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chloecrossingTitle: Strange Things Are Happening (Ain't No Doubt About It)
Author: Tracy (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lunarknightz)
Rating: PG
Pairing (if any): Slight Sam/Chloe Sullivan
Prompt:257. Smallville crossover: Sam and Dean in school with Clark & Co.
Disclaimer: Neither Smallville nor Supernatural are mine. I will, however, drool over both obsessively come Thursday nights this fall.
Summary: Smallville High should be just another in a long line of schools to Sam, but surprisingly, it's something more.
Author's Note: Set in and around the Smallville Pilot (2001). Sam is a Senior in High School; Clark and gang are Freshmen.
“Hey, Sammy!” Dean turned around so he could better torment his little brother in the backseat of the Impala. “Meteor Capital of the World! I bet there’s a whole little club of nerdlings just like you who study them and stuff.”
“Please.” Sam rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue at his brother before turning his attention back to the book he was reading- “Return of the King”. He’d read the other two volumes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy on the long drive from their last job in New York. He wanted to finish the trilogy before things with this job got rolling. Sam didn’t have much time to himself, so he cherished the little bits of alone time he had on the road between jobs- he could curl up in the backseat with his walkman and a good book, and avoid his family. “Shut up.”
The batteries in the walkman went dead three hours ago, and Sam new better than to ask his Dad to stop; and so Sam was all too aware of Dean’s teasing.
“Settle down boys,” John sighed. “We’re almost to the hotel, and you two can stretch your legs and get out of each other’s hair for a little bit.”
“Whatever.” Dean sighed, looking out the window on the passenger’s side. “Man, this town is a joke. What kind of freaks live in a sleepy little town like this?”
“They’ve got a killer football team.” John said as they drove down Main Street. “My team played them once, back in high school, and they damn well kicked our asses. Pretty darn good for a flock of farm boys.” Spotting the motel, John pulled over into the parking lot. “To make matters worse, my high school girl went off to college and married the quarterback.” He growled, getting out of the car and slamming the door.
Sam frowned as he climbed out of the car.
Tomorrow would be another day; another case; and yet another school. He’d attended four schools already this year; and it wasn’t even October.
_________________________________________________
Sam yawned and sunk into his seat on the bus. He hadn’t slept well; Sam blamed his nightmare on Dean watching some horror movie on TV last night. What other explanation could there be for a dream where a crowd of students was electrocuted in a school gym?
Sam had weird dreams from time to time, but he figured it was par for the course. A life like the one the Winchesters lived could do things to your mind. You could only see something beheaded or mutilated in front of your eyes so many times before it did something to your subconscious.
While registering Sam for school the day before, John requested a special school bus stop at the hotel; claiming that it was only temporary until they found a house. Being a Senior and riding the bus was a little embarrassing, but it beat Dean dropping him off at school.
Sam stared out the window idly. He loved school, but he hated the constant string of new schools that the Winchester’s demon hunting quest took him to. Sam felt like a total freak, never quite fitting in anywhere or with anyone. He was always the new kid, always the outsider. A part time job, dates, girlfriends- Sam had never had the hallmark experiences a normal kid had, and he understood, at least on a level, why.
“I can’t believe you bet against your best friend!” The blonde haired girl in the seat in front of Sam said, forking over some money to the dark skinned boy beside her.
Corn grew plentifully in the fields next to the road. Sam stared at it, and for a second, it seemed as if something was in the corn, moving even faster than the school bus.
”Chill.” Sam muttered to himself. “Not everything weird that happens is related to the Supernatural.”
_______________________________________
“I’m as free as a bird now…” Dean sang, blasting Skynard through the Impala’s speakers. He loved this car. John was already involved enough with this case to find Jeremy Creek that he’d let Dean take the Impala to run errands in Metropolis. It was a beautiful day, the air was clear, and the music was classic. This was the life.
Dean’s calm was shattered by the loud string of honks from a silver Porsche behind him. “Piss off.” Dean mutters, keeping the Impala at a steady and safe speed. The Porsche pulled up on the bumper of the Impala, and Dean is forced to swerve off the road to avoid a crash.
“ASSHOLE!” Dean yelled at the speeding Porsche. He takes a moment to catch his breath before getting back out onto the road.
_________________________________________
“What in the hell happened to you?” Dean asked, holding back laughter at the sight of a bruised Sam stretched out across the bed, as he enters the hotel room. “Did you get the number of the Mack Truck that creamed your ass?”
“Ngggh.” Sam mumbled, keeping his eyes shut. “Go away.”
“A demon didn’t jump you, right?” Concern for Sam weighs on Dean. It’s been his job to take care of Sam since the whole hunting adventure started, both from demons and garden-variety bullies. Sam’s grown up now, almost eighteen, but Dean would still take down any creature that threatened to hurt his brother. He’s the only one allowed to give Sammy hell.
“No. I’m fine.” Sam groaned.
“Sammy, I’ve seen things look better after we’ve decapitated them. What in the hell happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Sam responded through gritted teeth.
“Oh, I’m gonna get it out of you, one way are another buddy boy.” Dean said with a menacing error. “Don’t make me kick your ass.” To demonstrate his point, Dean grabs the cold compress Sam had on his knee, and punches the sore spot.
“AUGH!” Sam shot up like a jack in the box. “You’re mental.” He screamed.
“Tell me.” Dean smirked, “Or I’ll do it again.”
“Fine.” Sam mumbled, looking down at the floor. “Itriedoutforthefootballteam.”
“Your nose is nice and clean? Come on, Sam, is that even English?”
“I TRIED OUT FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAM!” Sam yelled at the top of his lungs. “You happy?”
Dean burst out in laughter. “You? Football? Sam, you’ve never even watched a game without a book plunked in front of your nose.”
“I didn’t think it would be any harder than hunting.” Sam replies defensively.
“Well, not if you actually, oh, know and understand the rules of the game.” Dean grinned. “Maybe I should get a job as an assistant coach so your own team doesn’t entirely cream your ass.”
“No. I quit.” Sam says, flopping back onto the bed. “I sucked. It was a stupid, asinine idea in the first place.”
“Then why in the hell did you do it?” Dean asks, flopping onto the other bed and grabbing the television remote.
Sam sighed. Dean could be an ass, but he was the only friend that he had. “I guess I thought if I joined the team, then maybe Dad would stay in one place for a little while longer. Let me finish the season…or my Senior year…you know, make some friends?”
Dean nodded. “You know, you can just go get your GRE and be done with all this shit, don’t you? That’s what I did.”
Sam shook his head. “That’s not for me.” A GRE wouldn’t get him closer to his dream- attending college at a top level university.
“Whatever.” Dean shrugged. He flipped on the TV.
The television was tuned to one of the local news channels out of Metropolis. The anchor, a startlingly beautiful blonde was in the midst of a news story.
“A great tragedy was averted today, as Lex Luthor, son of Luthor Corp magnate Lionel Luthor, narrowly escaped a tragic accident. The accident happened in the small hamlet of Smallville. Luthor’s Porsche hit a roll of barbed wire on the road, which caused the car to go off the bridge. A bystander, a high school kid who our sources are identifying as Clark Kent of Smallville, dove in and rescued the Luthor heir. Lionel Luthor has released a statement that Lex is indeed doing fine, and expresses thanks to the brave Mr. Kent.”
“Hey!” Dean said, as the video showed authorities dragging the ruined Porsche from the water. “That’s the jerk who ran me off the road.”
“Jealous you didn’t get to save the day?”
“Nah.” Dean sighed, and changed the channel. “Just disappointed that Luthor didn’t get his ass ordered to driving school.”
_____________________________________________
“Hello?” Sam craned his neck inside the doorway of the Torch Office. “Is this the Torch?”
“It better be.” The blonde from the bus said, turning around with a smile on her face. “Or else I’ve been working awfully hard for nothing.”
“Oh.” Sam said, striding in. “I’m, uh, my English teacher said I could get extra credit if I worked on the staff.”
“Extra Credit?” She asked. “The first week of the school year and you’re desperate? What did you do, totally slack off on all the summer reading?”
Sam shook his head. He’d gotten a B on the first test, but a B wouldn’t get him the type of scholarship he’d need for college. He was a perfectionist, but dammit, he wasn’t going to give up his dream without a fight (not counting the duel Sam knows will happen when John finds out his plans). “Just trying to improve myself, I guess.”
“Got any experience?” the blonde said, plopping down at a computer.
“Not really. But I’m willing to take on whatever you throw at me.”
“Sounds good.” The blonde replied with a grin. “So far my two most loyal staffers are my best friends that I’ve corralled into doing something. It feels great that I might actually have someone do something willingly.”
“Well, um, I’m definitely willing.” Sam shrugged.
“What are you interested in? Arts, Culture, Sports?”
“Anything but sports.” Sam said, remembering the humilation of football practice he’d suffered only a couple days before.
“Well…” She reached over and grabbed a small manilla folder on her desk. “I’d really like to have a review of the Beanery’s new menu for this issue. They’re doing this whole fall football inspired line of coffees, and where I have my doubts, apparently it’s supposed to be quite the thing. You interested?”
Sam nodded sure.
“Okay.” She handed him a piece of paper, along with a gift card to cover his coffee expenses. “I need your name so I can hunt you down if you’re late on deadline, which is Monday Morning, ten o’clock.”
“I’m Sam.” He smiled. “Sam Winchester.”
“Nice to meet you, Sam.” She shook Sam’s hand. “I’m Chloe Sullivan. Glad to have you onboard.”
“Yeah. I think I’m gonna like it here.” Sam beamed.
He’d always had a thing for blondes.
__________________________________________
”Dude, you are like the best little brother ever.” Dean said with a grin.
“You’re just saying that because I’m buying you coffee.”
“Duh. Coffee is like, the food of life.”
“Shakespeare said music was the food of life, Dean…”
“Shakespeare’s dead.” Dean sipped his coffee reverently. “Probably because he didn’t drink enough coffee.”
“You are so weird.” Sam shook his head. He took a large gulp of the coffee cup closest to him. “So what do you think of the Rah-Rah Blend?”
“It’s nowhere near as hot as the babe over there.”
“What? Huh?” Sam followed Dean’s gaze and found that his brother was staring at Lana Lang, one of the most popular girls at Smallville High. Pretty and petite, Lana looked like a modern day answer to Snow White. Already a lead cheerleader during her Freshman year, Lana was dating the quarterback of the football team, Whitney Fordman. They were the king and queen of the High School. Whitney did not take other men checking out his woman well at all, or so the rumor went.
“Dean, she’s like fourteen.” Sam reminded his twenty two year old brother. “Total Jailbait.”
“Maybe now.” Dean shrugged. “Not always.”
“You need help.”
“Oh, don’t tell me you don’t think she’s hot.”
“She’s not my type.”
“At your age, my type was alive and breathing.” Dean chuckled to himself. “Though there was that ghost outside of Savannah…let me tell you, for someone who’d already passed on, she was hot blooded.”
“I’m ignoring you now.” Sam said, taking another sip of his drink and writing down notes. “I’ve got work to do.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
Sam looked up to see Chloe standing beside him. “Oh, hi Chloe.” He smiled up at her.
“Just thought I’d see how my newest reporter is doing.” She grinned. “Did the gift card cover everything?”
“Yeah.” Sam nodded.
“And more.” Dean took Chloe’s hand and shook it. “I’m Dean. Sam’s older and more attractive brother.”
“I’m sure.” Chloe grinned. “It’s nice to meet you. But I’ve got to run and meet my Dad. It was nice to meet you Dean, and I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at school, Sam?”
“Sure.” He smiled. “See ya, Chloe.”
“Dude.” Dean said, watching Chloe stride away from the table. “Now that is one hot number.”
“Dean.” Sam hissed. “Don’t talk about her that way.”
“What? She’s a knockout.”
“She’s my editor.”
“That’s not all you want her to be.” Dean said with a triumphant grin. “You are totally hot for her bod.”
“Dean!” Sam blushed. “It’s not like that! She’s fourteen.”
“So?” Dean shrugged. “You’re seventeen. Completely legal. Some states would even let you get married.”
“Oh, just shut up and drink your coffee, Dean.”
______________________________________________
“I’ve got it!” Sam said, holding up a yearbook in triumph.
“Let me see.” Chloe said, looking over his shoulder.
“His name is Jeremy Creek. He was a Freshman back in 1989.”
“That’s impossible.”
“It’s totally the same guy.”
“Sam.” Chloe, motioned to the picture she’d taken only a couple hours earlier. “ If that’s the same guy, he hasn’t changed at all in years. That’s almost…impossible.”
“You’d be surprised what kind of weird stuff happens out there.” Sam muttered, thinking about all the spooky and supernatural things he’d experienced in his short life.
“Oh, trust me, I know.” Chloe picked up her cell phone. “Hey, Pete? It’s Chloe. I need you to run by the library and see if you can find anything about Jeremy Creek….He’s the guy that we saw this morning…he was a freshman back in 1989, and he has changed, like, nada, since then….okay, Thanks!”
“When in doubt, call in the cavalry.” She grinned.
“The weirdness doesn’t creep you out?”
“I live for the weird.” Chloe chirped. “You don’t exactly seem creeped out yourself.”
“My Dad, uh…” Sam stuttered, “is kind of obsessed with the out of the ordinary. It all ties into his job.” It was a simplified version of the Winchester family saga, but as complicated as he was going to share with anyone.
“Your Dad’s like Fox Mulder?”
Sam laughed long and loud. “I guess…but mostly, um, not. So does living for the weird make you Dana Scully?”
“Come here.” Chloe grabbed his hand, and Sam was unprepared for the tingle that ran up his arm when their skin touched. Chloe drug him over to a wall plastered with magazine and newspaper articles.
“I call it the wall of weird.” She said, fingering a couple of the articles gently. “It’s everything weird that happens in this strange little town. At first, I guess it was just therapy for missing Metropolis, but now, it’s kind of become my calling. All of these things- cows with two heads, mutating chickens- there’s got to be a common reason behind it.
Chloe’s wall of weird was packed enough that it would keep John Winchester in one place for years.
“Wow.” Sam said. “My Dad would plotz.”
“Really?” Chloe giggled. “I haven’t really showed it to anyone before…”
Chloe’s words were lost, because at that moment, Sam gathered up his courage and bent down towards her, kissing her lightly on the lips.
The moment was broken as Pete opened up the Torch’s door, and they broke apart with a jump.
“In 1989,” Pete crowed, “Jeremy Creek was the scarecrow!”
____________________________________________
“So if we find this Scarecrow, which is like the number one freshman wimp, then we’ll find Jeremy Creek and we can high tail it out of meteorville.” Dean grunted, batting ears of corn out of his path. “This whole stinking town is seriously whacked, you know that?”
“Shhh.” John warned. “Act like I’ve actually trained you two with some hunting skills.”
The three Winchesters walked through the cornfield, none too happy to be there. Sam was especially grouchy as it had taken hours to convince his Dad and Dean that his information was legit and good. If they’d sprung into action just as Sam got back to the hotel (skipping the last period of the day, even), then Sam could be dressed and at the dance now, instead of going on yet another hunt with his family. This wasn’t quite one of their typical cases, but the infirmary he’d escaped from was offering quite a reward for Jeremy’s safe return. And every once in awhile, between the hustling and hunting, the Winchesters made some legit money.
“Are you sure this is the field where the Scarecrow’s supposed to be?” Dean asked.
“Yeah, historically, it’s always been here.” Sam said, confident in the research he’d done back at the Torch with Chloe and Pete.
“Then, I think we’re too late.” Dean said, shining his flashlight on the vacant post in the field.
“Shit.” Sam kicked at the ground. “If he’s not around torturing the new guy, where would Jeremy be?”
“It’s just a guess” John said roughly. “But a guy who has been going on a rampage getting revenge on the very guys that made him lose years of his life in High School, would naturally go and have his revenge out at the current students.
Sam’s nightmare flashed before his eyes once more, and he saw the students of Smallville High, all dressed up for the dance, frying as currents of electricity flowed through their bodies. He clutched his head and fell to the ground.
“SON!” John cried, and dropped to his knees beside Sam. “You okay?”
Sam nodded as the pain of the vision began to fade. “We’ve got to get there, and fast.’
___________________________________________
When they reached the high school, the Winchesters found a subdued and confused Jeremy Creek wandering around outside the gym. John used his cell phone to contact the authorities.
Whether or not Jeremy had been planning to electrocute the students was up for debate. Sam felt like a fool, and he was very glad he hadn’t told his family about his premonition.
“Sam.” John said, patting his son on the shoulder. “We’ve got it under control here. It didn’t end up the way we wanted to, but it ended well.” John pointed his head towards the gym. “There a dance going on in there?”
Sam nodded silently.
“Go enjoy it.” John ordered. “Have fun. We’re shipping out in the morning, so don’t stay out too late.”
Sam entered the gym and walked up the stairs, where he wouldn’t be noticed. His dirty sweatshirt and jeans made him feel out of place.
He watched Chloe twirl and dance on the dance floor, laughing it up while dancing with Pete. More than anything, he wanted to be down there, dancing with her. She was the prettiest girl in town, with a wit and intelligence that made Sam feel grounded. She could be good for him, they could be good for each other.
If he stayed.
Which he couldn’t do. Even Chloe’s wall of weird wouldn’t make John Winchester change his mind and stay in Smallville. By the time Sam got back to the hotel later that night, John would have a new job found, and the route planned out to get there.
Across the catwalk, another person stood looking down at the dancing crowd. Sam recognized the person to be Clark Kent, who had become a bit of a celebrity after rescuing Lex Luthor earlier that week. Sam nodded to him slightly, and Clark returned the nod before going down the stairs and leaving the gym.
Sam watched Chloe for a bit longer, before leaving the gym himself. He wandered through the empty halls until he came to the Torch Offices. After finishing what he came to do, Sam walked out into the parking lot.
Someone had stacked three pickup trucks , one on top of another into a pile.
Sam just shook his head and smiled.
Such a sight seemed par for the course in Smallville.
____________________________
Chloe entered the Torch Office on Monday morning to find Sam’s article in her chair. On top of the article was a letter:
Chloe,
Here’s the article about the Beanery. I’m sorry that I’m not able to see it in print, but my Dad’s job has changed, and we’re leaving. But at least the article can run as planned. I think it should be good enough.
It was really great to get to know you, and I wish that I’d gotten the chance to stay longer and know you better. I’ll always consider you a friend, and I hope you’ll think the same of me.
My email address is swins83@hotmail.com , if you ever want to talk or things get too weird for even the wall of weird. I hope I’ll hear from you.
-Sam Winchester
Author of the Torch’s Famous Beanery Review
Chloe sat down and started to compose an email.
Author: Tracy (
lunarknightz)Rating: PG
Pairing (if any): Slight Sam/Chloe Sullivan
Prompt:257. Smallville crossover: Sam and Dean in school with Clark & Co.
Disclaimer: Neither Smallville nor Supernatural are mine. I will, however, drool over both obsessively come Thursday nights this fall.
Summary: Smallville High should be just another in a long line of schools to Sam, but surprisingly, it's something more.
Author's Note: Set in and around the Smallville Pilot (2001). Sam is a Senior in High School; Clark and gang are Freshmen.
“Hey, Sammy!” Dean turned around so he could better torment his little brother in the backseat of the Impala. “Meteor Capital of the World! I bet there’s a whole little club of nerdlings just like you who study them and stuff.”
“Please.” Sam rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue at his brother before turning his attention back to the book he was reading- “Return of the King”. He’d read the other two volumes of the Lord of the Rings trilogy on the long drive from their last job in New York. He wanted to finish the trilogy before things with this job got rolling. Sam didn’t have much time to himself, so he cherished the little bits of alone time he had on the road between jobs- he could curl up in the backseat with his walkman and a good book, and avoid his family. “Shut up.”
The batteries in the walkman went dead three hours ago, and Sam new better than to ask his Dad to stop; and so Sam was all too aware of Dean’s teasing.
“Settle down boys,” John sighed. “We’re almost to the hotel, and you two can stretch your legs and get out of each other’s hair for a little bit.”
“Whatever.” Dean sighed, looking out the window on the passenger’s side. “Man, this town is a joke. What kind of freaks live in a sleepy little town like this?”
“They’ve got a killer football team.” John said as they drove down Main Street. “My team played them once, back in high school, and they damn well kicked our asses. Pretty darn good for a flock of farm boys.” Spotting the motel, John pulled over into the parking lot. “To make matters worse, my high school girl went off to college and married the quarterback.” He growled, getting out of the car and slamming the door.
Sam frowned as he climbed out of the car.
Tomorrow would be another day; another case; and yet another school. He’d attended four schools already this year; and it wasn’t even October.
_________________________________________________
Sam yawned and sunk into his seat on the bus. He hadn’t slept well; Sam blamed his nightmare on Dean watching some horror movie on TV last night. What other explanation could there be for a dream where a crowd of students was electrocuted in a school gym?
Sam had weird dreams from time to time, but he figured it was par for the course. A life like the one the Winchesters lived could do things to your mind. You could only see something beheaded or mutilated in front of your eyes so many times before it did something to your subconscious.
While registering Sam for school the day before, John requested a special school bus stop at the hotel; claiming that it was only temporary until they found a house. Being a Senior and riding the bus was a little embarrassing, but it beat Dean dropping him off at school.
Sam stared out the window idly. He loved school, but he hated the constant string of new schools that the Winchester’s demon hunting quest took him to. Sam felt like a total freak, never quite fitting in anywhere or with anyone. He was always the new kid, always the outsider. A part time job, dates, girlfriends- Sam had never had the hallmark experiences a normal kid had, and he understood, at least on a level, why.
“I can’t believe you bet against your best friend!” The blonde haired girl in the seat in front of Sam said, forking over some money to the dark skinned boy beside her.
Corn grew plentifully in the fields next to the road. Sam stared at it, and for a second, it seemed as if something was in the corn, moving even faster than the school bus.
”Chill.” Sam muttered to himself. “Not everything weird that happens is related to the Supernatural.”
_______________________________________
“I’m as free as a bird now…” Dean sang, blasting Skynard through the Impala’s speakers. He loved this car. John was already involved enough with this case to find Jeremy Creek that he’d let Dean take the Impala to run errands in Metropolis. It was a beautiful day, the air was clear, and the music was classic. This was the life.
Dean’s calm was shattered by the loud string of honks from a silver Porsche behind him. “Piss off.” Dean mutters, keeping the Impala at a steady and safe speed. The Porsche pulled up on the bumper of the Impala, and Dean is forced to swerve off the road to avoid a crash.
“ASSHOLE!” Dean yelled at the speeding Porsche. He takes a moment to catch his breath before getting back out onto the road.
_________________________________________
“What in the hell happened to you?” Dean asked, holding back laughter at the sight of a bruised Sam stretched out across the bed, as he enters the hotel room. “Did you get the number of the Mack Truck that creamed your ass?”
“Ngggh.” Sam mumbled, keeping his eyes shut. “Go away.”
“A demon didn’t jump you, right?” Concern for Sam weighs on Dean. It’s been his job to take care of Sam since the whole hunting adventure started, both from demons and garden-variety bullies. Sam’s grown up now, almost eighteen, but Dean would still take down any creature that threatened to hurt his brother. He’s the only one allowed to give Sammy hell.
“No. I’m fine.” Sam groaned.
“Sammy, I’ve seen things look better after we’ve decapitated them. What in the hell happened?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Sam responded through gritted teeth.
“Oh, I’m gonna get it out of you, one way are another buddy boy.” Dean said with a menacing error. “Don’t make me kick your ass.” To demonstrate his point, Dean grabs the cold compress Sam had on his knee, and punches the sore spot.
“AUGH!” Sam shot up like a jack in the box. “You’re mental.” He screamed.
“Tell me.” Dean smirked, “Or I’ll do it again.”
“Fine.” Sam mumbled, looking down at the floor. “Itriedoutforthefootballteam.”
“Your nose is nice and clean? Come on, Sam, is that even English?”
“I TRIED OUT FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAM!” Sam yelled at the top of his lungs. “You happy?”
Dean burst out in laughter. “You? Football? Sam, you’ve never even watched a game without a book plunked in front of your nose.”
“I didn’t think it would be any harder than hunting.” Sam replies defensively.
“Well, not if you actually, oh, know and understand the rules of the game.” Dean grinned. “Maybe I should get a job as an assistant coach so your own team doesn’t entirely cream your ass.”
“No. I quit.” Sam says, flopping back onto the bed. “I sucked. It was a stupid, asinine idea in the first place.”
“Then why in the hell did you do it?” Dean asks, flopping onto the other bed and grabbing the television remote.
Sam sighed. Dean could be an ass, but he was the only friend that he had. “I guess I thought if I joined the team, then maybe Dad would stay in one place for a little while longer. Let me finish the season…or my Senior year…you know, make some friends?”
Dean nodded. “You know, you can just go get your GRE and be done with all this shit, don’t you? That’s what I did.”
Sam shook his head. “That’s not for me.” A GRE wouldn’t get him closer to his dream- attending college at a top level university.
“Whatever.” Dean shrugged. He flipped on the TV.
The television was tuned to one of the local news channels out of Metropolis. The anchor, a startlingly beautiful blonde was in the midst of a news story.
“A great tragedy was averted today, as Lex Luthor, son of Luthor Corp magnate Lionel Luthor, narrowly escaped a tragic accident. The accident happened in the small hamlet of Smallville. Luthor’s Porsche hit a roll of barbed wire on the road, which caused the car to go off the bridge. A bystander, a high school kid who our sources are identifying as Clark Kent of Smallville, dove in and rescued the Luthor heir. Lionel Luthor has released a statement that Lex is indeed doing fine, and expresses thanks to the brave Mr. Kent.”
“Hey!” Dean said, as the video showed authorities dragging the ruined Porsche from the water. “That’s the jerk who ran me off the road.”
“Jealous you didn’t get to save the day?”
“Nah.” Dean sighed, and changed the channel. “Just disappointed that Luthor didn’t get his ass ordered to driving school.”
_____________________________________________
“Hello?” Sam craned his neck inside the doorway of the Torch Office. “Is this the Torch?”
“It better be.” The blonde from the bus said, turning around with a smile on her face. “Or else I’ve been working awfully hard for nothing.”
“Oh.” Sam said, striding in. “I’m, uh, my English teacher said I could get extra credit if I worked on the staff.”
“Extra Credit?” She asked. “The first week of the school year and you’re desperate? What did you do, totally slack off on all the summer reading?”
Sam shook his head. He’d gotten a B on the first test, but a B wouldn’t get him the type of scholarship he’d need for college. He was a perfectionist, but dammit, he wasn’t going to give up his dream without a fight (not counting the duel Sam knows will happen when John finds out his plans). “Just trying to improve myself, I guess.”
“Got any experience?” the blonde said, plopping down at a computer.
“Not really. But I’m willing to take on whatever you throw at me.”
“Sounds good.” The blonde replied with a grin. “So far my two most loyal staffers are my best friends that I’ve corralled into doing something. It feels great that I might actually have someone do something willingly.”
“Well, um, I’m definitely willing.” Sam shrugged.
“What are you interested in? Arts, Culture, Sports?”
“Anything but sports.” Sam said, remembering the humilation of football practice he’d suffered only a couple days before.
“Well…” She reached over and grabbed a small manilla folder on her desk. “I’d really like to have a review of the Beanery’s new menu for this issue. They’re doing this whole fall football inspired line of coffees, and where I have my doubts, apparently it’s supposed to be quite the thing. You interested?”
Sam nodded sure.
“Okay.” She handed him a piece of paper, along with a gift card to cover his coffee expenses. “I need your name so I can hunt you down if you’re late on deadline, which is Monday Morning, ten o’clock.”
“I’m Sam.” He smiled. “Sam Winchester.”
“Nice to meet you, Sam.” She shook Sam’s hand. “I’m Chloe Sullivan. Glad to have you onboard.”
“Yeah. I think I’m gonna like it here.” Sam beamed.
He’d always had a thing for blondes.
__________________________________________
”Dude, you are like the best little brother ever.” Dean said with a grin.
“You’re just saying that because I’m buying you coffee.”
“Duh. Coffee is like, the food of life.”
“Shakespeare said music was the food of life, Dean…”
“Shakespeare’s dead.” Dean sipped his coffee reverently. “Probably because he didn’t drink enough coffee.”
“You are so weird.” Sam shook his head. He took a large gulp of the coffee cup closest to him. “So what do you think of the Rah-Rah Blend?”
“It’s nowhere near as hot as the babe over there.”
“What? Huh?” Sam followed Dean’s gaze and found that his brother was staring at Lana Lang, one of the most popular girls at Smallville High. Pretty and petite, Lana looked like a modern day answer to Snow White. Already a lead cheerleader during her Freshman year, Lana was dating the quarterback of the football team, Whitney Fordman. They were the king and queen of the High School. Whitney did not take other men checking out his woman well at all, or so the rumor went.
“Dean, she’s like fourteen.” Sam reminded his twenty two year old brother. “Total Jailbait.”
“Maybe now.” Dean shrugged. “Not always.”
“You need help.”
“Oh, don’t tell me you don’t think she’s hot.”
“She’s not my type.”
“At your age, my type was alive and breathing.” Dean chuckled to himself. “Though there was that ghost outside of Savannah…let me tell you, for someone who’d already passed on, she was hot blooded.”
“I’m ignoring you now.” Sam said, taking another sip of his drink and writing down notes. “I’ve got work to do.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
Sam looked up to see Chloe standing beside him. “Oh, hi Chloe.” He smiled up at her.
“Just thought I’d see how my newest reporter is doing.” She grinned. “Did the gift card cover everything?”
“Yeah.” Sam nodded.
“And more.” Dean took Chloe’s hand and shook it. “I’m Dean. Sam’s older and more attractive brother.”
“I’m sure.” Chloe grinned. “It’s nice to meet you. But I’ve got to run and meet my Dad. It was nice to meet you Dean, and I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at school, Sam?”
“Sure.” He smiled. “See ya, Chloe.”
“Dude.” Dean said, watching Chloe stride away from the table. “Now that is one hot number.”
“Dean.” Sam hissed. “Don’t talk about her that way.”
“What? She’s a knockout.”
“She’s my editor.”
“That’s not all you want her to be.” Dean said with a triumphant grin. “You are totally hot for her bod.”
“Dean!” Sam blushed. “It’s not like that! She’s fourteen.”
“So?” Dean shrugged. “You’re seventeen. Completely legal. Some states would even let you get married.”
“Oh, just shut up and drink your coffee, Dean.”
______________________________________________
“I’ve got it!” Sam said, holding up a yearbook in triumph.
“Let me see.” Chloe said, looking over his shoulder.
“His name is Jeremy Creek. He was a Freshman back in 1989.”
“That’s impossible.”
“It’s totally the same guy.”
“Sam.” Chloe, motioned to the picture she’d taken only a couple hours earlier. “ If that’s the same guy, he hasn’t changed at all in years. That’s almost…impossible.”
“You’d be surprised what kind of weird stuff happens out there.” Sam muttered, thinking about all the spooky and supernatural things he’d experienced in his short life.
“Oh, trust me, I know.” Chloe picked up her cell phone. “Hey, Pete? It’s Chloe. I need you to run by the library and see if you can find anything about Jeremy Creek….He’s the guy that we saw this morning…he was a freshman back in 1989, and he has changed, like, nada, since then….okay, Thanks!”
“When in doubt, call in the cavalry.” She grinned.
“The weirdness doesn’t creep you out?”
“I live for the weird.” Chloe chirped. “You don’t exactly seem creeped out yourself.”
“My Dad, uh…” Sam stuttered, “is kind of obsessed with the out of the ordinary. It all ties into his job.” It was a simplified version of the Winchester family saga, but as complicated as he was going to share with anyone.
“Your Dad’s like Fox Mulder?”
Sam laughed long and loud. “I guess…but mostly, um, not. So does living for the weird make you Dana Scully?”
“Come here.” Chloe grabbed his hand, and Sam was unprepared for the tingle that ran up his arm when their skin touched. Chloe drug him over to a wall plastered with magazine and newspaper articles.
“I call it the wall of weird.” She said, fingering a couple of the articles gently. “It’s everything weird that happens in this strange little town. At first, I guess it was just therapy for missing Metropolis, but now, it’s kind of become my calling. All of these things- cows with two heads, mutating chickens- there’s got to be a common reason behind it.
Chloe’s wall of weird was packed enough that it would keep John Winchester in one place for years.
“Wow.” Sam said. “My Dad would plotz.”
“Really?” Chloe giggled. “I haven’t really showed it to anyone before…”
Chloe’s words were lost, because at that moment, Sam gathered up his courage and bent down towards her, kissing her lightly on the lips.
The moment was broken as Pete opened up the Torch’s door, and they broke apart with a jump.
“In 1989,” Pete crowed, “Jeremy Creek was the scarecrow!”
____________________________________________
“So if we find this Scarecrow, which is like the number one freshman wimp, then we’ll find Jeremy Creek and we can high tail it out of meteorville.” Dean grunted, batting ears of corn out of his path. “This whole stinking town is seriously whacked, you know that?”
“Shhh.” John warned. “Act like I’ve actually trained you two with some hunting skills.”
The three Winchesters walked through the cornfield, none too happy to be there. Sam was especially grouchy as it had taken hours to convince his Dad and Dean that his information was legit and good. If they’d sprung into action just as Sam got back to the hotel (skipping the last period of the day, even), then Sam could be dressed and at the dance now, instead of going on yet another hunt with his family. This wasn’t quite one of their typical cases, but the infirmary he’d escaped from was offering quite a reward for Jeremy’s safe return. And every once in awhile, between the hustling and hunting, the Winchesters made some legit money.
“Are you sure this is the field where the Scarecrow’s supposed to be?” Dean asked.
“Yeah, historically, it’s always been here.” Sam said, confident in the research he’d done back at the Torch with Chloe and Pete.
“Then, I think we’re too late.” Dean said, shining his flashlight on the vacant post in the field.
“Shit.” Sam kicked at the ground. “If he’s not around torturing the new guy, where would Jeremy be?”
“It’s just a guess” John said roughly. “But a guy who has been going on a rampage getting revenge on the very guys that made him lose years of his life in High School, would naturally go and have his revenge out at the current students.
Sam’s nightmare flashed before his eyes once more, and he saw the students of Smallville High, all dressed up for the dance, frying as currents of electricity flowed through their bodies. He clutched his head and fell to the ground.
“SON!” John cried, and dropped to his knees beside Sam. “You okay?”
Sam nodded as the pain of the vision began to fade. “We’ve got to get there, and fast.’
___________________________________________
When they reached the high school, the Winchesters found a subdued and confused Jeremy Creek wandering around outside the gym. John used his cell phone to contact the authorities.
Whether or not Jeremy had been planning to electrocute the students was up for debate. Sam felt like a fool, and he was very glad he hadn’t told his family about his premonition.
“Sam.” John said, patting his son on the shoulder. “We’ve got it under control here. It didn’t end up the way we wanted to, but it ended well.” John pointed his head towards the gym. “There a dance going on in there?”
Sam nodded silently.
“Go enjoy it.” John ordered. “Have fun. We’re shipping out in the morning, so don’t stay out too late.”
Sam entered the gym and walked up the stairs, where he wouldn’t be noticed. His dirty sweatshirt and jeans made him feel out of place.
He watched Chloe twirl and dance on the dance floor, laughing it up while dancing with Pete. More than anything, he wanted to be down there, dancing with her. She was the prettiest girl in town, with a wit and intelligence that made Sam feel grounded. She could be good for him, they could be good for each other.
If he stayed.
Which he couldn’t do. Even Chloe’s wall of weird wouldn’t make John Winchester change his mind and stay in Smallville. By the time Sam got back to the hotel later that night, John would have a new job found, and the route planned out to get there.
Across the catwalk, another person stood looking down at the dancing crowd. Sam recognized the person to be Clark Kent, who had become a bit of a celebrity after rescuing Lex Luthor earlier that week. Sam nodded to him slightly, and Clark returned the nod before going down the stairs and leaving the gym.
Sam watched Chloe for a bit longer, before leaving the gym himself. He wandered through the empty halls until he came to the Torch Offices. After finishing what he came to do, Sam walked out into the parking lot.
Someone had stacked three pickup trucks , one on top of another into a pile.
Sam just shook his head and smiled.
Such a sight seemed par for the course in Smallville.
____________________________
Chloe entered the Torch Office on Monday morning to find Sam’s article in her chair. On top of the article was a letter:
Chloe,
Here’s the article about the Beanery. I’m sorry that I’m not able to see it in print, but my Dad’s job has changed, and we’re leaving. But at least the article can run as planned. I think it should be good enough.
It was really great to get to know you, and I wish that I’d gotten the chance to stay longer and know you better. I’ll always consider you a friend, and I hope you’ll think the same of me.
My email address is swins83@hotmail.com , if you ever want to talk or things get too weird for even the wall of weird. I hope I’ll hear from you.
-Sam Winchester
Author of the Torch’s Famous Beanery Review
Chloe sat down and started to compose an email.
