Clark saves Lana from the tornado, leading Lana to be suspicious of Clark. While protecting Clark's secret, Jonathan gets trapped with reporter Roger Nixon in an underground mausoleum. Lex and Clark search for Jonathan.

When the "hot" new Biology teacher Desiree Atkins (Krista Allen) arrives in Smallville, Clark Kent gets excited in her presence and his hormonal surge sets off a new ability: heat vision. Lex Luthor meets and falls for Atkins and they decide to get married.

Clark gets his Smallville class ring, but these rings contain red kryptonite making him turn into Dark Clark.

At Smallville High School, a swimmer mysteriously ages and dies after meeting his girlfriend Chrissy Parker. The new principal Reynolds arrives and comes into conflict with Clark Kent because he is a friend of Lex Luthor's. 

Clark rescues mind-reading Ryan James from a research hospital that treats him like a lab rat. Ryan's guardian doctor sues to get Ryan back, and Clark learns that Ryan has a brain tumor that needs treatment.

Lionel Luthor is shot twice in the Luthor's mansion by an unknown assailant. When Jonathan Kent is found drunk, with a pistol in one hand and a bottle of tequila in the other hand sleeping in his truck, he becomes the prime suspect of the attempt.

Clark has some weird dreams with the cave and about flying. When he puts the octagonal key in a hole in the wall of the cave, he immediately learns how to decode the symbols. Then, while waiting for Chloe at the Kents' farm, his uncontrolled vision burns a symbol on the wall of the barn.

As Clark has finally begun dating Lana, Helen Bryce cancels her wedding to Lex after being told to by Lionel. But later, Helen realizes that she loves Lex and they finally get married. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Martha are thrilled to learn Martha is pregnant. The memory/spirit of Jor-El speaks to Clark via the spaceship, telling him he must leave Smallville.