CHAPTER TWO: metamorphosis

••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

ASTER MAVERICK SMILED AT CLARK BEFORE HE BEGAN TO TAKE A STEP BACK. As he had began to realize that it was getting later, and he had told his mother and father the time he would arrive home, and it was past the time. "Shit, I gotta run home."

Luckily, his house wasn't far. Right across from the Kent farm.

"Oh, and Clark," Aster paused at the stairs, looking up at the other who had walked towards the stairs. "you should go to the next dance. You're really good at it."

Aster turned to continue walking down the stairs, looking boy stepping down two when Clark called out to him. "Wait, Aster."

The Hazel-eyed boy turned to the one with blue eyes. "Yes?"

"Uh..." Clark realized, after a moment, that with how close Aster was, he hadn't felt sick, like he did when Aster and Lana were wearing their jewelry that held a piece of the green metro rock. But, he couldn't think of a way to ask the other. "You want me to walk you home?"

Aster smiled. "That's nice, but, it'll only take a minute to walk there. Plus, last time I had someone over, my father kept asking if I was dating him. It was annoying and embarrassing, since he stopped talking to me. Good night, Clark."
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

"You're late," Sebastian Maverick, Aster's father told the boy.

"Yeah...I, uh, went to go see Clark. He hadn't shown up to the dance." Aster removed his jacket.

"Clark Kent?"

"Yeah. He didn't look well in school. I'm gonna go put on pajamas." The boy ran up the steps, trying to ignore the second meaning in his father's tone.
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

"Oh, you went to see Clark!" Lana smiled, slapping her hands in excitement, against Aster's shoulder.

"Ok. Stop that.  I dance with him and you start to abuse me." Aster gently slapped at her wrist.

When she entirely stopped, mouth dropping open in surprise. Then she hit his shoulder. "You didn't tell me that!"

"And I'll never tell you anything again if you keep abusing me." Aster says, as Whitney pulled up in front of the house.  "Tell your girlfriend to stop abusing me."

"What did you do?" Whitney asked back.

"Bitch," Aster muttered.
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

They had gone to the farmer's market. They arrived at the table, but when Lana looked up she had seen Clark. She smiled as she pulled Aster over.

Aster wondered what he had ever done to the girl to get her to do this to him.

"Clark," Lana greeted. "We didn't see you at the dance last night."

"Oh, I was-" Clark looked at Whitney. "I was a little tied up."

Aster turned to look at Whitney, a confused and curious look.

"Hey," Jonathan Kent speaks, walking up to them with an extended hand. "Congratulations. That was one heck of a game. I haven't seen an offensive that good since I played."

Whitney smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Kent."

"I'm gonna get the rest of the boxes out of the truck," Clark says before walking off.

"I'll help," Whitney speaks after then following Clark.

Jonathan extends a peach to both Lana and Aster, smiling. "Lana. Aster."
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

"That was weird, right?" Aster asked.

"What was?" Lana replied in question, but looked at the butterfly.

"Clark and Whitney."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. They were just acting off. Whitney went to go help Clark, after that odd moment."

Lana paused, turning. "I don't know. But, you could just ask them."

"Do you like it?" Aster questioned, seeing how Lana was staring at the glass butterfly wind chimes.

Lana smiled. "You are not getting me another gift."

"I can save it for your birthday," Aster reasoned.

Lana had tapped on the chimes again.

"Beautiful isn't it?" A voice comes before behind the two.

"Shit!" Aster cursed, turning around. "You a secret agent or something? Didn't hear you."

Only, the boy looked back and forth at the two, it being clear how he looked at Lana. Like he had a crush on her.

"Greg! Hey, I didn't recognize you without your glasses." Lana says.

"Did you know the average butterfly only lives for eight hours?" Greg tapped one of the glass butterflies, causing for Lana to dunk.

"Live fast, die young. They're the rock stars of the insect world."

"Hey, Lana, I was wondering if you could help me with my lit paper?" Greg asked

Aster looked back and forth between the two, realizing what Greg was doing.

"Nathanael West assignment giving you brain freeze?"

"Yeah, it's kicking my ass."

Lana nodded. "Sure, okay."

"Great. How about my house, after school?"

"Oh, uh, Lana," Aster speaks. "I...I was going to ask you," damn should have planned while he was talking. Aster, nervously laughed, scratching the back of his neck.

Lana gave him a comforting smile. "Math?"

Aster clicked his tongue. "Yes. Is there anyway we can..." he looked at Greg. 

"You can come to," Greg suddenly spoke.

Aster turned, slightly surprised. But, faked a smile at the boy. "Really? That'd be great."

Greg nodded, saying that he and Lana could help him with his math, and that Lana and Aster could help him with with the Nathanael West assignment.

"The library might be easier," Lana suggested.

"It's a date," Greg says.

"Lana, your aunt's looking for you," Whitney says as he comes up to the three. He knew that, or hoped that, Aster would follow Lana.

Lana walked away, Aster behind her. "You do realize that he was flirting with you, right?"

"Then why would he invite you?" Lana smiled.

"The fuck if I know? Because he knew I planned to get you away from him and use the excuse that I needed help in math. He did try and help me with math once, so, he knows about everything."
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

The only reason that Lana nor Aster hadn't gone with Whitney, was because Lana's aunt had said that she would pick the both of them up.

Although, Lana had invited Aster over, saying that he really needed to get back into horse back riding.

Asher looked back, at the Kent farm.

"Okay, I get it," Aster huffed. "You're better at it than me." He then jumped off the horse. Before he turned to Lana, extended a hand over-dramatically. "My lady."

"God, will you ever let that go?" Lana asked.

"Of course. When I die."

"Your form's good, but his gait's off," A voice suddenly called out.

Aster had pulled Lana behind him when he had seen an unknown man.

"You might wanna check his shoes," the bald man said.

Shit, Aster thought, has he recognized the man.

"Lex Luthor, I'm a friend of your aunt's," he spoke again.

"Sneaking up like that...you're lucky you didn't get kicked," Lana says as she walked over.

"You must be Lana, and you," Lex turned to Aster, looking up at the taller one. "are a lot taller then from a distance."

Aster laughed, extending his hand. "Aster."

Lex accepted the hand offered, shaking it. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you." He glanced at Lana.

"We already met," Lana speaks.

"I seriously doubt I'd forget meeting you," Lex answered.

"You...were a little preoccupied at the time." Lana answered before beginning to remove the satchel

"I get the feeling I didn't make a great first impression?"

"When I and Aster was ten, we went to Metropolis for a riding competition.  Your father invited us to stay over. My aunt said you had an indoor pool. But, when we went to check it out...I found you and a girl skinny-dipping."

Aster groaned. "Why did you have to remind me of that? I literally blocked it out!" Aster had completely forgotten about the interaction.

"I think you were teaching her the breaststroke."

"That was you?" Lex asked in shock, recalling the two, how Aster began to pull Lana back into the house, saying that Lex was giving the strange girl CPR.  "Wow! You're all grown up now."

Lex walked away, stopping at the trophy case. "Very impressive."

"It tacky." Lana tells him. "But it makes my aunt happy."

"That's an unusual necklace," Lex pointed to the necklace that Lana was wearing in the photo.

"Thanks, it's very special to me."

"How come you're not wearing it?"

"I lent it to my boyfriend."

"Lucky guy...what's his name?"

"Whitney Fordman."

Aster stood off, awkwardly, unsure of the what to do. He had stayed because he didn't trust Lex.

"The kid that Kent saved today?"

Lana nodded. "Just came back from seeing him. He's lucky Clark was there." Lana elbowed Aster, smiling.

Asher looked back.

"I know the feeling," Lex replied.  "It makes you wonder if your with the right guy. One chucked footballs, the other helps save lives."

Lana frowned, confused about what Lex had meant, and annoyed that Lex was insulting Whitney. "For someone who just moved into town you've got a lot of opinions."

"You just seem more interesting than that," Lex  leans in the stable door.

Aster glanced back and forth between he and Lana.

"While your nursing your boyfriend back to health...ask him what he was doing before the big game."

Lana exited the stable. "He was with me."

"Are you sure?"

"Is there something you need to say? Or are you just going to keep speaking like that?" Aster asked, having zero clue as to what the man was speaking off.

Lex glanced at him, then turned to Lana. "Tell your aunt I stopped by." Then walked away.

"That was weird..." Aster says.
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

"Save any lives in your way over?" Lex questioned, when seeing Clark crouched down, looking at the table that help a structure. "You keep it up, and you could make a career out of it."

Clark stood up. "Just dropping off your produce. Sorry my parents have you hard time."

"Oh, if push came to shove I would have arm-wrestled then for it." Lex walked around the table. Clark smiled. "Planning an invasion? My father gave it to me when I was nine."

"Cool gift," Clark commented.

"It wasn't a gift. It was a strategy tool. My father equates business with war. Take the battle of Troy. It started because two men were in line with the same woman. Kinda like you and the quarterback. That's why he strung you up in the field, isn't it?"

Clark turns, a look of confusion and uncertainty coming over his face. "I'm not in love with Lana."

"Then why would he tie you in the middle of a field?"

"If we're at war, Whitney's pretty much won." Clark says instead.

"You lost one battle, Clark, that's all. Besides, I don't believe Lana is as infatuated as you think."

Clark sighed, unsure if, even if Lex was nice, if he would still be nice when Clark spoke. "It's not about Lana."

Lex, momentarily, is silenced. He had tried to help, and apparently failed. He had misread the situation. Aster had been standing near Lana and Whitney at all times, so, whenever Clark was looking at Aster, Lex misjudged and through the was looking at Lana.

"Oh..." Lex spoke.  "Then, I guess the Trojan Horse I got you, doesn't work in this case." He has walked over to the shelf, lifting up the lead box that he had there. He turned to Clark. Then opened the box.

Clark took a step back, face pinched up in pain.

"Clark...you okay?" Lex asked when seeing the look on his face.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Clark looks away.

Lex looked back down at the box, and then closed it. He walked closer to Clark.

"That's a cool box," Clark speaks. "What's it made of?"

"Lead. My mother brought it in a Cashbah in Morocco. The little guy told it was made from the armor of St. George. Patron saint of Boy Scouts. She gave it to me before she died. Think she was trying to send me a message." He extended a hand to offer the box to Clark.

"I can't take that," Clark took a step away. Then walked around the table.

"What is it about Kent's and gifts? It's yours. Hand it to Lana and tell her what happened. Tell Aster what happened. Trust me."

Depending on the type of friends that Lana and Aster were(which simply based on his short interaction with the two, he assumed close) that Lana would hopefully talk about Clark to Aster. But, now he was slightly worried that, given the fact he has multiple plans for Clark to steal Lana away from Whitney, has to be changed to impress Aster.

"This necklace gives you the power, Clark. All you gotta do is use it."
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

"I'm gonna talk to him," Aster says as he walked towards Whitney.

"Wait," Lana calls out, wanting to tell the other he has to be careful.

"Where were you before the game on Saturday?" Aster asked, leaning against the locker.

"Can we talk about this layer?" Whitney asked.

Only, now Lana walked up, closing his locker. "It's a simple question, Whitney."

Whitney sighs. "I was warming up."

Aster hummed. "If that was true, why would you need to talk about it later? You got a new warmup routin, didn't you?" Aster snapped his fingers in fake realization. "Are we sure it can be called a warm up, if you leave someone to freeze outside?"

Whitney sighs. "It was just a prank."

"Yeah, possibly getting someone killed or, at the very least, sick," Aster snapped. "Is a real nice prank."

"Can I please have my necklace back?" Lana asked.

Whitney hesitated, silenced for a moment. "I lost it."

"We're you planning on telling me? Or was that a prank to?" Lana then walked away.

Aster stayed for a moment, glaring. "Apologize to Clark, and get Lana's necklace back to her. And if you do neither, I'll break your playing arm."

"Wait, Aster," Whitney reached out to stop the boy. "You really don't get it?"

"I get that your an ass."

"No, Clark, he-"

"is someone you will be apologizing to."
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

"Or would you like to be alone with him?" Lana smiled with a suggestive tone.

Aster looked at her, annoyed.

Lana raised her hands. "I'll leave you two alone."

Aster had gone to the Kent farm, walking up to where Clark spent most of him time. Before he has caught sight of a telescope. He wondered for a moment, if Clark would care if he looked though it.

Aster took a look around it, before taking a step closer. He looked though the scope, surprised to see that you could see his house from his distance.

"Aster," Clark's voice comes from behind him.

Immediately, Aster straightened up, face heating up in being caught. "Your mom said I could wait here. I hope you don't mind. This is an amazing place, I forgot to say that, last time."

"My dad built it," Clark tells him. "He calls it my 'Fortress Of Solitude'."

Aster laughs, before he gestures to the telescope. "I wasn't aware that you were into astronomy."

"That-that's a hobby." Clark stammered.

"Did you know you could see my house from here?" He questioned, looking again.

"No! Really?" Clark leans over, tilting the telescope. "You know, we've lived a mile apart all our lives and you've never come over. Aside from that night." Clark adds.

"I actually wanted to come over a few times, but you were always doing your chores or I was out..." Aster admitted.

Clark, seeing how nervous the other was, seeing how the boy looked regretful, quickly spoke up. "Not that I don't enjoy the company. But, you only came here once."

"I found out what Whitney did. The scarecrow thing...I told him it was messed up, that he should apologize. I don't think he actually will. So, I'm sorry he did that. I don't know why he did it, why he's an ass."

"It's not your fault," Clark tells him. "So, forget about it."

"I can't. Nobody deserves that, but especially you. You could have gotten sick out there, or worst. And then, you saved his life."

"I appreciate you coming over here but your not the one who should be apologizing."

"Yeah. I know. I didn't come here to defend him, I actually..." threatened to break his arm if he don't apologize. "I came here to check on you, you know? Make sure that you were okay. But, you also deserve an apology. And I know Whitney's not going to give it to you."

"Who told you?"

"Lex Luthor. But, I kind of suspect it. That something happened, because of the farmer's market. But, he began dropped bread crumbs, Lana and I followed. Which, she probably will be around to apologize to. I'm glad Lex told me. He was being a good friend. You're lucky, it's rare."

Clark tilted his head. "Oh, Lex is definitely one of a kind. What are you gonna do?"

"I'm not sure. I mean, I can't go through with my threat."

"You threatened him? That wasn't necess-"

"It was. He clearly needs a reality check. I never thought he'd do something like this. String you up, leaving you out in the cold, over what? You crushing on Lana."

"Uh," Clark begins. "W-why do you assume I have a crush on Lana?"

"A: why else would Whitney do that to you? B: Lex.
Did you know that Whitney lost Lana's necklace?"

"Can't she get it replaced?"

"It's odd...it's like my bracelet. While mine is made from the meteor that killed my aunt. Her's is the one that killed her parents. Her aunt had it made. And gave it to her the way she adopted Lana."

"Your bracelet, you dont wear it as often as Lana wears her necklace."

"Yeah. Because I hate it. I only wear it because of my mom. But, I kinda wish it was my bracelet lost, instead of Lana's necklace."

Aster smiled at Clark. "Are you sure your okay?"

Clark nodded.

Asher turned, walking down the steps. He turned back to Clark. "I'm glad you are okay."
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

"What the hell?" Aster questions, turning his head at the fact that his window was open.
Asher walked closer, closing the window, when suddenly, he was pulled back.

Immediately, he yelled, throwing his head back try and head but the person. The person rested their head on his shoulder.

When he was turned, facing the person and was, no longer able to move.

"Greg?" Aster questioned in shock.
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

Aster shot up, reaching out with a clenched fist, preparing to throw a punch.

Clark leaned back, a look of relief on his face. When both heard the sound of someone heading up the ladder. Clark, looking worried and confused, turned to stand in front of Aster.

"Aster," Whitney called, looking relieved to see the other awake. His eyes drifted to Clark. "Kent, I wanted to-"

Clark leaned over to help Aster down the ladder. Whitney had to quickly climb down, ready to help Aster if needed. Aster had been put in the back seat, the boy still tired, muttered, practically sleeping. "Sorry, I almost punched you,"

Clark smiled softly. "It okay."

"I didn't know it was you."
••¤('×[¤ ᐯꀤꀸꍟꂦ ꁅꍏꎭꍟꌗ ¤]×')¤••

{3240}