Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville. Wish I did, though. Especially Lex. Yum.

This chapter is just to test the waters. I'm not sure if I should run with this, but I'm going to try! Please review if you like it! If you don't, tell me what to do better! Thanks guys.

Lana Lang stared at Nell. Married? What?! Was she crazy? Nell was oblivious to her niece's shock and horror.

"But, Aunt Nell! Smallville is my home! I can't just leave that all behind! I'm not going to drop my life for this!"

Nell looked at Lana as if she had just been slapped across the face. "Lana, dear. What do you mean? I know that you would like it much more in Metropolis than Smallville. What about horseback riding? Don't you want more?"

Lana sighed dramatically and picked up their mugs, getting up. "Aunt Nell, I love to ride horses, but there's more to my life than that. I have friends here; I have the Talon for heaven's sake!"

Nell stood up, hurt in her eyes. "Lana, this isn't over. This really means a lot to me. I wish you could see that." And with that, she walked out of the Talon.

Lana stood with the mugs, her shoulders slumping. Nell was right. Why wasn't she happy for her? She was a monster. Lana didn't want to leave Smallville, but she didn't want to make her aunt unhappy. She was just so confused.

At closing time, Lana was about ready to puke. The things she had to put up with. First, there was a man who had currently lost his dentures, a bratty woman who wanted her drink changed three times, a guy that kept spilling directly on her shirt because of a dare, and the pipe under the sink was definitely broken.

Lana waited until the last person was out, then angrily slammed the tray she was holding on the counter. And, of course, the mugs on it broke. She groaned out in frustration.

She got down on her hands and knees and looked at the pipe. It looked as if she could maybe fix it on her own. Lana scratched her head and stood up; looking for anything that looked like it could be used in this situation. A hand was gently placed on her shoulder. Lana screamed, took her attacker's fingers and twisted them. She spun around and twisted his arm behind his back, then pushed him up against the counter.

"That," she hissed into his ear, "wasn't smart." Then, the attacker moaned, moving his bald head. Lana gasped, realizing who it was. She quickly released him and apologized.

Lex Luthor rubbed his arm gingerly, cutting her off. "Lana, it's alright. I do fear for anyone who meets you in a dark alley, though. I don't see why Clark always has the need to go off gallivanting after you. I think that you are a perfectly capable woman." He winced, as he felt pain shudder up his arm. "I think you might need to work on your eyesight, though."

Lana smiled wryly. "I'm sorry, Lex. I was just looking for something to fix this pipe, and then you scared me. Why are you so quiet when you walk?"

Lex flashed her a grin. "It's all from fencing. Light on the feet." Lex looked at the hammer she was holding and took it away from her.

"I don't think you'd need this for fixing a pipe." He got down on the ground, and Lana joined him. He examined the pipe expertly, and then smirked at Lana.

"Whatever for are you smirking at, Luthor?" Lana said, slightly annoyed. Sensing her annoyance, Lex's smirk grew even bigger. Lana glared. "What is it?"

"Lana, the pipe it quite easy to fix. All you have to do is twist the connecting piece in the middle." Lana blushed, embarrassed.

"I didn't know that it was that simple," Lana griped the pipe with both hands, and used all her strength. She tried again and again, but it did not budge. She sighed, exasperated.

Lex grinned and covered her hands with his. Using all their strength, the connecting piece slowly moved. They let go, waiting. There was silence. Lana turned the water on and nothing came out. There was still silence, and then the pipe broke, water shooting out. Lana screamed as she was soaked in cold water. Lex, on the other hand laughed and splashed the shocked girl. Lana glared at him, smiling.

"Don't think that you can get away with that, Luthor." She splashed him straight in the face. She couldn't help but giggle when she saw Lex's shocked expression. But Lex quickly recovered.

He grabbed the extendable faucet and aimed it right at Lana. She screamed, and laughed.

"That's not fair! You don't have hair to worry about!"

"Just for that, you get this," he turned the knob up full blast.

"Lex!" Lana shrieked. He laughed. She took advantage of that moment of distraction, and tackled the unsuspecting billionaire. Wrenching the faucet away from him, Lana sprayed it at him. He tried to shield himself, but failed miserably. Fortunately for Lex, the water stopped. The two took in their appearances. They were both drenched, head to toe. They collapsed on the wet floor, laughing hysterically.

Once they were calm, Lana sat up, reached for a wet dishcloth, and smacked Lex with it. He cringed.

"What was that for?"

"That," Lana said, tersely, "was for being wrong when you were so confident you would be right,"

Lex shrugged. "I can't help it. But I assure you, most of the time I am right."

Lana raised her eyebrows. "And this was definitely not one of those times, Lex."

Lex grinned and got up, staring at the mess they had made. Pulling herself up to stand beside him, Lana gasped.

"Did we really wreck this much havoc? I suppose I should start to clean up. Great, just brilliant." Lex shook his head, smirking.

"I sometimes think you forget who you're dealing with, here. I can have it cleaned up by morning." He looked at the clock. "Well, maybe later in the morning. Seeing as it's 2am." Lana gasped.

Grabbing her purse and school tote, Lana pulled Lex outside, locking the door.

"Oh, dear! I will be in such trouble when I get home. Nell will most likely lecture me about how I am supposed to call before. I mean, Nell is the closest thing to a mother I have, and I love her, but…" Lex nodded.

"I never liked my parent's lectures either." Lana smiled up at him.

Lex smiled back. Lana shivered, and thanked him when he put his jacket around her.

"Lex, I really need to go now. I'll give you your jacket tomorrow, okay?"

"That will be just fine, Lana. Do you need a ride? I mean, I know it's a Ferrari and the seats are nice, but I certainly can't let you walk back." Lana grinned and shook her head.

"I'm covered. My car's in the back." They stood in silence, staring at each other. Lex snapped out of his daze and grinned at her. She waved as he pulled out of his parking space.

Lana quietly walked to her car, smiling to herself. What a day. Suddenly, someone griped her shoulder and flipped her over. Lana stared into the eyes of an obviously very drunk man.

"I saw you eyeing; me. I know ya want me. You want to scream my name in pleasure." The man grinned and kissed her sloppily.

Disgusted, Lana pulled her lips away and slapped him with all her might. "How dare you! I think you should just leave right now. Please." Her voice was firm, but being the small town girl she was, her eyes betrayed her. She was scared, so very scared.

The man noticed it and grinned. He griped her chin and kissed her again. Lana squirmed and squeaked. The man looked at her angrily and growled, pushing her up against the wall.

"I was going to be gentle. But not now. Stop it!" He slapped her. Lana felt blood trickle down from the corner of her mouth. Then, he took out a pocket knife and made a gash on her abs. Rage ran through her like never before.

"YOU STOP IT!" She kicked him in the stomach, making him fall. She bent down to his ear.

"If you ever do that again," she spat, "I will make sure that you will regret it." With that, she hopped into her car, racing to the hospital. As she drove, Lana coughed up blood. Her head felt woozy. She staggered to the emergency wing and collapsed, coughing up blood. It spilled out of her like a water fountain.

The last thing she saw was a team of doctors bent over her, worried looks in their eyes.

Lana awoke to the glaring lights of a hospital bedroom. Sitting in the seat next to her was Nell. When she saw Lana, she cried out.

"Lana! I was so worried. I thought you wouldn't wake." She hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Nell. It was dark out and, he was just there." Then, she added bitterly, thinking of him, "I bet he's still passed out in the back. I hoped they find him."

Nell frowned. "Yes, they did. Lana, I'm worried about you here. It's so small; anyone could prey on a young, pretty girl like you." Lana raised her eyebrows.

"Aunt Nell, it's even worse in Metropolis. There are so many other guys who could prey on me. But, I think I think you should cut me some slack, because I got rid of him. I'm fine now." Nell stood up angrily.

"No, you are not! You will have a scar right there," she pointed at her upper abdomen, "for the rest of your life. You shouldn't have made him angry, you should have calmed him. I thought you knew better."

Lana was stunned. "What did you expect me to do, Aunt Nell? I didn't really have any other options did I?"

Nell sighed, and rubbed her tired face. "I'm sorry, Lana, dear. I'm just tired."

Lana immediately felt guilty for snapping at her like that. "Then you go back home, and take a nap. I'll be fine." Nell nodded hesitantly and left.

Lana waited until she could no longer see her aunt, then lifter the covers. Pulling up her shift, she saw the scar. There was a scar that graced her abs, it was an angry pink. It wasn't ugly, it wasn't pretty. Lana outlined it with her finger, wincing from the pain. Lana knew that Nell would pay for plastic surgery, pay a lot. She knew that Nell couldn't stand Lana having a part of her that wasn't perfect. Lana also knew that she wasn't perfect, she didn't want to be. She wanted to leave the scar there, forever.

It was the way everyone viewed her. Lana Lang had been named a slut, a suck-up, a jealous monster, a killjoy, a dream murder. She had also been named a princess, a star, a diva, an epitome of beauty. But none of that mattered to Lana right now. She didn't want those titles. She only wanted the name, Lana. Nothing more.

When she went back to school, she was immediately bombarded with Clark Kent. He rushed to her side and started to babble. When they entered the Torch, Chloe looked up.

"Hey, Lana. I'm glad you're okay." Seeing her pleading eyes, Chloe cut Clark off.

"Uh, Clark? I think that you could use a breather. For heaven's sake, she wasn't murdered. Chill." Lana smiled gratefully when he stopped. Chloe grinned back.

Clark saw this and started to talk again. "Lana, you should have called for help. I would have come. You should have-" Lana turned on him, her eyes angry and hurt.

"What are you saying, Clark? Are you saying that I shouldn't have fought back? Are you saying that I should have let him rape me? Let him rape me, and hope-just hope with every fiber-that you would somehow magically show up and stop him."

Clark's mouth hung open. "Lana, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that I could've handled it."

"I think, Clark," she snapped, "that I can handle it myself. I did handle it myself. And look at me. I may not have escaped him unscathed, but I'm here." Lana stormed out of the Torch, leaving a shocked Clark and a proud but slightly amused Chloe in her wake.

Lana zipped her last bag and stared at her room. The room that she would be leaving this minute. She'd had enough. She'd had enough people watching her, making sure she was alright. She didn't need their protection, only her protection.

"Lana! The van is here! We'd better hurry if we want to get there by midnight!" Nell's voice woke her from her daze.

"Coming!" Walking down the stairs, Lana took out a CD she had made for Chloe. She asked Nell if they could make a stop at Chloe's house, so she could drop it off. It was as video explaining where she had gone, where she would be, telling Chloe to come visit, and most importantly, to not tell anyone.

A tear escaped Lana's eye. It was a tear filled with sadness, freedom, hate, love, but most of all, freedom.

"Mr. Luthor," His butler walked into his study. Lex looked up from his laptop.

"Yes?"

"A jacket was returned here this afternoon," He handed Lex his jacket. Then he fished out a scrap of paper out of his pocket.

"Along with it was a note." He handed it to Lex. Lex nodded him curtly and he left.

The note read, "Thank you, Lex. I am leaving Smallville, I am never coming back. I am very sorry. Goodbye. Love, Lana."

TBC...

So? What do you guys think? Please review!