New Perspective

By. T.A.

It's a the usual obnoxious sunny Sunday morning in Smallville. The Talon is buzzing with business and the usual town gossip. Lana Lang is behind the counter chatting with Chloe. Suddenly the room goes quiet and abnormally still. Lana and Chloe stop and dart there eyes from table to table.

"What just happened?" Lana asks quizzically.

" I don' t know.." she answer with hesitation as she turns in her stool to better see the room. Her eyes stop at the door, she hits Lana arm and points to the door "Well there your answer."

In the door way was a gorgeous red head who could give any of today's top models a run for the money. With a huge duffel bag in one hand and a motorcycle helmet in the other she takes a 360 look around the room and stand there uncomfortable. After standing there like a deer in the headlights she manages to blurt out "Can I help you?"

The room looks down at their coffee and restarts their conversations. The young woman smiles unsurely and makes her way to the counter. Chloe is still staring but stops when Lana, coughs and pretends to be wiping down the already spotless counter.

When she reached the counter she drops the duffle and puts her helmet on the counter. Chloe keeps repeating to herself "keep your eyes on the coffee." Despite this she cant help but look up at. At which the mystery girl gives her a courtesy smile and directs her attention to Lana.

"Hi, can I get you something?"

"Nah I'm not a coffee girl. But I was wondering if you could tell me where.." She looks at the flyer in her hand , "I could find… Lana Lang?"

Lana smiles, "Um well shouldn't be to hard I'm her."

While the conversation is going on Chloe in true Chloe fashion is checking the girl out for anything suspicious.

"Oh, awkward," she laughs "Good I'm here to rent the apartment upstairs. I can pay first, last or hell I'll pay for the next year up front if you want."

Lana looks up at her with a who-is-this-girl look "Wow you must really want it."

"Nah I just need it," running her hand through her thick wavy hair

"I would say yes but I don't even know your name," Lana laughs and cuts it short.

Chloe sips her coffee with her eyes brows up

"Oh jeese I'm sorry. The name is Mackenzie Small," she reach's her hand out to shake Lana's.

As soon as Mackenzie says her last name is small Chloe spits out her coffee all over Mackenzie in complete shock. Then covers her mouth in complete embarrassment. "I am so sorry!" She manages to deliver.

Lana is in shock as well. "I'll get some napkins."

"Nahh don't worry no big deal I have to change anyway. Did I say something wrong?" looking at Chloe.

"Small? Like of the Smallville Smalls your dad is Henry Small?" Chloe says exasperated.

"Yeah my father is Henry Small but I wouldn't say he was my dear ol' dad."

"What do you mean?" Lana gets out but regrets it.

"Well lets just say we don't talk. I did something, he's a bastard. The usual." Obviously uncomfortable she says this while looking at the counter. Then looks back up at Lana, "So that apartment?"

"All yours. Ill go get the keys." She disappears in the back.

"Does all of this happen a lot?" Mackenzie asks Chloe.

"What?" pretending to be clueless.

"The new girl in town walks into a room and everyone stops what they're doing. I mean is this place really that small."

"You have no idea." directing her attention back to the coffee.

Mackenzie rolls her eyes.

"Here you go" Lana hands over the keys.

"You sure I mean we just met."

"Positive."

"Yeah she knows your dad." Chloe blurts out then wish's she hadn't.

"Oh you do?" Looking from Chloe to Lana.

Lana's eyes search for the right answer. "Yeah he comes in all the time."

"Well we should talk sometime I'm sure you know him better than I do. Which when you think about it, is so sad. " She laughs and the girls laugh uncomfortably. "Listen Lana I hate to put you in this position but if he comes in here. Don't let him know I'm living upstairs ok? I mean I know we barely know each other but I'd appreciate it."

"Consider it done."

"Thanks Ill go. Unpack. I owe you. Nice meeting you, Chloe hopefully I'll see ya later."

"Yeah defiantly." Chloe answer with a hint of hope and sarcasm .

Mackenzie as she turns to leave she slowly turns back around and smiles, "Umm Lana where exactly is it?"

"Oh god I'm sorry. Follow me." Lana lightly throws the cloth to the counter and walks round to lead Mackenzie up the stairs.

:: the Apartment::

"The bathroom is over there and the bedroom here. Its not so bad once you personalize it."

Mackenzie walks in, drops her bag and helmet and takes the room in. "This is awesome dude. Thanks so much."

"Yeah, its not bad. I don't mean to pry but why are you back in town. I remember you were in our grade when we were little then you were sent to a school in metropolis."

"Jeese you have one hell of a memory. Yeah I left in 6th grade. Daddy dearest didn't want me around anymore so he sent me to Holy Cross in the city. And well …" Lana could tell she was hiding something, trying to find the way to best articulate why she was back. "Well I'm back, there's a reason as to why and maybe I'll fill you in when I, myself wrap my head around it."

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to…"

Mackenzie cuts her short "Lana, don't apologize for questioning my being here. I mean hell I'm living above your store you have every right to wonder. So don't be sorry its all good. "

Lana smiled and thought 'She seems cool and since she's your half-sister this is a good thing. Wait she as no idea about me. I better go before I say something I shouldn't.' "well I better get back to the caffeine addicts downstairs. Are you coming to school tomorrow?"

"Oh yeah Ill be there. Can't wait."

"Ok, I better go. It was great meeting you. "

"Yeah you to."

As Lana starts to leave Mackenzie walks over, "One more thing.."

"Um yeah?" Lana says in her normally scared tone.

"Where should I park my bike from now on?"

"Oh there are bike ranks on the side of the building." turning to leave.

"Lana," Mackenzie grabs her helmet to show her, she laughs "my motorcycle."

Lana feels like an idiot put her hand to her head and laughs uneasy, "jeese, yeah in the ally I guess. I drive the Jeep so as long as neither of us are blocking each other. Park where you want."

"Sweetness thanks."

Lana closes the door and leans on it breathing heavily, 'she's my sister'

::Back at the counter::

Chloe sits eagerly awaiting Lana. Lana can tell she's just itching to find out what they talked about.

Instead of talking Lana starts refilling the pastries.

"Umm hello earth to Lana Lang!!"

"Yeah?"

"yeah? Yeah? Is all you have to say. Lana we just met your sister. Your sister! I mean this is huge. Your sister.."

"half sister."

"Half sister, quarter sister ..she's your sister. And it doesn't look like she has any idea who you are. This is huge."

"Yeah you already said that. "

" I know because it is… how are you?"

"Me, I'm fine. I little weirder out and confused but fine."

Chloe talking a mile a minute "And god did you see her she is gorgeous, drives a motorcycle and seems pretty cool. But her relationship with Henry seems null and void. Man! I can't believe it. What did you guys talk about when you were upstairs"

"Where the bathroom was, where she could park her bike and why she's back. I made a total ass of myself."

"Good question why is she back."

"I don't know but it must be something big if she cant go home. She said shed let me know when she figures it all out."

"Interesting, I'm going to the torch to see if I cant find anything," Chloe grabs her bag and goes to leave.

"Wait, Chloe no way your not making her one of your investigations!"

"Calm down Lana. I just want to know why she is back, what happened . No harm no foul."

"But I just told you…." Lana looks at her exasperated.

"No you didn't. You told me she'd tell you. Its not a big deal I to impatient for her to come around."

"Chloe! We just met her!"

Chloe shrugs her shoulder takes one more sips and darts out the Talon.

Lana still in shock and wondering just what to think about all of this runs her hands through her hair and contemplates running to Clark. She used to be able to that without thinking if she should. She wants to very minute of everyday but, she can't. She just can't.

School the next day::

School is just starting as the teens of Smallville pour in through the front door. Clark, Pete and Chloe are just rounding the corner, running into Lana.

"Hey you ok?" Chloe asks.

"Fine." Lana says defiantly.

Clarks gives her a questioning worried look, but she turns away from it.

Suddenly there's a violent roaring sound of a motorcycle engine that kills Clarks ears.

"What is that?!?!" Clark asks Pete.

"Sounds like a motorcycle," just then a motorcycle whizzes by, "And it is a motorcycle, I really hot motorcycle."

The rider parks the bike, swings her leg around (while this happens the whole school is watching) and removes the helmet. Thus revealing a thick had of auburn hair, that is tussled from side to side then run through with the riders fingers.

"Really Hot" Pete says. And receives a slap from Chloe for it. "What's that for?"

"For being you!" Chloe says rolling her eyes.

Clark cant help but staring and also blurts out "Wow."

This erks Lana and though she tries her hardest to hide it she looks at him with great sadness then return her attention to the girl on the bike.

While the boys stand in shock, Mackenzie sets her helmet on the bike grabs her bag and starts towards the school. Knowing everyone is staring she looks for a familiar face and finds Lana's and Chloe's.

As she walks over Pete gets nervous, "Oh Man! she's walking over here!"

"Hey Lana, Chloe." Mackenzie nods to them then directs her attention to Clark and Pete. Especially Clark.

After a few awkward seconds of silence, Lana says, "Hey Mackenzie, this is Pete…" Mackenzie shakes his hand "Hey Pete." Pete is in shock and doesn't answer. "Ok and this is?" looking at Clark

"Oh and that's.." Lana is hesitant to introduce them and she doesn't know why.

"Mackenzie, I'm Clark Kent." He says nervously and shakes her hand.

"Hey Clark Kent. Call me Mack." she says flirtatiously.

"Ok Mack." Clark flashes his million dollar smile the Lana loves so much.

Neither notice their hands are still holding each others.

Chloe's eyebrows raise, "Sister like Sister " she giggles to herself.

Lana feels threatened and decided to break it up, "well we better get to class."

"Right," Mack says still in complete eye contact with Clark. She lets go and turns to Lana. "Could you show me where the principles office is?"

"Yeah sure." She starts to walk as does Mackenzie. Mackenzie turns around to Clark and Pete, "Nice meeting you guys."

"You too." Clark say confidently while Pete still stands dumfounded.

"Close your mouth you two. Your looking at Lana's sister." Chloe says just for shock value.

"What are you talking about?" Pete snaps back to reality.

"Yeah believe it or not boys that's Mackenzie Small. Henry Small's daughter. Which makes her… "

Clark answers breathily "Lana's half sister."

"I cant believe it!" Pete says.

"Well believe it." Chloe loves taking those two to school.

"Wait does Mack know about Lana? " Clark asks worried.

"Nope, hasn't a clue. I'm worried about Lana though she deals with so much on a daily basis now this."

"I gotta go. Talk to you guys later." Clark darts through the doors.

"What's his deal?" Chloe asks Pete.

"Before everything happened Clark was always the one Lana went to, to figure things out. Not so much anymore. He's just worried about her."

"Yeah whatever. Class?"

"Yupp lets go."

::Lana's locker::

Clark walks up to Lana's locker with one hand on his backpack, the other in his back pocket (classic Clark Kent approach.)

"Hi Lana." he says to the door of the locker.

Lana pokes her head out, "Hi"

"Listen Chloe told me are you ok?"

"No I'm not but, I don't feel like talking about it."

"Lana…"

"No Clark.. I don't want to. And to tell you the truth if your going to make eyes at her in front of my try not to be so obvious." She couldn't believe she just said it but she did.

"That's not fair… you can be with that Adam guy and I even make eye contact with Mack. I mean jeese Lana what do you want me do? One minute your telling me to stay away. The next your mad I did. I don't know what you want from me!"

Lana slams her locker on the verge of tears and looks up at him, "I want.. I mean I know what I want Clark I've known it since the minute we talked in the graveyard. I know what I want. I just cant bring myself to ask for it." With that she walks quickly down the hall clutching her books to her chest. While Clark in true Clark ness just watches her go.

He turns quickly, perhaps to quickly and collides with someone. Books fly and so does the person he's bumped into. He recognizes the red hair over her face, its Mackenzie. 'Great second impression Kent!' he thinks to himself. Clark bends down to pick up the books.

Mack sits up pushes her hair back, "Two questions. Do you have eyes? And do they work?"

"Umm well I'm…." he stammers over his words

"Oh wait Clark right? Dude I was just joking, Nothing is broken no harm done." She laughs it off and Clark looks up and laughs as well.

All the while Lana is watching from the end of the hall. She rolls her eyes and walks to class.

Clark grabs Mack's hand and lifts her to her feet. "Jeese, apparently milk does a body good haha."

Clark smiles shyly and hands her the books.

"Why thank you good sir. Should I ask what that was all about?" She says fumbling her books a bit more and nodding her head in the direction that Lana fled.

"Your new, believe me your lucky enough not to know," Clark says surprised at himself he's this comfortable with her.

"Well being new I can also offer a new perspective. I know it none of my business and you don't know me from a hobo on a street but, if you wanna talk to the "newbie" about it. I'm around." She says sincerely running her hand through her hair.

"Thanks I might take you up on that."

"Hey dude whatever works for ya. We better get to class huh?"

Clark just now realizes that the bell must have rung almost 10 minutes ago, but doesn't care. "yeah I guess so. Where are you headed?"

She searches for her schedule in her pocket and pulls out a wad of paper. "Hold this." She puts her books in Clarks hand in order to unravel the paper. "Umm biology, Mr. Taber." She shoves the paper back in without thought or care and grabs back her books. "Thanks"

"Well I have him now to so we both better go."

::Biology::

Lana sits running her pen aimlessly around the open page in her notebook as the teacher speaks and doesn't notice Clark and Mack in the doorway.

"Well look who's late Mr. Kent and…?" Mr. Taber glances at Mack then the attendance sheet.

"That would be Ms. Small sir. Mackenzie Small."

"Oh right, Henrys daughter. And why are you two late."

"Well sir…" Clark starts but is cut off by Mack.

"You see I got lost and I had seen Clark this morning and he knew we were in the same class so he went to go get me. And so you see its my fault. Being the new girl and all I'm just finding my way around. Good thing Clark," she pats his chest, "Came to find me or I wouldn't have the pleasure of gracing you with my presence this fine morning."

"Hahahaha." Clark laughs without thinking.

The rest of the class smiles and Lana just stares at them.

"Well I see Metropolis has provided you with a quick wit Ms. Small. But don't use it here, its not appreciated," Mr. Taber says with a pretensions tone as he pushes his glass up to his eyes.

"Consider me, comatose, Sir," she says then salutes.

"Find a seat Mr. Kent, Miss. Small."

Both Clark and Mack notice there is an empty chair next to Lana and one next to some random girl.

Mack whispers to Clark, "No worries."

She makes her way toward Lana's desk and sits, while Clark takes a seat awkwardly next to the other girl.

"Done?" Mr. Taber asks annoyed.

"Yes, quite Sir your welcome to continue." Mack says nodding to the board and turns to wink at Clark.

'who is this girl?' Clark smiles to himself.

::Later that night @ the Talon::

Lana has had yet another bad day and as once again let everyone go home opting to take care of all the closing procedures. As she thinks over the day she kept seeing Clark laugh with Mack. He's never been that calm and collected around her. The fight they had…Oh god what she said… Angered as she puts a chair on the table she drops it with force and stands there trying to cool down. Hearing the bang, Mack goes to the stairs and looks down to see Lana with her head in her hands. 'Approach with caution Mack' she says to herself as she descends the stairs.

"Hey you ok?"

Startled, she had forgotten Mack was upstairs, "Yeah Im fine…wait I didn't wake you up did I?" She bends to pick up the chair.

Mack hurries to help and grabs the chair from her, "Lana, man its 9:00 I don't go to sleep till at least 1," resting the chair gently on the table, "I'll ask again you ok?"

Walking back to the counter, wiping tears as she goes, "If its all the same to you I rather not talk about it with someone I just met."

Walking towards her, "Well how about this. I'll tell you stuff so we're not strangers . Then you share till the place opens in the morning if you want?"

Lana smiles, "Ok."

"Ok so you sit," she says as she walks behind Lana and lightly pushes her toward the table and pulls out the chair for her.

Lana sits and looks up at Mack, "No offense but why are doing all this? You barely know me."

Mack leans on the table with one arm and bring her face closer to Lana's whispers, "Well frankly, I'm bored."

This brings a smile to Lana's face. Mack returns to standing position and says smiling sarcastically, "No offense."

"Ha! None taken."

"Ok, so now that the formalities are taken care of," she pretends to pull out a pad from her jeans and holds an imaginary pen in hand, "What can I get ya?"

Lana smiles looking down to the table, "'I'll have a coffee."

"Come on, dude your under estimating my liquid culinary abilities…If that is such a thing?"

"Liquid culinary abilities huh? Ok, I guess I'll have the no fat, no foam latte."

"Sweetness, coming right up," she walks past Lana and behind the counter.

Lana sits thinking to herself that her shoulders feel a lot lighter around Mack and is saddened by the fact that one day Mack will learn the truth about Lana and what then?

"She turns her head to Mack and says, "You don't have to do this."

As Mack pours she smiles and glances at Lana, "Umm yeah sorry I can't hear you all the way over."

::Few minutes later::

"Here you go ma'am," Mack says proudly as she gently rests the mug in front of Lana. She then rests hers down and grabs herself a chair, sitting across from Lana.

Lana looks confused. Mack responds, "What?"

"I thought 'you weren't a coffee girl."

"Its not coffee its water, I didn't want to feel left out hahha."

Lana smiles and sips her drink afterward she stares into the mug once again confused.

"Bad?"

"No its..its really good. Better then any of the ones I've ever made. How did you…"

Cutting her off, "Ex-boyfriend use to work at star bucks. One night I was at his place, he was sleeping, I was bored so I read his ingredients binder thing," pausing to sip her water "And I believe the only recipes my mind soaked in that night was the no fat, no foam, latte and the cappuccino. Everything beyond that is a blur."

"Interesting…" contently sipping her coffee.

"Ok so are you ok?" Mack sets down her mug and crosses her arms on the table.

"Nice try. You said you would tell me stuff and then I could talk if I wanted to. " Lana says with a hint of humor.

"Damnit," she snaps her finger "Well too bad this water isn't spiked with vodka."

"Hahahahaha you and me both. Ok so spill," as Lana says this she notices just how comfortable she already is with Mackenzie, how they really could be sisters not just biologically.

"Ok Ok But I need you to ask me questions and I'll answer because I don't know where to start. I could start from the womb but it gets a little messy after that."

Lana laughs again, " Ok, then what happened in Metropolis."

"Well I was sent to Holy Cross boarding/prep school when I was 8. We can get into the reasons why later. But If you want to know why I'm back here it goes. Last year I met this guy, Dylan. Most amazing guy ever. Of course when we met I was with this kid Jake, a mere technically.."

"Yeah no big deal…" Lana interrupts.

"Exactly. At least now it doesn't seem like such a big deal but then it was huge. Jake was my first boyfriend what I thought was my first love. Until I met Dylan. There was just something about him. God even Now I can't put my finger on it. He listened, he was there when I needed him and most of all he needed me. And man he rode a motorcycle, points right there…."

"What happened with Jake?"

"Died," she says sadly looking down at the table, running her hand through her hair.

Concerned Lana leans in, "How?"

"Drunk driver…" Mack still staring at the table now outlining the designs with her fingers.

"Oh my god, I'm sorry."

"Don't be, he was the drunk one. Needless to say it was all my fault. He saw me walking with Dylan back to my dorm. Completely innocent but he followed us. It was perfectly innocent till we got the door and Dylan kissed me. Jake went out with his friends that night and got drunk. I heard that he had seen me so I ran to the bar and found him getting into his car. He was to drunk to drive I knew, I ……" She brings she finger to her mouth and bits it lightly, "I couldn't get the keys from him so I got in the car with him. Long story short he flipped the car down a hill. He died and I walked way with a concussion. Fair right? I cheat on him, he dies. Death has no prejudice…"

"Wow," Lana spins her mug around in circles thinking about Whitney and Clark.

Sucking back her tears, "So anyway, after that I couldn't be around Dylan you know? I just didn't seem right. But this one night… Well I wont get into particulars. He told me he loved me blah blah. God I loved him Anyways, 2 months later he comes to me scared out of his mind. I ask him what's going on. He says he borrowed money from Morgan Edge and he doesn't know how to pay him back. 2 weeks later he still hasn't paid him back and I get a call from the hospital. Edge broke both his legs. And that's when I made a deal with the devil…." pushing her hair behind her ear, "I went to edge and told him I'd pay off Dylan's debt…"

Lana interrupted and blurted out, "why?"

Mack chuckles and looks her in the eye (the first time since the begining of the conversation), "I loved him and not your typical teenage love. I would do anything for him because he would do anything for me. You ever felt that way Lana? When your around a certain person you feel both whole and completely broken apart?"

Thinking about Clark, "Yes."

"Well dude that's love. "

Lana started hurting in the pit of her stomach her heart started aching over Clark so she changed the subject, "So how did you pay it off?"

"I started racing my bike for him. Strictly underground completely illegal, and way too dangerous. Every time I got on the starting line I closed my eyes and said my goodbyes. .. But that's not the point. So I'm out there risking my life night in and night out for Dylan… One night," she hesitates, "One night I come home and he's in bed with my best friend…. I didn't know what to do I didn't know what to think it was like someone took everything I was everything I had done and the justification for those actions, manifested them into a bat and beat me with it… I left without a word got on the bike and went to the race. I didn't say my goodbyes that time, I didn't have anyone to say goodbye to. The race started and I was going faster then I ever had I pushed the bikes limits. Tears streaming down my face, my vision blurred I was so angry I didn't hear the cops cars. So I kept going and going till I saw a police barricade I slowed down but they must have thought I was a threat so they shot out my tires….." she looked at Lana to make sure she was still with her and Lana just looked at her in complete shock she chuckles and continues, "The bike went out from under me and I went head first into a patrol car. You still with me you don't say much.."

"I don't know what to say..continue please…."

"Yeah well I ended up in a comma for 2 weeks," her tone drops an octive, "of course no one came to visit. I wasn't charged , instead I was kicked out of jail and forced back here. To a place my parents exiled me from at age 8 and never looked back. The End."

"I can't imagine. And I thought I had it bad. But what about the debt?" Lana furrowed her eyebrows with concern.

"Oh I suppose it died with Edge. So that's my story." Smiling sheepishly playing uncomfortably with her mug.

"And your parents.."

"Can I get a rain check on that one?"

"Of course.. I mean god you've already told me soo much.."

"Which is weird…"

"Whys that?"

"I don't open up to people, I don't trust people."

"Then why me…"

"I dunno there just something about you Lana."

With a sigh, "Tell that to Clark."

Mackenzie lets go of her mug and rubs her hands together while smiling mischievously. "Now we're getting to the good stuff."

::To Be Continued::