Chapter 3 [Way Home—Fifteen minutes later][A/N: Yoda and Star Wars belong to Lucasfilm]
As Lex's Ferrari sped over the blacktop, Clark gazed up at the stars. He often did the same thing from his Loft of course….
Peering through his telescope at them often calmed him. He'd felt a pull from the heavens as if calling him home….
…which even if he didn't know where that was exactly, his place of origin lay amongst them….
Unfortunately that knowledge couldn't help him with his latest Earthbound dilemma. Somehow Lana had blessed him with a second chance at a date albeit a friendly one. He tapped his fingers against the leather armrest on the door. He strained to keep a placid look on his face even if his heart beat like a jackhammer.
We got a date with her! We got a date with her! his heart sang with joy. Friendship, to that organ it seemed, was only a way station to its bigger goal.
Still his head fretted with how she'd handle the Secret. Could they be together if she didn't know?
Worse how would the Parents react to her knowing?
That thought induced a heavy gulp in his throat.
Lex glanced at him knowingly. Despite the other's attempt to cover his feelings, the billionaire understood the stakes. He'd spent enough hours in the mansion's library instructing Clark in sacking the Quarterback and winning the fair Miss Lang's heart.
Clark of course always took the higher road….
That's another reason we're different. Lex executed a hard left turn onto Route 90 and jarred his passenger from the reverie in process. "Already doubting yourself, are you? Come on, Clark. She picked you out, remember?"
"That's easy for you to say, Lex. She wants to go as friends," Clark retorted with equal parts of frustration and wonder.
"After what's been going on, Clark, the matter is she wants you around. She's given you an opportunity to prove yourself. Relax. She won't bite," Lex advised. "Let me worry about the Talon arrangements. You get the date stuff."
"Easy for you. You call a caterer. If it doesn't work out, you move on. I fumble again and I lose," Clark presumed as they turned into the farm.
"I have news for you." Lex parked the car in front of the yellow farmhouse. He sucked down his impatience and frankly resentment over the teen's latest comment. "I actually have failed at such things. I've also told Lana that one has to be prepared for such things to fail. But don't blind yourself to the chance that it will succeed either."
"Bet you have some hot literary quote for that too?" Clark wondered.
"Do or do not. There is no try," Lex quipped with a smirk on his face.
"Lincoln? Shakespeare?" Clark assumed.
"Star Wars actually. That Yoda guy was quite the teacher. Maybe we can pull some rabbits out too," Lex clarified. "Just think over what didn't work before. Consider why Lana wants you around. Tweak your strategy." He pressed a button on his armrest unlocking the passenger door. "You screwed up. But you've been trying. She knows that. I know that. Acknowledge that for yourself, Clark." He rubbed his friend's arm. "If you want to talk, you know where I am."
"Thanks, Lex. I'll keep that in mind. Take care!" the farm boy acknowledged with a smile as he got out. "Thanks for the ride back."
"Any time, Clark. Any time," Lex replied before shifting into gear and driving away back down the dirt driveway toward the main road.
Just consider for myself. Yeah right. Clark sighed as he tromped up the stairs and into the house. His mind swam with potential details and concerns about the dance and Lana in general. Best keep it low key for the parents. "Mom? Dad? Sorry I'm late!"
"It's okay, Clark! Dinner's not going to be ready for another fifteen minutes!" Martha assured him from the counter. She chopped away on some cucumbers for the evening salad. She also had an eye on the oven from which the scent of cooking chicken wafted throughout the area. "I've got chicken pot pie tonight."
"Sounds awesome, Mom." Clark grinned. No matter how down he got about things in the world, his mother's cooking could always pick his spirits up. "I was talking with Pete and Lana at the Talon. We ran over a little."
"That's okay, Clark." Jonathan smiled at his son. "Barn looks great. You got your chores done." He studied the younger man's face. Despite the latter's attempts to appear upbeat, something was up. "Is there something you want to ask about?"
"Nothing happened in town, did it?" she wondered.
"No. Nothing happened." Clark rubbed the back of his neck. "Nothing earth shattering anyhow."
Jonathan chuckled. "So something minor happened then. Son, did it involve your abilities?"
"No, Dad." Clark shrugged. "There's this St. Patrick's Day dance at school. Lana kind of asked me to go as friends."
"As…friends." Jonathan nodded and considered that particular notion.
"I think it's a nice idea," she chimed in while pulling the pot pie from the oven and setting it on a wire rack to cool off. "You all have had quite a year. It might be good for both of you. You've both been so down since we found out about Whitney and Kyla."
"Yeah well, death kind of does that." Clark turned the faucet and washed his hands. "I've been making sure that Kyla's okay. I know she'd want me to be happy. Whitney wants the same for Lana. That's true wherever they are."
"When you love someone, that's what's important," she concurred.
"Besides there won't be pressure on you this time," Jonathan added. "Just stay away from the red meteors and you should be fine. We trust your judgment."
"Focus on her, Clark. Make sure she has a good time. Okay?" Martha reminded him. "Help me with the table?"
"Sure, Mom. Lex told me to keep it simple. I was thinking of some dinner places…." Clark started.
"Maybe you can ask Lana what she wants?" she suggested. "It's both your experiences."
Jonathan was going to say something else but thought better of it. Just don't reveal yourself, Clark!
She turned back to her preparations content in the feeling that her son would think through the details before launching into the endeavor as a whole.
Clark meantime set the table. He still felt nervous but at least his friends were behind him. His parents supported the endeavor. Maybe it could work out after all.
And with that, the ground in his mind lay fertile for a plan to sprout forth…..