Whitney Fordman stood at his locker, absently twisting the combination lock, his thoughts wandering far from the crowded halls of Smallville High. The metal door swung open with a familiar creak, revealing an organized chaos of textbooks, football memorabilia, and a single, worn photo of Lana Lang pinned under a magnet. He sighed, a sound lost amid the cacophony of students.

"Another game tomorrow," he mused quietly, running a hand through his hair. "Coach says we gotta give it our all, but it's hard to focus when... when everything else is happening. Dad's not doing well, and I... I've gotta step up more at home. And then there's Clark. The guy's a mystery, always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Makes you wonder if he's got secrets of his own."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head as he grabbed a textbook from his locker. "Guess everyone in Smallville's got secrets, huh? Sometimes, I feel like I'm the only one who's just... normal. No hidden past, no superpowers, just me, trying to make it through high school and figure out what comes next."