Title: Trading Places
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers: I don't own either show or any of the characters. If I did, they'd be on HBO, where you know I'd be doing naughty things with them.
Spoilers: Up to and including Magnetic for Smallville, up to and including The Heights for The O.C.
Summary: This is a fic inspired by one of Lana's lines in Magnetic, "Seth is my lab partner." C/L & S/S.
*****
Chapter One: Goodbye, Hello
*****
This is the story of two couples who were destined to be together, but for whatever reason, danced around each other for what seemed like an eternity... until their fates and lives became entwined in an unlikely way. Trading Places.
In a small barn in Smallville, Kansas, two of these souls sat and talked over the day's events. For Lana Lang, quintessential girl-next-door and Clark Kent, alien with super powers, these chats were the norm, but for once they dropped the facade. Their conversation no longer required subtitles to distinguish their thoughts from their words and it unsettled both of them.
"It felt good - caring for someone and having my feelings returned. I want that again," she exclaimed.
Her companion, sorrow evident beneath his muscular form replied, "I don't expect you to wait forever, for me."
"Good. Because one of these days someone's going to come along that's right for me, and I'm going to want to be with that person. And you're going to have to deal with that."
The time suddenly paused momentarily as the words she had always wanted Clark to hear, surprisingly left her mouth. Dealing with their feelings for each other and sorting out their relationship was exhausting. She was beginning to think the frustration wasn't worth the trouble - Lana was at the end of her rope. With nothing left to say, she proceeded to get up, go down the stairs and stride out of Clark's loft. Her eyelids closed tightly around her hazel orbs and silently fought the need to look back, fearing his heartbroken expression would break her resolve. Clark hunched over and sighed, briefly looking up helplessly at Lana's retreating form. He reached out his hand as if willing her to come back, but as usual, his powers did not extend that far.
With every day that came and went, Clark expected to see Lana one morning kissing another guy, but thankfully he didn't have to revisit that scene. His feelings were conflicted. Lana like anyone else, deserved to be happy, even if it wasn't with him. Guilt crept into him in moments, moments when they'd share a longing look until she broke contact with sadness in her eyes. He noticed her keeping mostly to herself, not giving more than a simple hello to any guys who mustered up the courage to talk to her. Lana was still waiting for him, but for how long, he wondered.
Thanksgiving quickly arrived and Lana along with Clark's other friends, Lex, Chloe, and Pete were invited to the Kent's for dinner. Clark's adopted parents always welcomed the company - their spirits firmly entrenched in the holiday season. Lex was the bald son of a billionaire, and a wily businessman who had developed an unhealthy friendship with Clark. Chloe had short blond hair, was annoying at times, and fancied herself a reporter, though her stories were more fitting for the National Inquirer rather than the New York Times. Pete was Clark's best friend as was quite an oddity, being the only black teenager in Smallville and yet was too short to make the basketball team. Lana had come early to help with dinner for which Martha, Clark's mother was quite grateful. Clark too was grateful as he tossed the salad on the kitchen table and got an eyeful of Lana's firm behind as she checked the turkey in the oven. This didn't escape Jonathan's attention and he gave his son a dirty look and a raised eyebrow. Clark could only look away, his cheeks flustered a bright shade of red.
Lex, arrived next with a casserole dish in hand, which he triumphantly declared to be the best stovetop stuffing ever to come out of a box. The truth of the matter was that he had his maid whip it up before she left last night, but he didn't feel that needed mentioning. He placed the dish on the counter and went to help Clark with the salad. They exchanged greetings and pleasantries while waiting for the final guests to arrive. Pete and Chloe had some kind of announcement to make, and neither Lex nor Clark knew what exactly they had to say. Word had it they had eloped and were moving to Metropolis to start a candy store, but neither put much stock in that rumour... though there were some sparks between them and Chloe did have a penchant for lollipops while Pete self-admittedly was always on the look-out for 'a little sugar.'
They finally arrived fashionably late and dinner was served. Clark took a seat next to Lana, doing his best not to smell her heavenly scent which wafted over towards him gently - it smelled slightly of strawberries... and turkey which he found slightly odd, but didn't mention it - not wanting to embarrass Lana. With long standing tradition, Jonathan said grace and they all proceeded to list what they were grateful for. All their lists were pretty sappy - even Lex who included 'true love' in his. Little did they know that Lex, had fallen in love with his Peruvian maid, who he had a blissful relationship with, partly because she didn't speak a word of English. When it came Clark's turn, he decided the mood needed a little lightening and said he was thankful for a beautiful head of hair. He was promptly tackled jokingly by Lex. While they struggled on the floor, Pete tapped his goblet with his fork, chiming for attention. The two combatants finally got up and brushed themselves off, awaiting what he had to say.
"Well before I tell you all the big news, I would like to say first, that we are thankful for a delicious home-cooked meal, and loving family and friends."
Chloe continued, "But unfortunately, for the next two months, we will not have the pleasure of your company. Pete and I have been accepted as part of a student exchange program. We're heading out for California on Monday."
Everyone looked at each other bemused. Clark, still somewhat shocked was the first to congratulate them.
"Wow, California, I'm so happy for you guys! I guess you'll have great tans when you come back."
An eerie silence fell over the table as Clark realized his faux pas.
"Oh, right, it's winter... I guess there isn't much sun, huh?"
*****
Monday came all too quickly, and Clark and Lana found themselves at Smallville's only airport, a small terminal with only eight runways. Snow was sprinkling down lightly and the wind was picking up. Pete and Clark stood at the gate quietly chatting.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright with me gone?" Pete asked.
"I'll be fine, I'm a big boy, really," Clark replied with a meek smile.
"Just don't do anything stupid till I come back, okay?" he responded, bringing Clark into a hug.
"Is there room in there for Lana and me?" Chloe asked in the girliest voice she could muster, while fluttering her eyelids.
So they had an impromptu group hug as the various travellers at the terminal gave them peculiar looks.
"God, I'm going to miss you guys!" Lana exclaimed with a slight smile.
"It's only a couple of months. Besides, you won't get too lonely. Remember this is an exchange, you'll be getting two back," Pete stated.
"Yeah, you might even end up liking them more than us. I saw a picture of the guy, he's pretty cute..." Chloe declared.
Lana laughed at this, while Clark simply paced uncomfortable, wary of a 'cute guy' entering Lana's life.
"Look, your plane's boarding, you should probably get going. We'll see you in two months," Clark interjected.
With that, Pete and Chloe said their final goodbyes and headed for the plane with their carry-ons.
"This is so surreal. I can't believe they're going. To California no less - how exciting is that? Surf, sun, I bet Pete will have a nice tan when he comes back," Lana beamed.
"Are you still on that? Am I never going to live it down?" complained Clark.
"C'mon, let's go to gift shop or something. We still have an hour to kill before they get here."
An hour later, they stood in the terminal staring at the arrival screen. Clark, who had bought himself a massive Toblerone at the gift shop was munching on it idly when he spotted their flight.
"Look their plane is coming in."
"This is nerve-racking. What if they're really snooty? They're from this rich private school," Lana lamented.
"I thought you always saw the best in everyone? Why the pessimism?"
"Think about it Clark, they're coming from southern California to Smallville, Kansas in the middle of winter. They won't even be home for Christmas. I bet they feel shafted."
"You're overreacting. Besides, who doesn't love Smallville? Ooh, do you think they'll want to go the corn festival?"
Lana rolled her eyes and grabbed him by the sleeve, tugging him toward the tarmac where the plane had come to a halt. The staircase was rolled out and connected. A flight attended exited and held the door open as the passengers disembarked.
"Welcome to Smallville, I hope you've enjoyed your flight," she said sweetly with a bit of contempt to each passenger as they left.
A dark-haired girl stuck her head out the door, eliciting a perplexed look from the flight attendant, looked around outside for a moment before quickly darting back into the plane.
"Ewww...." she exclaimed in disgust.
"C'mon, it can't be that bad," her companion replied.
"Do I smell hay? Gross!"
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers: I don't own either show or any of the characters. If I did, they'd be on HBO, where you know I'd be doing naughty things with them.
Spoilers: Up to and including Magnetic for Smallville, up to and including The Heights for The O.C.
Summary: This is a fic inspired by one of Lana's lines in Magnetic, "Seth is my lab partner." C/L & S/S.
*****
Chapter One: Goodbye, Hello
*****
This is the story of two couples who were destined to be together, but for whatever reason, danced around each other for what seemed like an eternity... until their fates and lives became entwined in an unlikely way. Trading Places.
In a small barn in Smallville, Kansas, two of these souls sat and talked over the day's events. For Lana Lang, quintessential girl-next-door and Clark Kent, alien with super powers, these chats were the norm, but for once they dropped the facade. Their conversation no longer required subtitles to distinguish their thoughts from their words and it unsettled both of them.
"It felt good - caring for someone and having my feelings returned. I want that again," she exclaimed.
Her companion, sorrow evident beneath his muscular form replied, "I don't expect you to wait forever, for me."
"Good. Because one of these days someone's going to come along that's right for me, and I'm going to want to be with that person. And you're going to have to deal with that."
The time suddenly paused momentarily as the words she had always wanted Clark to hear, surprisingly left her mouth. Dealing with their feelings for each other and sorting out their relationship was exhausting. She was beginning to think the frustration wasn't worth the trouble - Lana was at the end of her rope. With nothing left to say, she proceeded to get up, go down the stairs and stride out of Clark's loft. Her eyelids closed tightly around her hazel orbs and silently fought the need to look back, fearing his heartbroken expression would break her resolve. Clark hunched over and sighed, briefly looking up helplessly at Lana's retreating form. He reached out his hand as if willing her to come back, but as usual, his powers did not extend that far.
With every day that came and went, Clark expected to see Lana one morning kissing another guy, but thankfully he didn't have to revisit that scene. His feelings were conflicted. Lana like anyone else, deserved to be happy, even if it wasn't with him. Guilt crept into him in moments, moments when they'd share a longing look until she broke contact with sadness in her eyes. He noticed her keeping mostly to herself, not giving more than a simple hello to any guys who mustered up the courage to talk to her. Lana was still waiting for him, but for how long, he wondered.
Thanksgiving quickly arrived and Lana along with Clark's other friends, Lex, Chloe, and Pete were invited to the Kent's for dinner. Clark's adopted parents always welcomed the company - their spirits firmly entrenched in the holiday season. Lex was the bald son of a billionaire, and a wily businessman who had developed an unhealthy friendship with Clark. Chloe had short blond hair, was annoying at times, and fancied herself a reporter, though her stories were more fitting for the National Inquirer rather than the New York Times. Pete was Clark's best friend as was quite an oddity, being the only black teenager in Smallville and yet was too short to make the basketball team. Lana had come early to help with dinner for which Martha, Clark's mother was quite grateful. Clark too was grateful as he tossed the salad on the kitchen table and got an eyeful of Lana's firm behind as she checked the turkey in the oven. This didn't escape Jonathan's attention and he gave his son a dirty look and a raised eyebrow. Clark could only look away, his cheeks flustered a bright shade of red.
Lex, arrived next with a casserole dish in hand, which he triumphantly declared to be the best stovetop stuffing ever to come out of a box. The truth of the matter was that he had his maid whip it up before she left last night, but he didn't feel that needed mentioning. He placed the dish on the counter and went to help Clark with the salad. They exchanged greetings and pleasantries while waiting for the final guests to arrive. Pete and Chloe had some kind of announcement to make, and neither Lex nor Clark knew what exactly they had to say. Word had it they had eloped and were moving to Metropolis to start a candy store, but neither put much stock in that rumour... though there were some sparks between them and Chloe did have a penchant for lollipops while Pete self-admittedly was always on the look-out for 'a little sugar.'
They finally arrived fashionably late and dinner was served. Clark took a seat next to Lana, doing his best not to smell her heavenly scent which wafted over towards him gently - it smelled slightly of strawberries... and turkey which he found slightly odd, but didn't mention it - not wanting to embarrass Lana. With long standing tradition, Jonathan said grace and they all proceeded to list what they were grateful for. All their lists were pretty sappy - even Lex who included 'true love' in his. Little did they know that Lex, had fallen in love with his Peruvian maid, who he had a blissful relationship with, partly because she didn't speak a word of English. When it came Clark's turn, he decided the mood needed a little lightening and said he was thankful for a beautiful head of hair. He was promptly tackled jokingly by Lex. While they struggled on the floor, Pete tapped his goblet with his fork, chiming for attention. The two combatants finally got up and brushed themselves off, awaiting what he had to say.
"Well before I tell you all the big news, I would like to say first, that we are thankful for a delicious home-cooked meal, and loving family and friends."
Chloe continued, "But unfortunately, for the next two months, we will not have the pleasure of your company. Pete and I have been accepted as part of a student exchange program. We're heading out for California on Monday."
Everyone looked at each other bemused. Clark, still somewhat shocked was the first to congratulate them.
"Wow, California, I'm so happy for you guys! I guess you'll have great tans when you come back."
An eerie silence fell over the table as Clark realized his faux pas.
"Oh, right, it's winter... I guess there isn't much sun, huh?"
*****
Monday came all too quickly, and Clark and Lana found themselves at Smallville's only airport, a small terminal with only eight runways. Snow was sprinkling down lightly and the wind was picking up. Pete and Clark stood at the gate quietly chatting.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright with me gone?" Pete asked.
"I'll be fine, I'm a big boy, really," Clark replied with a meek smile.
"Just don't do anything stupid till I come back, okay?" he responded, bringing Clark into a hug.
"Is there room in there for Lana and me?" Chloe asked in the girliest voice she could muster, while fluttering her eyelids.
So they had an impromptu group hug as the various travellers at the terminal gave them peculiar looks.
"God, I'm going to miss you guys!" Lana exclaimed with a slight smile.
"It's only a couple of months. Besides, you won't get too lonely. Remember this is an exchange, you'll be getting two back," Pete stated.
"Yeah, you might even end up liking them more than us. I saw a picture of the guy, he's pretty cute..." Chloe declared.
Lana laughed at this, while Clark simply paced uncomfortable, wary of a 'cute guy' entering Lana's life.
"Look, your plane's boarding, you should probably get going. We'll see you in two months," Clark interjected.
With that, Pete and Chloe said their final goodbyes and headed for the plane with their carry-ons.
"This is so surreal. I can't believe they're going. To California no less - how exciting is that? Surf, sun, I bet Pete will have a nice tan when he comes back," Lana beamed.
"Are you still on that? Am I never going to live it down?" complained Clark.
"C'mon, let's go to gift shop or something. We still have an hour to kill before they get here."
An hour later, they stood in the terminal staring at the arrival screen. Clark, who had bought himself a massive Toblerone at the gift shop was munching on it idly when he spotted their flight.
"Look their plane is coming in."
"This is nerve-racking. What if they're really snooty? They're from this rich private school," Lana lamented.
"I thought you always saw the best in everyone? Why the pessimism?"
"Think about it Clark, they're coming from southern California to Smallville, Kansas in the middle of winter. They won't even be home for Christmas. I bet they feel shafted."
"You're overreacting. Besides, who doesn't love Smallville? Ooh, do you think they'll want to go the corn festival?"
Lana rolled her eyes and grabbed him by the sleeve, tugging him toward the tarmac where the plane had come to a halt. The staircase was rolled out and connected. A flight attended exited and held the door open as the passengers disembarked.
"Welcome to Smallville, I hope you've enjoyed your flight," she said sweetly with a bit of contempt to each passenger as they left.
A dark-haired girl stuck her head out the door, eliciting a perplexed look from the flight attendant, looked around outside for a moment before quickly darting back into the plane.
"Ewww...." she exclaimed in disgust.
"C'mon, it can't be that bad," her companion replied.
"Do I smell hay? Gross!"