Pete Ross found them at lunch.
Clark waved him over. "Pete. This is Aaron. The new kid I told you about."
Pete was shorter than Clark. Black hair. Friendly eyes. He shook Aaron's hand without hesitation.
"Heard you moved into the old Reynolds place. That property is huge."
"My parents need space for research."
"For what?"
" botany, she is doing agriculture research"
"In Kansas?" Pete laughed.
A girl appeared beside Pete. Blonde. Sharp eyes. Notebook in one hand. Camera bag over her shoulder.
"You must be Aaron Gill." She did not wait for an introduction. "I'm Chloe Sullivan. I run the school newspaper. The Torch. I investigate strange events around Smallville."
"Strange events?"
"This town has the highest meteor fragment concentration in the country. Weird stuff happens. People don't talk about it. I do."
Aaron looked at Clark. Clark shrugged. "She is always like this."
"I already heard about what happened to Whitney Fordman," Chloe said. "He stopped bullying everyone overnight. His friends won't talk about it. But everyone knows something happened behind the gym."
"Sounds mysterious," Aaron said.
"Yes. It does." Chloe's eyes narrowed. "Maybe I will write about it."
"Maybe you will write about the football team instead."
She smiled. It was not a friendly smile. It was a challenge. "We will see."
Pete changed the subject. "You two walking home together? Clark never walks with anyone."
"We are going the same way," Aaron said.
---
The school day ended. Aaron and Clark walked the back roads toward the Kent farm.
The road was empty. Fields on both sides. No cars. No people.
Clark stopped. "Want to race?"
"You will win."
"I will go slow."
Aaron looked at him. The vampire blood stirred. Competitive. Old instincts from a martial world that measured everything in strength.
"Fine. To the bridge."
"Go."
Clark moved. He was not using his full speed. Aaron could tell. His feet barely touched the ground. His body was relaxed.
Aaron ran. Full speed. Every muscle pushed to its limit. His feet pounded the dirt. His breath came fast and hard. He was faster than any normal human. Vampire evolution had given him that.
But Clark was always ahead. Not far. Just enough.
They reached the bridge. Aaron stopped. Hands on his knees. Gasping.
Clark stood beside him. Not breathing hard. Not sweating. Calm.
"Aaron. Your speed is increasing day by day."
Aaron straightened. Looked at Clark's dry forehead. His steady chest.
"I sense you did not even sweat. And my body is out of breath. Just by going at your speed."
Clark looked away. "I held back."
"I know."
They walked onto the bridge. The river ran below. Slow water. Deep and dark.
---
Headlights.
Bright. Fast. Too fast.
A silver Porsche roared around the curve. No slowing. The driver was not looking.
Clark turned. Aaron grabbed him. Too late.
The car hit Clark. His body flew sideways. Aaron crashed against the railing. The bridge shook.
The Porsche spun. Skidded. Flipped off the bridge and plunged into the river with a heavy splash.
Silence.
Aaron pushed himself up. His side was bruised. Already healing.
Clark was on his feet. Not hurt. Not even a scratch. His shirt was torn but his skin was unmarked.
Below, the Porsche sank. Bubbles rose from the dark water.
"Someone is in there," Clark said.
"I know."
Clark started toward the railing. Aaron grabbed his arm.
"Stop."
Clark looked at him. "What?"
"You are going to rescue him."
"Yes."
"Clark. He hit us. He nearly killed us. It is his fault. Why are you rescuing him?"
"Because he is dying."
"Let him."
Clark's face changed. Something hard crossed it. "I can't."
"You are making my life and yours in danger. If you pull him out, people will ask questions. How did a teenager lift a car from a river? How did you survive getting hit? You will expose everything."
Clark looked at the sinking car. Looked back at Aaron.
"Aaron. He will die if I don't help."
"Yes."
Clark said nothing. He pulled his arm free. Walked to the edge of the bridge. Dived into the water.
Aaron stood alone. Watched the river.
The water churned. Bubbles rose. Then Clark emerged. One arm hooked under the driver's shoulders. The other swimming. Strong. Steady.
He dragged the man to the shore. Laid him on the grass.
Aaron walked down from the bridge. Slowly.
The driver was young. Bald. Expensive suit. Unconscious. Breathing.
"He is alive," Clark said. Water dripped from his hair.
" Let's leave then ! Someone will rescue him ".