Talon. Clark is writing and erasing, deep in his essay challenge. "Let's see...I want to be able to fly. And have an arch-enemy...And I want a nice spandex suit that I can wear under my clothes. Oh, and a little curl hair that comes down on my forehead, all sexy-like. Man, this essay writing is easy!" Reese Lite comes down some stairs and says that Clark is just in time to volunteer for the decorating committee. Clark says he has an essay to finish. She asks what it's about. He tells her. "Who cares about the future?" she asks. Nostradamus. Carnac. Anyone who paid good money for a crystal ball. Reese delivers her manifesto on aging: it sucks. Clark gives her the crazy eyes. When Clark looks away, Reese looks at her hand, which suddenly becomes green and nasty. She hides it when Clark asks if anything's wrong. The dork who wants to be Cliff comes up and says he thinks they have the lighting set up the way Reese Lite wants it. She goes to check it out.

Lex walks in, giving Clark a long, appraising look. He correctly guesses about the five-year essay. Lex says he did the same assignment at Excelsior. (Excelsior!) Clark tells Lex that Asskick doesn't like him. Lex explains that he was a bald fourteen-year-old at an elite prep school. I would imagine that would make one something of a bad-ass. All you'd need are some gnarly tattoos and a wicked nickname, like "Chester the Molester." Lex says he had a major chip on his shoulder. Chip was his boyfriend at the time. Lex says that Asskick motivated him to get over being a spoiled rich kid. Lex says he liked Asskick for that. Clark says that whatever Asskick has against Lex, he's taking out on Clark. "I'm sorry being friends with me comes with such a high price," Lex says. Clark smiles and flutters his eyes. Clark mentions that he doesn't want to go home. They talk about the Gramps situation. Lex says that the best way to resolve something like that is to put the guys in a room together and let them fight it out. "You're saying I should play hardball?" Clark asks. Just. Don't...talk about hard balls around Lex. That's all I ask. Lex says that might be what it takes.