CHAPTER FIVE: cool

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ASTER MAVERICK HAD GONE TO THE PARTY. But, felt alone.  Whitney and Lana tried to include him, not make him feel alone.  But, given that fact, he felt awkward when Whitney soad he has brought a larger blanket, just so that Aster could also fit under the blanket, he felt awkward.

"Clark," Aster smiled. "Surprised to see you here."

Clark nodded. "Chloe wanted to come. I didn't know you were gonna be here."

"Whitney kidnapped me. Literally. He said he needed help with homework, opened his passenger door so I could see the notebook. And then pulled me in." Aster explained. "Which I'm surprised he was able to do that." he shrugged.

"Uh, sorry, Aster," Clark spoke, having looked elsewhere.

Aster turned, seeing that Chloe was talking to Shaun.   Or, had been, as Shaun walked away. Aster smiled at Clark. "I get it. Shaun is not someone to be trusted. Seriously, the dude is a slut. See you around."
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Aster sat on the school bus, then noticing that Chloe sat in front of him. With Clark next to her, and Pete on the other side, next to him.  "Hey," Aster smiled, then frowning when Chloe jumped. "Sorry."

"Aster," Clark smiled.
"Aster," Chloe and Pete smiled at each other, then looked back at Clark and Aster.

"So, noticed you talking to Shaun last night," Aster said.

Chloe sighed. "Really? And what, you think it was a stupid idea to give him my number?"

"You gave him- none of my business. I was actually talking about the fact that, he had a new girlfriend every week. He especially goes for the nicer girls."

Pete snorted. Chloe shot a glare at him.

"Just, watch out." Aster smiled.  The school bus stopped, now at the school.

Aster quickly left, as now, he felt he shouldn't have said that. Now, he thinks that he had overstepped. He rarely talked to Chloe. Said, maybe forty words to her, and those were more than half of them, right now.
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At school, he could barely pay attention in class.
The day went by much quicker than he thought it would.
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Aster was at the Talon, looking over Lana's shoulder to read the paper.

"That's a great exhibit," Lex Luthor's voice rang out. "I caught it in St. Petersburg."

"Whitney and I are going to Metropolis, I thought we'd check it out," Lana smiled.

"Uh, trying to give the quarterback some culture?"

"It was his idea."

"He figured one afternoon at the museum he'd off the hook for six months."

"As if Whitney could plan that far head," Aster joked.

"Hey, he did plan that surprise party for your birthday last year." Lana reminded.

"And he got the wrong day. Hell, the wrong week."

"He said it is more of a surprise if it's not the same day, or even week of the actual birthday." Lana shrugged.

"Oh, that's when he listens to me?"

"For someone who wants people to keep an open mind, you're pretty quick to judge," Lana tells Lex.

Lex looked around, when someone had called Whitney's name. He looked back to Aster. "What can I say? You're looking for the right guy in all the wrong places."

Aster tilted his head, confused. Lex then walked away, as Aster leaned to Lana. "That was confusing, right?"

Whitney returned, kissing Lana on her cheek before handing Aster hid drink. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, I was just checking out some stuff for us to do tomorrow." Lana says. Only Whitney I looked a bit confused, looking at the paper in Lana's hands. "Metropolis, remember?"

"Oh," Whitney sighed, having his head. "Actually, some of the guys are pulling together and getting the flight on pay-per-view. It's tomorrow."

"And you have them your money already?" Lana asked.

"Yeah. Hey, we'll go next weekend, okay? I promise. I'm really sorry, Lana."

"Culture can wait," Lana tells him, smiling softly.

"I'll make it up to you," Whitney leaned up to kiss her on her forehead.

Lex had turned to Lana and Aster.

"Wait me to punch him?" Aster asked Lana.

"No. It's not necessarily. And He's your best friend."

"Debatable. You're my best friend, if you weren't dating him, I definitely wouldn't be speaking to Whitney, unless we were partnered up for a project."

"I'm gonna go get a drink," Aster smiled, standing up and headed towards the counter. He had ordered two drinks, one that Lana had loved.

when he arrived back, two drinks in his hands, Clark stood with Lana, awkwardly. "Oh, hey, Clark," Aster smiled.

"Uh, hey, Aster...you busy?" Clark questioned.

"Completely swamped," Aster sarcastically replied. "It's the reason I'm here, attempting to read a book in Latin." He held up the book.

"Oh," Clark frowned shifting as if to leave.

"No, wait, Clark, it was just a joke," Aster reached for him, briefly placing his hand onto the boy's arm.

"Uh, good," Clark says, sitting down in the seat next to him.

Lana don't know either to leave or stay, if it was going the way she thought it was. Did the two, typically always nervous guys need private? Or, incase it went wrong, she could direct it. (Like, Aster not understanding that Clark was asking him out.)

"'Cause there's this thing tomorrow," Clark says.

"What's the definition of this; thing?"

"It's a concert. Radiohead, to be exact. And I've got a couple of tickets." Clark extended the tickets, showing them to Aster.

"Wow. Where'd you get these?" Aster questioned in amazement.

"A friend, something came up at the last minute and I was wondering if you'd like to go, you know, with me?"

"I'd..." Asher went to speak. He glanced at Lana. Who nods quickly.

"Just as-"

"Yeah." Aster quickly says, then blushed from embarrassment. "Sorry, uh, you were going to say something?"

"Uh. Nothing. Great. That's great." Clark smiled.
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"He asked you out!" Lana yells in excitement, practically slapping Aster.

"Okay, relax. You're surprisingly strong for a small girl. You'll bruise me," Aster waved his hand, gesturing for her to stop.
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"Oh, you should wear the purple shirt you have, with the black leather-" Lana says.

Aster sigee.

"Or, the brown, white striped shirt," Lana continues, rummaging through his closet. "Oh, you wanna wear skinny jeans?"
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Aster stumbled out of the door. "Lana, I already changed three times! Stop with your outfit ideas!"

"At least let me style your hair." Lana says.

"No. I'll be late."

"He lives right across from us," Lana pointed out.

"Yeah, I mean late to my own funeral, I'll die of embarrassment if you keep your at this."

"I'll walk you down."

"It's five feet away, barely, not down a wedding aisle," Aster huffed, as he made his way down the steps. To where Clark seemed to be poking back and forth, at Aster's house and Lana's. He seemingly had no clue which house Aster would be at.

"Which I'll also be walking you down to," Lana smiled.

"What?" Aster asked, mind going blank when seeing Clark, in a blue button up, paired with a darker jacket.

"Lana," Clark spoke, trying not to show his confusion at the appearance of the girl.

She smiled, knowing what he thought. "I'm just here to drop off Aster."

Clark had opened the door for Aster, who slid in, looking around at the inside of the limo. Clark slid in after him, and as the limo drove off, Lana waved at them.

"I've never actually sat in a limo before tonight," Clark says as he pressed one of the buttons of the top.

"I did. Once, Nell got one to take her and Lana to the ballet. But, Lana dragged me to go. Literally, you would have never guessed that she was as strong as she is by the looks of her. Still, it wasn't as nice as this one."

"Beats another night of defensive reading." Clark more muttered it. Which caused for Aster to look at him. "You've done it since we were kids. Whenever the world gets disappointing, or you're stressed, you retreat into a book."

Aster looked at Clark, disbelief. Not that he said such a thing, but, that Clark noticed that. And, still a bit confused that Clark would ask him to this.

"There are worse things." Clark tried to explain.

"No, you're right. I- i just didn't know anyone noticed it like that. It's easier, sometimes, than dealing with my own life. Does that make sense?"

"I do the same thing with astronomy. I look at different worlds and wonder if my life would be better there."

"Honestly, I think the only person who gets me, like that, is Lana." Aster realized how odd it was, to not name his own parents. Or any family members at all. "And, apparently, you."

"I'll show you something," Clark reached over, grabbing a deck of cards. He shuffled them quickly. "Pick a card."

Aster hummed. "Alright." He reached out, taking a card. He looked at it, holding it to his chest.

Clark got a look of concentration, before he smiled. "Three of hearts."

Asher smiled, turning the card around. "Full of surprises." He hands the card back, Clark's fingers briefly touching Aster's for a few neither say anything simply staring at each other.

God, I could kiss him. Aster thought, staring at Clark's face. He was confused, when Clark invited him. He thought the other likes Lana. He had no clue if this was a fate or not.

Aster forced a cough, using it as an excuse to pull his hand back, and put his arm to his face. He tilted his head, when seeing a remote in the corner of the door. He turned it on.

"And in Smallville tonight, police are seeking seventeen-year-old Sean Kelvin after the mysterious death of follow Smallville High student Jenna Barnum whose body was found early this afternoon."

"Oh, my God," Aster speaks, shocked and horrified.

"Kelvin was last seen-"

"Stop the car!" Clark demands
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"Can you hang out here for a while ?" Clark questioned Aster, after dropping him off. "I want you to be safe."

"Yeah. But, safe from what?"

"I promise I'll explain when I get back. Will you wait for me?" Clark asked.

Then it hit Aster. "Yeah, but, Clark you aren't seriously going after him, right? You've got to call the police, I know he was flirting with Chloe-"

"I'll be back," Clark dismissed. 
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Aster sighed, he had gone into the tavern and ordered himself a drink, hot coca. He read a book. One, that no longer interested him.

"Shouldn't you be fifth-row center right about now?" Pete had walked up to the other male.

Asher smiled at him. "Hey, Pete."

"Where's Clark?"

"He went to check on Chloe," Aster smiled. "We heard about the news report about Jenna, and, how Sean is suspect number one. He had to run off."

"I saw that too. I always thought Sean was a good guy. I guess we didn't know people as well as we think."

"You've been friends with Clark for a long time, right?" Aster asked, even though he knew the answer. "Is he always so-"

"Clark-like? Sometimes he's totally there and you  think you know everything about him and then there's this part that's..."

"Mysterious," Aster filled in.

"Yeah, that's it," Peter smiled. "Clark Kent, international man of mystery."

"Anyways, like I said, he had gone to check on Chloe. You, know, it was something important."

"I can't think there's anything more important to him, that you," Peter says, as if it's a known fact.

"Aster," Whitney spoke. "What are you doing here?"

"Just reading," Aster smiled.

"Pretty dressed up to be digging into a book. What? You finally decided to call one of the guy's numbers that I gave you?" Whitney asked.

"I'll catch up with you later," Pete goes to walk away.

"Pete, why don't you take your date for a spin in the limo?" Aster suggested.

"Oh, she's not a date. She's just my friend."

Aster smiled. "Either way, I won't be needing it."

Peter smiled. "Thanks." He turned to his date-not date. "You're gonna love this."

"What were you doing in a limo?" Whitney asked.

"Clark Kent invited me." He easily spoke, shrugging.

"And?" Whitney asked. "Where is he?"

"Oh, he had to go. Had to check on a friend."

"Come on, I'll drive you home," Whitney offered.

"But what if-" Aster begins.

"Look, I'm not leaving you here, and Kent definitely doesn't deserve you waiting for him," Whitney said. "Don't make me drag you out of here. It'll be embarrassing for the both of us."

Aster smiled, shaking his head. "As if you could."
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"I know this is probably one of those times I should just let things go, but, I kind of like to know what's going on," Whitney tells Aster.

"Why does it matter?" Aster asks.

"Because, Aster, you're my friend," Whitney began. "and, you've been crushing on Kent-"

Aster's head snaps up.

"What? You didn't think I knew? It's obvious," Whitney says.

"No. It's just..." Aster paused, trying to think of how to phrase it. "You never really...whenever you tried to set me up on a date, it was always with a girl."

"Oh...oh," Whitney repeats, realization. "No, wait, Aster-"

Aster sighs. "Forget I said anything."

"No-how am I going to forget that?" Whitney asked. "Aster, come on, tell me your kidding. Playing another sick joke." Whitney glanced at him.

"When was I ever joking?"

"Aster, come on, you have to know, that I don't care if you like guys. Or date them. It's just Clark Kent?"

"Whitney, look, I really don't want to talk about it right now-"

"Have you thought, this the entire time?"

"I mean, Whitney, come on, the second I came out, you ran like I set your car on fire."

"I didn't know what to say! I didn't want to say the wrong thing."

"And, how was running away the best option?"

"So I could search up what to say," Whitney says, as if it was obvious.

A second passes in silence. Then another one.  Aster turned his head to Whitney, slowly. "You...searched up...what to say, so i knew you accepted me?"

Whitney nodded. "Apparently, it didn't work. I'm never trust-"

Aster burst out laughing. "Oh my god!"

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Lana had the same reaction."

Aster laughs again, harder. Whitney turned to look at him, momentarily. "Remind me to never-"

"Whitney, watch out!" Aster yells, when seeing a figure in the road.

"Sean!" Whitney pressed the break. "Hold on!"

Whitney swerved, the car goes downs the tiny hill, windows crashing.

"Aster, are you okay?" Whitney asked.

"Yeah. Aside from my ankle. You?" Aster asked back.

"I'm fine."

"Where did Sean go?"

"I don't know. But I gotta get you somewhere safe. Hold on," Whitney exited the car.

Aster buckled his seatbelt, reaching for his door and pushing it open. Whitney had ran around the car. "Come on."

"Dude, it's not theta serious," Aster speaks, as Whitney has taken his arm and swung it over his shoulder.

"Come on over there. Those lights are over at the Luthor house," Whitney says. "Just down the road."
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One of Lex's hires had lead them to where Lex was. He opened the door of them.

"Aster," the sound of Martha Kent's voice had the shaggy-haired boy look up.

"He's okay." Whitney says.

"Where's Clark?" Martha asked.

"He went to check on Chloe," aster informed. "Since, Sean was suspected of being a danger. And he tried to ask Chloe out."

"Sit, come over here," Lex urged.
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The two sat by the fire. As Lex has brought the two something hot to drink. "This kid sounds dangerous." He crouched down to hand them hot cocoa. "I've got the gate down and the alarm on. You're staying here until they find Sean."

Whitney handed Aster his hot cocoa.

Lex looks at Aster. "Sorry about your date." He then gets up and walks away.

Aster's face heats up.

"No, I'm still getting the answering machine at home," Jonathan notified.

"Maybe he's still checking on Chloe," Aster suggested.

The electricity begins to crackle, lights flickering.
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The lights had turned off which has made Lex go and retrieve flash lights. "Here you go." He hands one to Jonathan.

"Thanks. I'll go check the front gate."

"It should be secure," Alex replied.

"I'll check the generator. Where is it?" Martha asked.

"It's on the side of the house, but I can get it," Lex replied.

But, Martha left quickly. Lex sighed.
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After leaving the house, the next day, Aster had gone to the Luthor house. But, Lex wasn't there, so, he had dropped off something in thanks. It had been a baked batch of brownies. Before he had to go to School.
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When he was at his locker, he had heard someone approaching. "Aster." Clarke's voice calls out. "Hey. How's your ankle?"

"It's better. Thanks," Aster smiled. He hesitated. "You never came back the other night. Chloe's alright?"

"Well, I-i did. Come back, I mean. But, you were gone." Clark says.

Aster nodded.

"I'm sorry. I wanted things to work out differently."

"Don't worry about it." He smiled.

"I was thinking maybe we could, you know, try again sometime. How about Saturday?"

"Yeah." Aster smiled. "I'll call you tonight. And we can make plans. Or, make plans at lunch."

Clark smiled, nodding. "Yeah. I'll talk to you at lunch."
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