SunnyDale Or Smallville-Nor So Different After All

S or S ch.6


Clark exited the football locker rooms wearing a red and white uniform with the number eighty-nine on it. Looking out over the football field, he could see the other football players and some of the cheerleaders practicing their cheers. Perplexed, Clark walked over to Pete who was standing near by.

"Have you seen Lana?" Clark asked him.

"No, but there's your dad." Pete told him pointing to the bleachers where Jonathan Kent was sitting.

Clark walked over to where his dad was sitting. Smiling he said, "Dad. I'm glad you're here."

Jonathan looked away from his son then said, "I still don't support you decision, Clark. I'm here to make sure no one gets hurt."

Clark turned and started to walk away with a disappointed look on his face.

"Clark!" Was called from behind him. Clark turned and saw Xander sitting a few feet from where his dad was sitting. Clark wondered why he hadn't noticed Xander sitting there before Xander called his name. He walked over to him.

"Hey, why are you here? Don't you hate football?" Clark asked him.

Xander shook his head, "It's not the game I hate-it's players. But I'm willing to make an exception in your case."

"Gee, I feel so special!"

"And so you should!" Xander told him laughingly then he glanced over at Clark's father, "Kind of harsh what he said huh?"

"Yeah," Clark muttered in a low voice.

"Well, you said he has his reasons, right?" Xander asked with a shrug.

"Yeah," muttered Clark in an even lower voice.

"Guess you should show him how unfounded those reasons of his are." Xander told him with a meaningful look. Clark looked at Xander for a moment then over to Jonathan, and he nodded slowly. A whistle sounded and Clark starts to put on his helmet, but then stops to look at his father who frowned at him.

"Kent!" Called the coach, "get in there at Tailback."

Xander got up and walked over to where Jonathan Kent was sitting and sat down near him as Clark took his position on the field. The grouchy so and so that Clark called 'Dad' looked over at him and frowned at him.

"Xander Harris," he told Clark's father.

Jonathan looked at him blankly for a moment then said, "Oh, you're the one that got thrown out of a car his first day, Clark told me about it."

"I'm never going to live that down...am I?" Asked Xander.

"It's not likely." Jonathan said with a slight smile then turned his attention back to the field.

Xander watched as the Quarterback, Fordman, called the play. Everything seemed to be going fine as the ball was snapped to Fordman who then passed it to Clark who caught it and,
'Oooh, that's got to hurt!' Xander thought with a wince as Clark was almost immediately tackled when he tried to run. Xander was getting a bit worried- Clark was still lying there all stunned and looking over in his Dad's direction not seeming to be in any hurry to get up. Appropriately when Xander glanced over he saw that Mr. Kent looked concerned as well.

Slowly Clark stood up as Coach Walt came storming over yelling, "Kent! Quit looking in the stands!" He then grabbed the face guard of Clark's helmet, "Your dad's not coaching the team-I am! Now I didn't bring you out here to be a tackling dummy. Get angry ! Kick some butt!" Coach Walt said pounding on Clark's chest, who just nodded and got back into position.

What Xander saw next left him feeling something akin to shock. Clark caught the ball the next when time it was passed to him. But that was not the surprising thing. No, it was watching as Clark mowed down four of the players, and then hurdle over the rest of them in a move no regular human could do. Xander thought a Slayer might have been able to do it but that was a big maybe. Then Xander watched as Clark ran unchallenged into the end zone and spiked to ball victoriously onto the ground. As everyone else cheered for Clark, Xander saw Jonathan Kent stand up and walk down the bleachers and head away from the field. He saw as Clark took off his helmet and look disappointed.

"That...was not the way to show him, Clark." Xander said to himself softly and began to wonder...


***********


After the football practice Xander was sitting on the hood of the Viper in a dark part of the parking lot. He saw Clark and Pete exit the school building and was about to call out them when a scream pierced the air. Xander jumped off the car and turned in the direction that the scream came from and saw a burning car. He started toward it; he can see Clark out of the corner of his eye say something to Pete. Then Pete ran off.

"Must be getting help,' Xander supposed.

As soon as Pete was completely out of sight Clark dropped his book bag and ran to the car, easily smashing out the window barehanded. With shatterproof glass being standard that was a neat trick. Then to Xander's further amazement, pulled the driver's door right off of its hinges. Clark then pulled the driver out of the car and away, making it a few feet before the car exploded. Then knowing they were safe for the moment, he gently put the injured driver down.

Xander shaking off his surprise calls out, "Hey, Clark! You alright?"

Clark turns and looks sharply at Xander, "Xander?"

"Yeah," Xander said looking down at the driver and saw it was Principal Kwan,
"saw the explosion. The flash of it almost blinded me," he lied, "was barely able to make out someone was over here at all."

"Oh," Clark said relaxing at the fact that Xander hadn't seen him pull Kwan from the car.

Sirens could be heard off in the distance. Xander looked back at what was left of the burning car then down at Clark's hands, hands that didn't have a single red mark on them. Xander began to wonder in earnest what his friend could was.


*********

Spike sat in a black leather chair, holding a mug of blood, watching as Xander paced the living room like it was a cage.

"Yeah, ok. Thanks." Xander said then hit the end button on the cordless phone then lightly tossed it on to the coffee table. With a sigh he looked over at Spike, "Principal Kwan's gonna be in the hospital all weekend. He's got some burns and stuff, nothing too serious, he'll be okay."

Spike took a sip from the cup, "So, what's got you so rattled, Whelp? You've been acting off ever since you got back."

Xander continued to circle the room, "It's...it's Clark, I don't think he's human or at least not completely anyway."

Spike raised an eyebrow. He wondered what took the boy so long to come to that conclusion. Soon after meeting the other boy Spike knew Clark Kent did not smell even remotely human. Spike wasn't sure what Kent was but he didn't seem like he wanted to hurt any one, was probably one of those annoyingly peaceful types. "About time you noticed that," was all Spike said.

Xander froze in the middle of his pacing turning to look at Spike he asked, "You knew?"

Spike nodded, "Strangely enough for little burg like this, there's good size demon population. Could be your friend Clark is one of the peaceful types."

Xander took a deep calming breath and reminded himself it didn't do any good to yell at Spike since he'd just sit there and smirk at him. "It would explain why Clark didn't have any burn marks on his hands."

"But there was an odd thing," Spike started, Xander looked at him, "the demons seem to be afraid of something. But when I asked what none of them could really say what it was that had them spooked. The only answer I could get was, ' be careful of glowing green rocks' which make no sense at all."

"Huh," was all Xander said.

"Guess you have some investigating to do." Spike said with a shrug.

"What do you mean I have investigating to do, don't you mean we?" Xander asked.

"Sorry, pet. You're the chosen one in this, me, guess that just makes me the watcher type."

Xander snorted at that, "Yeah, until you want to kill something. And chosen one, that's more like chump, don't you think." Xander muttered.

Spike smirked at that, "You said it," then he glance at a nearby clock, "weren't you suppose to meet up with your little friends at seven?"

Xander looked at the same clock, "Gotta go." He said grabbing his jacket from the couch. He was almost out the door, when Spike appeared in front of him, "Gah," Xander said in surprise, "Why are you using vampire speed to give me a heart attack?"

Spike just held out a hand, "Give them to me." Xander got an innocent look on his face, Spike snorted at the look, "Not buying it. Give me the keys to the Viper. I know you have them."

"Come on..."

"Don't make me take them from you, pet. It wouldn't be fun for either of us and it would make you later than you already are."

Xander got a rebellious look on his face but then just sighed knowing Spike was right but loathe to admit it. He reached into his pocket and took out the keys; glancing at them longingly one last time then threw them at Spike who caught them easily.

"Well, now that you took my ride. How am I supposed to get to the Beanery?"

"The way teenagers do everywhere," Spike said with a dismissing shrug, "you walk."

Xander groaned.

"If you start now you might make it and if you run you definitely will. If it makes you feel better think of it as part of your training."

"I hate you!" Xander growled out.

Spike grinned, "I know!"


***********

Xander heard Chloe say something but not what as he turned the corner in front of the Beanery, panting he stopped bend over to catch his breath and looked up Chloe, Clark, and Pete.

"What's with the running?"Asked Pete.

"Spike..."Xander panted out, "Keys...took...bastard!"

Pete and Chloe looked confused. As did Clark for a moment then understanding dawned on Clark, "Ohhh...he found out you took the Viper, huh?"

Xander nodded then noticed the look Pete was giving Clark.

"What Viper?"

"The one Xander drove to..."

"Wait!" Pete said interrupting Clark, "The red one that was in the parking lot today?"

Clark nodded.

"That was his!" Pete said incredulously.

Clark nodded again and couldn't help saying, "Well, is seems," Clark looked over at Xander who was still panting, "That it actually belongs to Spike." Xander just glared at Clark who just smirked at him.

Chloe just shook her head at the boy's antics, "As I was saying before, really guys, it doesn't make any sense."

"What doesn't?" Xander asked after he got his breath back.

"Spontaneously combusting cars." Said Pete.

"The cops said it was faulty wiring." Clark told them.

To that Xander snorted, cars with faulty wiring don't usually explode without some help. Most of the time the car just doesn't start. He had to wonder if the cops here were anything like SunnyDale's. If that was the reason they were getting, it didn't look too promising.

"...My headline 'Jockstrap Saves Princpial From Burning Car!'" Xander hears Chloe say when he tuned back to the conversation.

"Please, Chloe give the jockstrap thing a rest." Pete almost begged.

"I still can't believe Clark's been blinded by the 'Friday Night Lights'." Chloe muttered.

"I joined the football team-not a cult." Clark said defensively.

"And strangely enough-they're not all that different," Xander said causing the other three to look at him oddly, "Well think about it. You have your large crowd of worshipers, your false idols and scatially dressed teenager girls running around. If that doesn't say 'cult' I don't know what does?"

"You've given that a lot of thought haven't you?" Clark said.

"Some," Xander said with a nod.

"You're one weird dude, Xander." Said Pete opening the door to the coffee shop and going in. Chloe just grinned and followed Pete and Clark shook his head at Xander's now confused look, then followed the other two. Xander just muttered, "What," then trailed after the others.


*********


The Beanery was obviously a small town's version of a Starbuck's. But it seemed to be popular with the Smallville High crowd. Or maybe it was the fact it was the only place in town they could go.

Xander followed the others into the cafe in time to see Lana Lang wearing a green apron that had the Beanery logo on it. She was holding a tray with coffee cups on it awkwardly walking behind Chloe.

"I hear there's a spot on the team..." Lana said as a reply to whatever remark Chloe had made before that.

Clark smiled at Lana and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Hopefully taking your order," Lana said tiredly.

Chloe blinked, "What is this? Some sort of cheerleading charity thing, 'be a waitress for a night' or something?"

Lana rolled her eyes, "Yes, but without the cheerleading and tips are always welcome." She snarked back lightly as she gave the cups of coffee to some people at a near by table.

"So you're a waitress for real?" Clark asked. Xander frowned at the questions Chloe and Clark had asked the girl, he then realized Lana Lang must be something like Cordy, the town's princess or darling.

"Complete with a perky name tag." Lana said with a slight smile.

"First days are always the worst." Xander told her.

Lana blinked and wondered, " How did you know it was my first day?"

Xander smiled, "Well the first hint was Clark and Chloe's reaction. Then well, you have that 'First job, first day stressed look."

Clark frowned then asked, "Where's your necklace, Lana?"

"Strict dress code here-no jewelry, no open toed shoes."

"Well you look very...waitress like." Clark told her as Xander tried not to snigger at the very bad compliment.

Lana just sighed, "Now if only I could tell a half-caf decaf from a non-fat latte."

Xander had to catch himself before he told Lana in great detail the difference between the two drinks. He was a native Californian after all, and of course over the years his girls had trained him well.

"In that case," Said Chloe, "coffee black."

"Times four," said Pete as Chloe grabbed Xander's arm pulling him with her and followed Pete to an empty booth. Clark noticed Lana left her tray on a nearby table. He picked it up and started after her. Chloe, Xander and Pete sat in the booth. Chloe sighed heavy at the sight of Clark going after Lana.

"Clark Kent is a football player and Lana Lang is a waitress." Said Chloe in disbelief at the sight of Lana and Clark talking at the coffee bar.

"What's the matter with that?" asked Pete.

"Nothing. I just want to click my heels and get back to reality." Chloe said petulantly.

"Reality is relative, you know." Xander told Chloe who made a face at him. Then Xander noticed Chloe watching a group of football players sitting at a nearby table, the ones accused of cheating on the midterm papers. Pete nodded a 'hello' to Trevor as he walked by on his way over to talk to his teammates.

"What's with your fallen brethren?" Chloe asked Pete.

"Don't know." Pete told her.

They all hear Trevor tell the other players that the Coach wanted to see them. The team members get up and walk out of the Beanery. Chloe jumps up, grabs her coat and rushes out to follow them.

Xander getting a bad feeling, turns to Pete. "Maybe I should go keep an eye on her, you know with the assassination attempt by football earlier today and all." Xander told him getting up. Rushing after Chloe he almost bumped into Clark who was on his way to the table the others had been sitting at.
Xander saw that Chloe did bump in to Lana making Lana drop the full tray of coffee cups she had been carrying. Chloe yelled back an apology but kept going.

"Xander?" Asked Clark.

"Relax Clark, I'll keep her out of trouble, talk to you later," Xander reassured Clark as he followed the blonde dynamo. But couldn't stop his inner Cordelia snark from coming out as he came up to Lana, "Y' know...perhaps to should consider another form of employment--one that doesn't require you to carry hot beverages." Then he continued after Chloe.


*******

Xander called out to Chloe, as she looked around, frustrated, for the football players that just seemed to have disappeared.

"Xander, I can't talk now, and don't try and stop me. My story..." She started.

"Is important to you, I know. Not going to stop you, just going to go with you."

Chloe frowned, "Why?"

"Because Chloe, this story you're on could be a powder keg...just waiting to blow up, and I don't want to see you hurt."

"Oh," Chloe said softly surprised by Xander's concern for her then turned to look into the night, " Well, are you any good at not being seen?" She asked beginning to walk down the street.

Xander let a slow smirk cross his face, "Yeah, I got some experience in that."

Chloe just hmmed at that answer then asked to herself mostly, "If I were the Coach and wanted to talked to the group of boy's that could put my career in danger where would I talk to them this time of night?"

Chloe saw the thoughtful come to Xander's face.

"I think I might..." Xander said slowly, "have an idea where..."


**********

Xander and Chloe hid behind the bleachers as they watched Coach Walt yell at the football players on the football field, the sprinkler system spraying shoots of water around them.

"So, Coach Walt did give them the term papers it seems." Chloe said as she held up a camera and began taking pictures.

"Yeah, seems so. And now he's trying to cover his ass by threatening the players. Nice." Xander muttered lowly. The feeling in the air was making him jumpy and he didn't know why, it was the wiggy feeling he associated with demons or vampires being nearby.

They watched as Coach Walt hit one of the players across the face, and then the sprinkler system began to shoot fire out of it.

"Whoa!" Xander exclaimed softly.

"Seconded." Chloe said just as softly.

The football players on the field were having the same reaction as the two spies were. Chloe took some more pictures and Xander's wiggy feeling started to increase as the Coach began to walk away from the players on the field. Xander thought it was time to leave.

"C'mon Chloe," Xander hissed lowly at her, "you have your story," then grabbed her arm pulling her away from the bleachers and field, "more of one than you bargained for." But Chloe wasn't sure if that was meant for her or not.