CHAPTER THREE: hothead

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ASTER MAVERICK HAD FELT AS IF HE WAS A BAD FRIEND. Because even after Whitney, and Clark, and came to save him and Lana from Greg, he has been unable to force himself to go to Whitney's game. After discovering what Whitney had done to Clark, and the fact that he could have done it to others, anytime he had seen the other, anger bubbles in his body.
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Aster wasn't sure if Chloe was crazy brave, or crazy suicidal. The girl had posted an article about how terrible of a coach Walt Arnold was.

Which was true, it was one of the reasons why Aster didn't join the football team.
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"But you know who should join the team?" Whitney speaks loudly, swinging an arm over Asher's shoulders as the guy went to walk by. The blond haired boy pulled the brunette towards him. "Aster."

"And why would I do that?" Aster asked, shoving Whitney's arm off him.

"Because Kent is scared." Whitney mocked.

Aster raised an eyebrow. "Clark? Scared? You mean this Clark?" Aster gestured to him, oblivious to the way Clark was looking at him. "The one who pulled you out of a burning car?
That exploded? After you-"

"Hey, hey," Walt spoke up, as Aster looked at Whitney in annoyance.

"It's my dad-" Clark went to reason.

Only this time, coach Walt interrupted him. "Kent. There comes a time to step out of your father's shadow and be your own man. Now what do you say? You ready to be your own man?"

Clark looks at Aster. Then back at Walt. "Count me in."

"Good. I will see you at practice today. Three o'clock. Don't be late." Walt tells him before walking away.

Whitney and Lana walk away. Aster hovers. "Didn't you say your father doesn't want you to play?"

"Yes. Yes. He did," Pete says with a smile. He turned to Clark. "Call me when the hurting's done, okay?" He placed a hand on Clark's shoulder. The walks away

"You do know, you don't have to play, just because Walt is trying to force you into it? Unless you actually want to play?"

"I'll just try and convince him," Clark says.
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Aster had gone to the practice, showing slightly late. He looked around, seeing on the field, the players were already playing. Aster had looked for someone that he could talk to, but didn't see many people he actually spoke to.

Clark had gotten the ball, shouldering three players down before jumping over other players. He mare it to the end of field, throwing the ball down. "Yeah, Clark!"

Everyone cheered.
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Aster had forgotten that he had applied to work at the Alibi. He had figured that he should gain some work experience, after the last place that he worked at shut down. And saw the help wanted sign.

Lana had also applied.  And both had been accepted.

Lana works half an hour earlier than him.

"Clark just walked in," Aster speaks, after rushing to the back where Lana was.

"And you ran back here?" Lana asked.

"I panicked."

Lana picked up his notepad, shoving it into his hands. And then she walked out, Aster stayed there for a second before he walked out.

"Aster," Clark speaks, surprised.

"Oh, hey Clark," Aster faked surprise. "Can I get you anything?"

"You're a waiter for real?" Clark asked.

Aster gestured to the name tag. "No. I beat up another Aster and stole his apron and name tag. Yes, I really am."

"I-I didn't know you work here. I've never seen you working here before."

"That's because it's my first day. I'll be right back," Aster says a he turns to grab a tray.

"You're still not wearing your bracelet." Clark says when he gets back, following after him.

"Strict free code. No jewelry and no open-toed shoes," Aster explained. "Which makes sense. Jewelry could fall into someone's food or drink, and the shoes are plan out disgusting to wear in a kitchen."

"You look very waiter-like." Aster placed the drinks down.

"Now, if I could only tell the difference between a half-caf decaf and a non-fat latte," Lana smiled.

"She's right," Aster speaks, which even though he was speaking to Clark, had gotten the attention of Chloe and Pete. "I had to fix it before she brought it out. Twice."

"Of course you're working here, to," Chloe speaks. "Wherever Lana goes, you go."

"Uh..." Aster speaks, unsure. "I applied to five places total, but, this was the only one that accepted me. When three of the places found out..."Aster made a slight gesture. "You know, that I also like boys, they said they didn't want me working there...along with other things that I will not repeat."

Chloe's mouth drops open, surprised, and a look of guilt comes over her. 

"She left the tray," Aster picks it up and brings it to her. "Lana."

"Again?" She questioned. "It's been happening a lot today."

"I know. I give it to you every time."

"And, it seems that you have a not-so-secret admirer."

Aster turned, confused. He turned in order to catch sight of said secret admirer, but only Clark Kent was walking up to them. "And, it seems yours is here."

Now, Lana looked confused.

"Aster," Clark greeted.

Lana smiled brightly, taking the tray from the counter and turning around to walk into the back. Aster, raised an eyebrow, turning to Clark.

"So, you joined the football team," Aster speaks to Clark.

"Yeah."

"You know, you're better than me."

Clark looks confused and raises a questioning eyebrow. "I'm better than you?"

"I would have taken being in the football team to take my revenge on Whitney." Aster smiled.

Clark stared, unable to smile back. He loved Aster's smile. "Why didn't you ever join? You definitely could have. Could still."

Aster felt his face heat up, hoping that Clark wasn't paying that much attention. And, when seeing Clark's smile, raked his brain to say something that would keep the smile on his face.

"What did, uh, Whiney say?" Clark questioned, awkwardly.

"You are his teammate now, you should ask him. Maybe, use it as an excuse to get your vengeance. You know? 'Oh, hey, Whitney, I was hoping to talk to you?' then, bam! Break his arm."

Clark, obviously knew that Aster was joking.

Aster smiled. "Kidding, you wouldn't go that. But, just, play better then him. You know? Hurt his ego, instead! That'll get him more then anything!"

"You know, it's amazing, the second I join the team, Lana quits the team, Whitney and you get into an argument, I was just hoping we'd get to see more of each other." Clark says.

And, that, confused Aster. In the beginning, when Clark spoke of Lana quitting the cheerleading team, he thought it was Clark hoping to see more of Lana. But, then Clark brought up Whitney and him. "I've got four shifts a week," He smiled. "This week, I've actually got five. You can stop by anytime you like."

"Aster, table three's been waiting for their drinks for five minutes."

I should really learn her name. Aster thought.

"I got it! I got it!" Lana comes rushing, trying to not stop Clark and Aster from speaking.

Aster quicky took the tray, before Lana could. Before sending a smile to all three. "I've got it."

"You-" Lana began before Asher walked away. The other waitress turned around, walking away. Lana glared as he turned her back, crossing her arms over her chest. "Unbelievable."

"Lana, are you alright?" Clark questioned, confused as the girl acted off.

Lana was still glaring at the woman who was her boss. Before she turned, clearly plastering on a smile.
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Aster pushed a hand through his hair, nervously. He had wanted to go to the school prep rally, but, unfortunately, he couldn't.

"I'll get his order," Aster spoke, when seeing Lex Luthor.

"I can-" Lana began.

"Practice balancing the tray, for an ex-cheerleader, you suck at holding this up. Is that why you were never holding the flyer up?" Aster turned back, handing the notepad and pen in his hand. He smiled at Lana, taking a few steps backward to see her face fall on disbelief at the comment.

"When you get back," Lana mouthed at him.

Aster turned around, being met with Lex, who sighed as he was staring down at his book. For a second, Aster waited, flipping to a new paper.  

"Aster," Lex speaks, surprised. Then chuckled, he closed his folder. "What happen? Did your parents put you on the street?"

Aster has forgotten that Lex knew his parents. "Lana and I decided to join the work force, this was the on my place that called me back."

Lex furrowed his eyebrows. "You'd rather not be working here?"

Aster shrugged. "It's fine. I just wanted to work at the library more."

"Good for you, I'm sure you'll be employee of the month on no time."

"That's debatable," Aster muttered.

"How so?"

Aster looked at the man, unsure.  Practically the entire town knew he was gay. So, it didn't matter if he told Lex or not, he would find out. Aster tried to make it seem like nothing, like he wasn't worried about what insult or possible slur Lex would throw at him. "Apparently, people don't want a bisexual boy taking their orders."

"Oh," a look came over Lex's face, one that Aster couldn't identify.

So, he sighed.  "Look, it's fine. I can get Lana to take your order if you'd be more com-"

"No!" Lex seemed panicked, worried the boy would think that of him. "No." he repeated, calmer.   "Just..." at least, he could still try and set up Clark with Aster.

Lana had walked up to them, fake cherry. But, it was clear to Aster what she was doing. Typically when Aster took a long amount of time, the customer was lecturing him about his attraction to boys.

"Your needed at the front," Lana smiled.

"Oh, let me just take-"

"I can take it." Lana insisted.

Aster held up his hand as Lana turned to Lex. 'Sorry', Aster mouthed to Lex.   Lex assumed it was to do with the conversation.

"Oh, would you look at who it is," Aster kept an ear out, listening to Lex and Lana.  For Lex's order. Lana announced that she had the record for breaking the most dishes in a day.  "Smallville's latest football star." Aster greeted

"Let's see how I do tomorrow night," Clark replied. "Hey, have you seen Trevor tonight?"

"No, he hasn't been in. Not from the time I've been here."

"How are things going here?"

"Today is one of those days I just wanna scream," Aster admitted.

"Well, for what it's worth, I think it's cool you got this job."

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry I can't see you play tomorrow.  I can't exactly call out on the second day." Aster speaks. "Maybe I shouldn't have put down I could start immediately. So, can I get you anything?"

"May I have a cup of coffee?"

"Cream and sugar?"

Clark nodded. Asher went back, only to see that Lana had made two drinks. He took two cups out, looking to here she took them.

Clark and Lex.

He quickly began to make their drinks, it being quick. He made one more drink, handing it to Lana when she arrived. "Can you game this fo table four?"

Lana nodded, taking it before moving to the table. Aster made his way over to Lex and Clark.

"Is that what you ordered?" Clark asked Lex.

"Not even close."

"Now I don't feel guiltly for eavesdropping and getting your order," Aster placed the drinks down. Then taking the cup from Lex. "But, don't tell Lana.  And, Lana prbably forgot the sugar and cream. Here you go.""

"Remember, I wasn't here."

Lana dropped a cup.
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Aster had been disappointed when he was unable to go and see Clark play in the game. He had tried to go, hoping that he could see Clark at the end.

Lana offered to cover his shift. 

He was aware it was a bad idea. But, she had gotten an order right, and, he allowed for that, to be enough to trust her.

He saw Clark wlaking the field. "Peaceful isn't it?"

"Hey, I thought you were working." Clark speaks, surprised.

"Lana's covering for me." he replied, then sucked on his bottom lip. Yeah. I'm probably gonna be fired. They noticed how, with Aster around, Lana wasn't messing up as bad as she did with other orders.  "I'm gonna have to find a new job before my dad says I'll have to try out for a sport."

"Parents, what are you gonna do?"

"I heard about the coach. That's insane."

"He won his two-hundredth game and didn't even see it."

"Are you gonna play next season?" Aster asked.

"I don't know if football's for me," Clark admitted.  "I mean, my dad played, my granddad played, I think it's time to break the vicious cycle."

Aster smiled. "Pretty shirt career. Any reason to the change of heart?" his eyes narrow. "It wasn't Whitney, was it?"

Clark shook his head. "No, it's just..." he began. "Guess I got out onto the field and realized my reason for playing was gone."

Cause Lana quit the team. "I'm sorry to hear that."

But, Clark smiled. "Who said life was fair?"

"You gonna be okay?"

"Sometimes I just wanna scream."

Aster looked around.  "No one's around. Why don't we?"

"Why don't we what?"

"Scream. Like I said, no one's around. I'm game if you are."

Clark looked around. "Are you serious?"

"Why not?"

"On three." Clark looked suspiciously at Aster, who laughed. "One, two, three."

They both screamed.
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