Unintended Consequences [38]

Clark arrived at school with Chloe, both walking through the courtyard as students passed by them. They soon noticed the number of posters plastered on the walls, all with slogans like "Clark Kent for Class President" and "Vote for Clark."

"This must be Pete's doing," said Clark, stopping for a moment as he looked at the posters with a surprised expression.

Pete came up behind the two, grinning and enthusiastic. "Hey, guys! Did you like the posters?" he asked, giving Clark a pat on the back.

"You should've warned me before doing this," said Clark, casting a reproachful look at Pete.

Chloe chuckled at the situation, but quickly added, "Seriously, Pete, don't you think you should've asked Clark before putting up all these posters?"

Pete shrugged, still smiling. "Oh, come on, Chloe. I just wanted to give our friend a boost. He's got what it takes to be a great class president!"

"Everything except the desire to run. Why don't you run for president?" Clark asked, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

"I'm more of a behind-the-scenes guy, Clark. Besides, think about it—so many girls would want to go out with you if you were president," Pete replied with a laugh.

Chloe frowned, clearly annoyed by Pete's comment. "Pete, I'm Clark's girlfriend. I don't think I need to remind you of that," she said, crossing her arms and giving him a serious look.

Pete raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Exactly, Chloe. Since Clark's taken, he wouldn't be able to go out with them, which means more for me."

Chloe huffed, shaking her head in disapproval. "That's why Jodi broke up with you, Pete. You always think in such a ridiculous way."

Pete's expression grew more serious, and he raised his voice. "Hey, no need to go that far, Chloe. It was just a joke."

"Pete, lower your voice," said Clark, trying to defuse the situation. "Let's keep things calm here. We're all on the same side."

Clark sighed and looked directly at Pete. "But I want to make something clear, Pete. I'm not running for president. It's really not for me. I appreciate the thought, but I need you to respect that."

Pete looked at Clark for a moment, realizing how serious his friend was. He nodded, finally giving up on the idea. "All right, Clark. I'll respect your decision. Sorry for not asking first."

Clark gave a slight smile, patting Pete on the shoulder. "No problem. Let's just move forward, okay?" Chloe nodded as well, seeming satisfied with how the conversation ended.

...

Lex Luthor sped down the road in his silver Ferrari, enjoying the wind against his face as the engine roared.

Vruum!

Suddenly, he spotted a red Mustang parked on the shoulder, with a woman checking the engine. Curious, Lex slowed down and pulled up beside the car, observing the scene for a moment before opening the door and stepping out.

"Car trouble?" Lex asked, with a polite smile as he approached the woman.

The woman, still looking under the hood, raised her head and glanced at Lex. "It seems so, but I don't really know much about it."

Lex leaned against the side of the car, watching her for a moment. "You seem like you're from Metropolis."

She smirked slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You don't look like you're from around here either."

Lex raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Mind if I ask your name?"

"Carrie. Carrie Castle," she replied, smiling lightly as she adjusted the strand of hair again.

"So, Carrie, what brings you out here?" Lex asked, keeping the conversation casual.

"Just taking some time off. What about you?" Carrie replied, stepping aside as if she wanted a better look at Lex.

Lex shrugged, a discreet smile on his lips. "Something similar, I suppose."

Carrie kept smiling. "Do you always drive around here? Seems like a bit out of the way for someone like you."

Lex's brows furrowed slightly, beginning to notice the barrage of questions. "I like exploring different places."

She nodded, keeping her gaze on him. "And this Ferrari… interesting choice. You must like speed."

Lex narrowed his eyes for a moment, scrutinizing her. "You ask a lot of questions, Carrie."

She laughed, trying to ease the tension. "Just curious, that's all."

Lex then approached her car, opened the door, and got in. He turned the key in the ignition, and the Mustang's engine roared to life.

Vruum!

Lex stepped out of the car and looked at Carrie, now with a suspicious smile. "Seems like there's nothing wrong with your car, Carrie."

Carrie hesitated for a moment but then gave an embarrassed smile. "You caught me. Maybe I was just trying to get your attention."

Lex gave a short laugh, shaking his head. "Interesting way to do it, I'll admit."

Carrie stepped closer to him, keeping her smile. "Maybe you're right. But wouldn't it be nice if we had a more… private conversation?"

Lex observed her for a few seconds, assessing her intentions. "Let me guess... you're a journalist, aren't you?"

Carrie chuckled, raising her hands in surrender. "You're good at this, Lex. I work for the *Metropolis Journal*. I was thinking of doing a profile on you. It would be flattering, I promise."

Lex gave an ironic smile, shaking his head. "Sorry, Carrie. I'm not interested in being the subject of your next article."

Carrie tried to persuade him. "Think of the benefits, Lex. It would be a great way to improve your public image. You know people have the wrong impression of you. I could help change that."

Lex kept smiling, but his gaze grew colder. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested in manipulating my public image through an article. I'd rather let my actions speak for me."

Carrie sighed, realizing she wouldn't change his mind. "All right, Lex. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me."

Lex gave a slight nod, getting back into his Ferrari. "Good luck with the Mustang, Carrie. I hope you find another interesting story."

He shut the door and sped off down the road, leaving Carrie behind.

Vruum!

...

Clark was driving the pickup truck at a relaxed pace, the sky turning orange with the sunset. Smallville seemed calm at that moment, with only a few people on the streets and the fresh evening air filling the atmosphere. He had just dropped Chloe off at her house, and the silence inside the vehicle made him reflect on the events of the day.

As the farm appeared on the horizon, Clark saw the wooden house and barn with lights on, indicating that his parents were home. He parked the truck beside the barn, taking a moment to look at the scenery around him. The air was cooler, and the stars were beginning to appear in the sky, scattered like tiny points of light.

Suddenly, Clark heard something that made him alert.

"Michael…"

With his super hearing, he caught someone saying the name "Michael." The sound came from the direction of the storm cellar.

Clark frowned, puzzled. 'Michael? How does someone know that name?' he thought, since Michael was the name he had before reincarnating in Smallville.

Clark activated his X-ray vision, quickly scanning the house and barn.

That's when he saw a figure in the storm cellar, near his Kryptonian spaceship. The person seemed to be investigating the area, rummaging through some things.

Clark felt a tightening in his chest, a mixture of concern and anger. Without wasting any time, he moved at super speed, entering the house discreetly and heading down to the storm cellar.

Whoosh!

His footsteps were silent, and he approached the figure, who had their back turned and appeared unaware of his presence.

"Finally, you're here," said the figure, turning to face Clark.

Clark's eyes widened as he saw who it was. It was himself, only older. Future Clark had a serious and determined expression, his eyes revealing the experience of years of life.

"Stop calling me Michael, I'm Clark now. And don't you think it's dangerous to come back to the past?" Clark asked, still in shock but maintaining a defensive posture.

Future Clark gave a weary smile. "You didn't think of that when you wished for the Speed Force, did you? I'm here because the timeline has already been altered once, and we need to make sure everything stays on the right path. If I weren't here, things could go very wrong."

Clark crossed his arms, trying to stay calm. "What exactly is happening? What kind of threat are we facing?"

"Ourselves," replied Future Clark. "Don't look so confused. You've been living as if the universe revolves around you, doing whatever you want or whatever you think the Clark from the show should have done. Well, it has consequences."

Clark remained silent, processing the words of his future self. He knew he had made choices that diverged from the original story, but he had never considered that it could lead to such big problems.

Clark felt a chill run down his spine. "So what do I need to do?"

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