfriend who cares so much about you."
"Clark—Clark's just a friend. Uh, an overprotective one." Lana informs.
"Then you're lucky." Byron turns to me.
"Nope." I shake my head. "Kent is just someone I've been forced to tolerate. We're dating." I wrap my arm around Lana and she chuckles before holding my wrist.
"Girlfriends gotta stick together." He laughs.
"Exactly." I nod.
"Well, thanks for saving me from losing a lot of blood."
"Of course."
"If I could write the beauty of your eyes, and number all your graces, the age to come would say this poet lies. Such heavenly touches ne'er touched earthly faces." Byron says.
"That was beautiful." Lana smiles.
"Which poet wrote that?" Clark asks.
"Shakespeare." Byron and I say at the same time.
"You know poetry?" Byron questions.
"I read a lot." I tell him.
"I can't imagine being home schooled and never seeing anybody." Lana shakes her head.
"You don't miss what you never had." Byron takes a sip of coffee and I notice some scars along the side of his arm.
"It seems like you don't get out much. Uh, your parents pretty strict?" I look back up at him.
"They only want what's best for me." He nods and I hear a car outside.
"Oh, my God, that's our milk delivery." Lana gapes.
"What time is it?" Byron stands up.
"Quarter to five." Clark looks at his watch.
"If my parents wake up..." He runs out of the Talon and we follow him.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"You want us to come in and tell your parents what happened?" I ask as Clark stops the truck.
"No, I'll be fine. Thanks again for saving me from losing too much blood." Byron pats my shoulder before heading out.
"Byron, hurry!" His mother runs out and I see his father come out after her with his gun as the dog barks.
"I warned you not to leave, boy." His father points the gun at Byron.
"Hey!" I get out of the truck and speed up the stairs. "Byron!" I go to grab him.
"No, no." His mother takes him inside.
"Byron!"
"Go away!" Byron shouts.
"C'mon!" His mother urges before his father points the gun at me, making me stop.
"No!" Lana and Clark yell and I clench my jaw as I glare at Byron's father.
"Hey!" Clark now stands in front of me and Lana pulls me back.
"I better not catch you around my son again! Now get out before I shoot you for trespassing!" Byron's father warns as the dogs continue to bark.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Are you okay?" Lana grips my shoulder as we head to Clark's house.
"Not the first time that's happened. All I care about is Byron." I rush up the stairs and enter.
"Brianna? Clark? Lana? You three been out all night?" Jonathan questions.
"We met this kid and we think that his parents are abusing him." Clark informs.
"We need to go." I turn.
"Brianna." Martha turns me around.
"Look, I'm about two seconds away from walking back over there and handling it myself, and I don't care what happens to me." I take out the gun from the back of my jeans.
"You had that the entire time?" Lana gapes.
"It's my dad's. I have a permit." I check the ammo before shoving the clip back in. "We need to get Byron to safety. Now." I place the gun in the back of my jeans before leaving.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
We get out of the truck outside Byron's house. The dog barks in the yard as I knock on the door. Byron's mother answers with his father close behind.
"Miss's Moore?" Ethan says and I lock eyes with Byron's father before standing in front of Lana. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I'd like to speak to your son."
"I'm afraid that's not possible, sheriff." Mister Moore replies.
"Where is he?" Clark asks.
"Clark, let the sheriff handle this, please." Jonathan tells him.
"He's not in any trouble." Ethan assures.
"Look, I don't know what the hell's going on here, sheriff, but our son is dead." Mister Moore inquires.
"He drowned out in Crater Lake eight years ago." Miss's Moore informs.
"We just met him last night." I tell her.
"You threatened Brianna." Lana looks at Byron's father with a clenched jaw.
"He did what?" Jonathan gapes.
"I've never seen these kids before in my life. Look, it's taken all these years to get past this, and then you show up and pull a prank like this. What kind of parent would raise a child to do a wicked thing like that?" Mister Moore questions.
"We're awfully sorry. Look, Jonathan, I think we should go." Ethan suggests and Mister Moore closes the door.
"How did he threaten you? What did he say?" Jonathan grips my shoulder.
"What do you think?" I head down the stairs.
"They're lying." Lana sighs.
"We saw him go in that house." Clark promises.
"This is a very awkward situation, Jonathan." Ethan says.
"I know it is, Ethan, but if there's even a chance that young man's in trouble, we wouldn't want that on our conscience." Jonathan sighs.
"I'll get a warrant."
"You need probable cause." I shove my hands in the pockets of my hoodie.
"How did he threaten you?" Ethan questions and I bite the inside of my cheek before I head over to the barking dog.
"Brianna." Lana says and I duck before getting into the backyard.
"Stay there." I tell her. "Stay." I firmly nod and she slowly nods back. "Hey, bud." I walk over to the dog and the barking gets louder. "Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you." I slowly get down on one leg. "Hey, it's okay. It's alright." I whisper and I hold out my hand to it. "It's okay, buddy. It's alright." I assure and he whimpers before placing his shaky paw in my hand, then hugging me. "Oh, hey, it's okay. You're okay." I soothe as I hold the dog close to me. "Dogs have a better sense than us. They can sense an abuser. Feelings too. Happiness, fear, aggression. When Byron and his parents were yelling and screaming, I've never heard a dog bark so loud in my life. There's your probable cause. Go get that warrant." I tell Ethan before I rub the dog's head.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"It looks like your tortured artist is an unfortunate member of the dead poets society." Chloe inquires as I sit on the Torch desk with my legs crossed under me and my computer in my lap. "The certificate of death was signed by Doctor Emil Jenkins."
"It's gotta be fake." Clark tells her.
"Not that I don't trust your judgment, but could it be possible that goth boy maybe is-"
"I don't think a ghost could polish off three pieces of chocolate cake and two cappuccinos." Lana quirks up.
"I was just checking, I mean this is Smallville." Chloe points out.
"Agent Brady?" Miles questions.
"Hold on." I continue typing.
"I didn't know you knew so much about dogs. You were amazing back there." Lana tells me.
"Whenever my dad would do cases close to home back in Denver, he'd have dogs with him. Then I just researched. They're amazing animals. More than we give them credit for." I nod. "Okay, I ran Doctor Jenkins's name through the computer and found out something very interesting. Eight years ago, he supervised a medical file over at Metron Pharmaceuticals."
"Let me guess. Byron was a participant?" Clark raises his eyebrows.
"Yeah, they were all kids who had exhibited antisocial behavior." I furrow my eyebrows before I hop off the desk and leave the office.
"But it doesn't sound like Byron. He's so gentle." Lana walks beside me.
"That's what they said about Keith Hunter Jesperson."
"Could it be that our new Shakespeare has a-stirred the heart of our young Juliet?" Chloe comments.
"It's just nice to meet someone who's so honest with their feelings. I don't have to guess what they're thinking." Lana tells her.
"No, we should wait to see what the sheriff finds." I nod.
"Who the hell is Keith Hunter Jesperson?" Miles wonders.
"Happy Face Killer. Born April 6, 1955. He confessed to eight murders, possibly one hundred and eighty five in total. They called him Happy Face Killer because he was known for drawing smiley faces on his letters to the media. How's that for gentle and charming?" I push some hair behind my ear before a note comes my way by a mini hot air balloon.
"Uh, woah." Chloe chuckles. "Looks like somone's got a secret admirer too." She nudges me and I take the folded piece of paper out from the mini hot air balloon.
"This is so sweet." Lana smiles.
"My guess is that you already know who it is." Miles suggests.
"Mind your business." I open the note and see two tickets to The Ring with the words: mockery time at six?
"The Ring? What's that about?" Lana leans over my shoulder.
"The movie just came out today. It's a horror flick. Or so it seems to be."
"Okay, we gotta know who this person is because they're trying to steal you from me."
"Never." I shake my head.
"Okay, who is he? We have to meet this fine gentlemen and make sure he's good enough. More than good enough." Chloe nods.
"Is this thing on?" Devin's comes through the loud speaker and I snap my head up. "Hello?"
"I'm gonna kill him." I whisper to myself as everyone looks around.
"You mind holding that off until after the movie? It's just a suggestion, you make the rules." He tells me and everyone murmurs before I slightly grin down.
"I'm glad you said that." I walk closer to the loud speaker. "You have exactly five minutes to find me. Fail to do so and I send your proposal back. Quite literally."
"Challenge accepted." He says from behind me and I turn around.
"I'm worth getting detention for, huh?"
"Yeah. Very much so." He nods. "But no pressure. Just two people hanging out, making fun of characters getting chopped up because they chose to run back inside the house."
"That's Scream." I correct.
"Then it looks like I have a lot to learn, then."
"I could've told you that yesterday." I fix the collar of his jacket. "Yeah, okay. A deal is a deal. Six it is."
"Wear whatever you want." He jokes before walking past me.
"I called it!" Chloe squeals. "I knew it! I knew Devin McClain had a crush on you."
"Yeah, okay." I chuckle.
"B, he just got detention for you. C'mon." Miles tells me.
"If a guy did something like that for me, I wouldn't even know what to do." Lana scoffs. "That was really sweet."
"It's a movie, we're not booking a hotel." I fold the paper.
"That's the next date." Miles nods and I swat his chest with the paper before walking off.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"What happened to waiting for the Sheriff?" I hear Clark say as I walk up to Byron's porch.
"I need to know if Byron's in here. I have until six. You can go now." I walk up to one of the boarded up windows and I feel my muscles flex as I rip the board away. As I put the board down, the dog jumps up to the window and goes to bite my arm, but Clark pulls me back. "Hey." I whisper before heading back over. "It's okay. It's alright. I won't hurt you." I hold out my hand and the dog sniffs it before running away while whimpering.
"You're a regular Doctor Dolittle." Clark tells me.
"I can take of myself, I don't need you to hold my hand, Kent." I now climb through the window and my high tops hit the floor. "Out you go." I turn and start shoving Clark back out the window as he was midway climbing through it. "Kent." I warn as he picks me up by the waist and heads in the house before setting me down.
"There." He smiles and I hit the side of his head before looking around at the walls covered with animal heads and guns.
"This place is like an NRA petting zoo." I mutter before looking at the floor. "Hold on, there could be booby traps." I crouch down and lift the rug to reveal a booby trap. "Watch the door." I take out the crowbar from my sweatpants pocket and break the lock with it. I fix my t-shirt before opening the cellar. I then head down the stairs while hearing Clark follow behind me. "Byron. What did they do to you?" I kneel down to him.
"It's not what you think." Byron tells me.
"We have to get you out of here." Clark inquires I use my crowbar to break the shackle on Byron's wrist.
"C'mon." I urge.
"Don't! Last time I went out during the day, I hurt my dad!" Byron cries.
"Byron, no one deserves to be locked up like this!"
"You don't understand!"
"Trust me, Byron, I understand more than you know." Clark pulls Byron up the stairs and I follow him outside.
"No! Leave me alone! Aaah!" Byron falls onto his hands and knees, then grunting as his back starts to bulge and the skin stretches.
"Byron, are you okay?"
"You should have listened to me!" He hits Clark in the chest, sending him flying all the way across the yard, where he lands on the shed.
"Kent!" I yell.
"What are you looking at?" Byron looks at me with black eyes.
"Byron, it's okay."
"Get away from me!" He goes to push me, but I duck and push him down.
"Kent!" I now sprint over to Clark. "Hey!" I kneel down to him and I now see that Byron is gone.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Ow." Clark says as I harshly hit him in the back of the head as we sit at the table.
"I told you not to come." I inquire.
"You're the one who lied to me and the others."
"For a reason, Kent. If you hadn't acted like this big, strong protector, we wouldn't be up shit's creek right about now." I cross my legs and arms.
"I'm sorry." He breaks the short silence.
"You didn't know what Byron was."
"Neither did you. You were just trying to help him." Clark turns to me from the corner of my eye.
"So were you." I turn back to him.
"And you."
"Kent, we've been over this. Your sorry ass is my problem, remember?" I raise my eyebrows.
"You blocked his hit very well." Clark nods.
"I know. Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Bleeding?"
"No."
"Seizing?"
"No."
"Passing out?"
"No."
"Dying?" I go on.
"No." Clark wryly chuckles. "You okay?"
"I'm not the one who got chucked into a tool shed like a damn frisbee." I retort and he laughs. "Guess being 6'3 really saves your life."
"I thought we agreed you were gonna wait for Sheriff Ethan." Jonathan speaks up.
"They had Byron locked in the basement, chained to the wall. When he carried him outside, he kind of went Jekyll and Hyde on us."
"I tried to stop him." Clark says.
"You tried? How big of a change are we talking about here?" Jonathan wonders and me and Clark lock eyes.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"You really shouldn't be here. My husband is out looking for Byron, but he'll be back soon." Miss's Moore tells us as we walk down the stairs.
"My son and his friend feel responsible. We wanna help." Jonathan inquires.
"Friend." I grimace before shivering and Clark nudges me, making me shove him back.
"You just...you can't imagine how hard it was for both of us. You probably think we're horrible parents." Miss's Moore frowns.
"When Kent took Byron out into the light, why did he change?" I wonder.
"It was one of the side effects of the drug. He can't be out in the sun. I wish we'd never gotten involved in that mess. They promised that the drug would make him better. It would make him normal."
"There's gotta be somebody somewhere that—that can help your son." Jonathan urges.
"We tried everything. Doctor Jenkins watched six other boys die trying to reverse the side effects. They had Byron hooked up to all those machines like he was some sort of alien." Miss's Moore cries.
"Is that why you faked his death certificate?" I assume.
"We didn't know what to do. Finally, we—we locked him in the cellar. He cried for days. He didn't understand why we had to keep him down here. We felt like the monsters."
"If we get Byron out of the sun, will he change back?" Clark wonders.
"Yeah. He's so strong now. I don't know how anybody could do that."
"I'm gonna meet Chloe and Miles at the Torch before my thing with Devin. I'll meet you later at the Talon." I inquire.
"Okay." Clark nods and I pat Jonathan's arm before leaving.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Okay, so I think we figured out why our would-be Shakespeare went all pro wrestler on you two." Chloe says as we enter the Talon and I see Lana give Clark an annoyed look. "Jeez, is it just me, or did it get cold in here?"
"What'd you find?" Clark questions.
"The drug that Byron was given during the medical trials targeted his adrenal system." I hand him the file.
"It says here they were looking for a cure. We need to track down the company."
"It's too late. Metron Pharmaceuticals was shut down before they even finished their research." Miles shakes his head.
"Why would they do that?" Lana wonders.
"I don't know, but maybe Clark should ask his mom's new boss." Chloe suggests.
"Lionel Luthor owns Metron." I realize and Clark gives me a nod.
"Just one of the many LuthorCorp subsidiaries that promise us a brighter future."
"We'll talk to Lex." Clark looks at me and I nod.
"You guys and Pete lay low at my house. Lock the doors. Only let my mom and yours in. Tell them there's an active armed burglar scouting the area." I inform.
"Got it." Miles nods.
"And no, you cannot play my guitar."
"But-"
"Last time you played it, you broke the damn thing. Chloe, make sure his butterfingers are out of sight."
"Will do. Good luck." Chloe rubs my shoulder before leading Miles with her.
"I wasn't even playing hard!" Miles calls out before Lana puts down her tray and gets her coat.
"Where are you going?" Clark asks.
"To look for Byron." Lana replies.
"Wait, Lana. My dad, Mister Moore, and half the sheriff's department are out searching."
"Are you telling me I should stay here and pour coffee?"
"No, I'm saying you should be careful. Byron's not the same guy. If you see him don't get too close. Call someone."
"Call me." I speak up. "Or, uh..." I take out the gun from the back of my jeans. "The safety's already. Just pull the trigger."
"Brianna..." Lana shakes her head.
"I'm sure Byron was a good kid. But nothing lasts forever, Lana. If he attacks you, he could really hurt you even though he may not mean to. But when push comes to shove..." I place the gun in her hand. "Just don't use it unless you have to."
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Another mark on the Luthor name. My father's leaving me quite a legacy. You might give your mom a heads up. If she's going to work for my father, this is what she's getting herself into." Lex says as we look at the newspaper.
"My mother can take care of herself, Lex. Besides, I haven't seen her this excited in a long time." Clark tells him and I get a text from Devin before replying back.
"To tell you the truth, Clark, I was a little surprised. Considering all my offers to ease your family's financial situation have been met with a resounding no, it stung a little to see her name on my father's payroll."
"Well, to be honest, it wasn't exactly a unanimous decision at the Kent household."
"My father's the poster boy for family strife. I'm sorry it's spreading."
"Look at it this way, Lex. At least my father's not upset with you this time."
"I'll look into Metron, guys, see where my father's been hiding the proverbial bodies. Now, I have to head over to the plant. Some Luthors actually have to work for a living. Is it just me, or is Brianna Brady distracted?"
"You wish." I close my phone.
"Is that Mateo?"
"No. Just a friend."
"Uh-huh." He walks with me.
"God's honest truth."
"What's his name?"
"Devin. We hung out yesterday and earlier today. He's on the football team." I now stop and see the helicopter landing on the grass through the window.
"Wow. I didn't realize the traffic in Smallville had gotten so bad." Clark comments.
"It's my father. I hope your mom likes helicopters."
"My family doesn't fly much."
"Trust me. That's about to change. I'll talk to you later, guys."
"Alright, thanks, Lex." I nod and he rubs my shoulder before walking away. "Try not to follow me home, thanks." I tell Clark. I now make my way out of the mansion to see Byron push Clark, making him fly across the yard, landing on his back.
"Clark!" Martha yells and I see her lay on the grass with Lionel.
I now run over to the side and my back hits the wall. I see Clark super speed to Byron and pushes him to the well. They both crash through the metal covering and slide down a tunnel to an underground structure.
"Martha!" I now run over to her.
Nice one, Kent.
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"Brianna. Clark." Byron says as we enter his hospital room.
"Yeah, I brought you some light reading." I hold up a book, 100 of the World's Best Limericks. "They're a lost art form."
"I don't remember our fight, but I cannot believe I didn't hurt you." He looks at Clark.
"That's what you get for being 6'3." I inquire.
"Brianna, I'm sorry I tried to hurt you."
"It's okay. You didn't mean to." I nod.
"Some people are just lucky." Lana enters with a wrapped wrist.
"Hey, how's the wrist?"
"Uh, it'll be better in a couple of days."
"I can't believe I..." Byron trails off.
"Hey, don't worry about it. I know it wasn't you." Lana assures.
"You were brave to come and find me."
"A friend warned me to be careful. I should have listened to him." She looks at Clark.
"Let me see your hand." Byron requests and Lana puts her hand in his and he smiles at her.
"Brianna." Lana hands me the gun. "Thank you." She nods and I nod back before putting it in the back of my jeans.
"Oh, here." I take out a folded piece of paper and hand it to her.
"What's this?"
"From your new secret admirer." I joke while raising my eyebrows. "I'll see you later. Feel better, Byron." I grin at him before leaving.
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I turn my head to see a rock being thrown at my window. I take off my headphones and set them down before getting up from my bed. I unlock the window and pull it up.
"My God, You're like a disease, either go away or kill me." I groan.
"Both options are too easy." Clark climbs onto the roof and I step back before he enters my room.
"What's that?" I look at the big book in his hand and he holds it up. "Serial Killer Encyclopedia. Not exactly your usual reading."
"I thought maybe I could learn something."
"What'd you think?"
"How messed up the sixties to the eighties were."
"No shit." I sit on my bed. "Keep reading, it only gets worse." I mock a grin and he chuckles before sitting next to me. "I just really hope Byron's okay."
"It doesn't bother you that he's so..."
"Different? We're all different, Kent. And if you care about someone, you accept every part of them, but you can't do that until they're willing to share every part with you."
"I think people like Byron keeps a part of himself hidden so he doesn't scare people away."
"I don't scare easy. And if you wanna get close to someone, you have to take that risk."
"What if the risk is too big to take?"
"Then you might miss out on something that could be pretty amazing."
"How was your movie with Devin?"
"We had a good time. The film was actually very good. And he wasn't lying about no pressure. It was really fun. When we threw popcorn at the screen, everyone else joined us. Then he took me home, no make out session, no hook up in the back seat, just a movie. A very nice night."
"Wow. So, do you like him?"
"He's a decent guy." I nod. "But I'm not jumping into a relationship anytime soon."
"Listen, um, about the past few days...I've been trying to make up for what happened, and I-"
"Kent, I told you that I forgive you."
"I know. And I know you mean it. But I humiliated you. I was so angry at Mateo, that I didn't think how it would effect you. And I'm really sorry, Brianna."
"I know you are, Kent."
"Here." Clark takes out a folded piece of paper and I open it.
"You wrote me a sonnet?"
"You seem to know them, which is isn't surprising cause you're you. Thought I'd give it a shot. And this is my gift to you. To never disrespect you or your feelings again." He tells me and I read the sonnet to myself.
"Kent...this is...very good." I nod. "Thank you." I kiss his cheek before getting up. "Pick an actual scary movie this time. Thanks." I give him a thumbs up before heading downstairs to make popcorn.
Don't worry, Kent. I understand.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE
🪐🌙✨🚀🌌☄️
their first (unofficial) date🥹 AND he wrote her a SONNET😭 and i just found out that the actor who plays byron is also detective holbrook in pretty little liars💅🏻 and my dad is now covid free!! thank fuck.
i can't find any gifs of brian altemus, but he's the face claim for devin mcclain
bro was FED UP with bryon's tales of woe
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