Through Lana's Eyes
Part 2 Chapter 8
Ryan
After she finished her ride she saw Nell at the gate to the field she was riding in.
"Hey."
"How was your ride?" Nell asked her.
"Oh, it was great. We took the long way around Crater Lake."
"Do you remember when you went riding at the Metropolis Equestrian Center?" 'Yeah, that place was really nice.' "And you said you wished you belonged to a club like that?"
"Yeah. They've got fantastic facilities."
"Well, what would you say if I told you you could ride there every weekend and any time you wanted after school."
"I'd say it'd be a long drive."
"I know this is sudden. But Dean's taken a job in Metropolis, and he wants us to move with him." 'What? How could she say yes without even mentioning it to me?'
"And you said yes?"
"I know it's a lot to ask, Lana. But it's important to Dean and I think it'll be a great opportunity for you. It'll be great for all of us." 'Oh, so she just assumed I'd want to do. She thought I'd want to leave the only home I've ever know, and all my friends to go live in Metropolis.'
"I can't believe you agreed to do this without even asking me."
"I know it's difficult to imagine right now. . ."
"What about school? And my friends? Not to mention the Talon."
"Lana, you can visit Smallville any time you want."
"I don't want to talk about this now." She turned around and got back on her horse. 'I'm not going home now. I think I'll go back around Crater Lake first and think this over.' When she did go home, Nell didn't mention anything about moving. In fact, the only thing she told Lana was that Clark had called. 'I wonder what Clark wants.' She got the phone and went into her room.
"Hello." a familiar voice said. 'Is that Ryan?'
"Ryan, is that you?"
"Yeah. Who's this?"
"It's Lana."
"Hi, Lana. Do you want to talk to Clark?"
"Yes, please."
"Alright, here he is."
"Hello." Clark said.
"Hi, Clark. It's Lana. Nell told me you called."
"Oh, yeah. It wanted to tell you that Ryan is visiting us, and I wanted to do something special for him."
"You mean like a party."
"Yeah, but I want it to be a surprise."
"Well, it's not going to be much of a surprise if he can hear you right now. Is he still in the room?"
"No, he went outside with my dad."
'Oh." She laughed. "Where did you want to have this surprise party?"
"I was thinking we could have it at the Talon. Is that okay with you?"
"It's fine, I think. When would it be?"
"Could we have it Saturday night? Isn't that the night that the Talon is open the latest?"
"Saturday would be fine, and yes it is. But do you think it'd be better if I closed early and have just our friends?"
"That makes sense. Don't you have to check with someone, like Lex first?"
"Yeah, I'll call him."
"Okay. I'll talk to you more about this at school, okay?"
"Alright. See you later." 'Should I talk to him about leaving now, or should I wait? I think I'll wait. I don't want to ruin the fun of having Ryan back.' She hung up the phone and dialed Lex's office.
"Hello."
"Hi, Lana. What can I do for you?"
"As I'm sure you know, Ryan's back and he's staying with the Kents. Clark just called me and I was wondering if we could have a welcome back party for him at the Talon on Saturday. I was thinking that we could close early so it would be more private. Is that okay?"
"Only if you promise not to burn the place down."
"I promise." She laughed. 'Great so I'd better call Clark back.' "Once I talk to Clark I'll get the details to run by you, okay?"
"Lana, you already have my permission. You can do whatever you want."
"Thanks, Lex. I'll come by later this week to drop off the papers and other stuff."
"See you then. Bye Lana."
"Bye." For the next couple of days she concentrated on the party, and between school and that Saturday night had arrived before she knew it. She was at the Talon when people started to arrive. Finally Clark called and told her they were around the corner and would be there soon. She relayed the message to everyone else, double checked everything was set, and shut off the lights. A few minutes later Clark and Ryan walked in.
"Surprise!" they all shouted.
"It's your jailbreak party." Chloe walked over to them. "We even have the obligatory pistachio log ice cream cake and we managed to rustle up a band." she said as she lead them over two her.
"This is so cool. Thanks, guys." Ryan said.
"Good to see you man." Pete shook hands with him.
"I'm so glad you're back." She hugged him gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Wow. Yeah me too." She laughed as she and Chloe went to get some coffee.
"Hey, Chloe. There's something I've been wanting to tell someone."
"What is it? Is everything alright?"
"Yeah it's nothing like that. Just promise you won't tell anyone else."
"My lips are sealed." 'At least I know Chloe isn't going to blab to the first person she sees.'
"Thanks. You know how Nell and Dean are married, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, they have decided to move to Metropolis and they want me to go with them."
"Wow, that's big news. Do you want to go?"
"Are you kidding? That's the last think I want to do." She heard glass shattering. "I'd better go clean that up. I'll tell you the rest later." She walked off to clean up feeling slightly guilty, knowing that she wouldn't have a chance to talk to Chloe again that night. Even with the smaller crowd she was still busy bussing tables, but she made time to go see the guest of honor. She got some cake, and brought it over.
"Brought you guys a couple of pieces before everyone eats it all." Ryan smiled at her, but then his expression changed and he put his hand to his head. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Just a headache."
"I'll go get you a glass of water." She walked to the counter and brought the water back.
"I think I'm gonna take Ryan home." Clark told her. "He's not looking so great."
"Okay." She hugged Ryan. "Feel better. I'll see you later, Clark." She spent the rest of the evening clearing tables and occasionally talking to Pete or Chloe. When she got home Nell told her that Clark had called again. 'I think I'll go talk to him in person this time.' She turned and walked back outside and through the woods to the Kent farm. She found Clark in the loft reading.
"Hey, Clark, got your message. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. I just wanted to thank you for the party. It was really great. Sorry we had to leave early, but Ryan wasn't feeling so good."
"Yeah, how's he doing? He didn't look so hot."
"To be honest, I'm not really sure. He's got a doctor's appointment tomorrow to try to figure out what they did to him in that place. You should have seen him, Lana." 'I don't think I could have been able to bear it. That must have been horrible.'
"But he's safe now, thanks to you."
"Yeah, he's just such a good kid. Seems like life's always kicking him in the teeth. Makes you realize how lucky we are." 'For now. My life's been giving me a pretty hard beating lately, what with Nell wanting to move and everything.' "You okay? You seem a little preoccupied." 'You read my mind.'
"Oh, no. No, I'm fine." She laughed nervously hoping he wouldn't catch her lying.
"I know things aren't as solid between us as they used to be but I'm still here for you if you want to talk about anything."'I might as well tell him, he's gonna find out eventually.'
"Nell and Dean are moving to Metropolis, and I'm supposed to go with them."
"How do you feel about that?"
"How would you feel if you were uprooted and sent somewhere far away where you didn't know anybody?"
"I think it'd be tough."
"I feel like a piece of luggage they can just throw in the trunk as they drive off to their new life."
"Have you talked to Henry Small about this?" 'I've thought about it but no; we're not at the stage where I could just waltz in and ask him to give me a room.' "No, I'm not ready to dump this in his lap. Just because we might share the same DNA does not mean we're family."
"Well, you could come stay with us. It's just kind of crowed right now." 'Thanks, Clark. That's so sweet of you to ask.'
"Ryan's lucky. At least he got to choose his family. I'll see you later."
"Don't go. Don't go to Metropolis."
"Or what? You gonna kidnap me too?" 'It would be a better alternative.'
"Nell shouldn't be able to dictate your life without your input. If moving doesn't feel right, don't go." 'Maybe I will stay here.' she turned and walked down the steps. 'It's not a bad idea; to fight for what I want for once in my life.' She walked back to home still thinking about the possibilities of what she could do. 'When I get home, I'm gonna tell her.' She decided and hurried home, so she could get there before her confidence died down. When she got home she found Nell in the kitchen.
"Hi, Lana. How was the party?"
"Fine. Nell, we need to talk." 'I hope she takes this well.'
"Have you adjusted to the idea of moving yet?"
"Actually, the exact opposite. I've decided that I'm not moving with you." She held her breath while she waited for her aunt to respond.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm staying here, in Smallville while you and Dean go off to Metropolis."
"Are you sure? Why the sudden change of heart?"
"There was no change of heart. I never wanted to leave."
"Lana, it's late. Go to bed, get some rest, and we can talk about this in the morning." She got up. 'Why won't Nell take me seriously?'
"I'll go to bed but my decision is final. I'm staying here."
"Good night sweetie." Nell said. Lana went up stairs and flopped down on her bed. 'How can she just ignore what I'm saying? Even if I have to live above the Talon; I'm going to stay in Smallville with my friends.'
The next morning she left for school without seeing Nell. When she got to school she went into the Torch office to do some research.
"'Facts on child emancipation.' I have a feeling this isn't for a research paper." she heard Chloe say as she walked in. She had been sitting the computer for half an hour getting more and more frustrated before anyone came in.
"I decided to tell Nell that I wasn't moving with her to Metropolis."
"Well, that's very Erin Brockovich of you. How did Nell take it?" 'Badly.'
"One, she's my legal guardian, two I'm a teenager, and three: I don't have any say in the matter."
"That pretty much covers all your bases. So, are you gonna pursue this emancipation thing?" 'It takes too long. I'd already be living in Metropolis by the time my situation even gets heard of.'
"It could take up to a year and a half to complete the process."
"Sounds like you're already talking yourself out of it."
"It's my last shot." 'What else can I do? Ask Clark to kidnap me?'
"You know, you might have one other option." 'What's that?' "I know this family whose house has some spare room and I'm sure that they'd let you stay there especially since we both know them very well."
"I wouldn't want to be a burden to another family."
"Lana trust me. They'd love to have you."
"Who is this family anyway?"
"Well, there's this really nice man named Gabe, and he has a daughter whose very into journalism and who is standing right in front of you."
"Chloe, I could never ask you and your dad to let me stay."
"That's the beauty of being friends, you don't have to ask. And besides I think we could use someone who could make coffee around the house."
"Are you sure?"
"Definitely. Why don't you run it by Nell, and we can talk more about this later."
"Sounds good to me." After school was over Lana went straight home to talk to Nell.
"Hi, Lana. How was school?" Nell asked as soon as she walked into the kitchen. 'It was okay. I figured out a way that I can stay here in Smallville and not have to leave.'
"School was fine."
"You know, Lana, I've been thinking and I think that moving is the right thing to do right now. You know, change can be good. Think of all the friends you'll make, and all the things you can do in a new place."
"But, Nell . . ."
"I don't want to hear any buts, Lana, you're moving with Dean and me and that's final."
"No, it's not final. I'm staying in Smallville, I'm going to graduate from Smallville High, and I'm going to go to college somewhere around here."
"Well, where are you going to live?"
"With Chloe and her dad. Chloe's already cleared it with him, so it's either that or I could stay above the Talon. But there's now way that I'm leaving this town with you and Dean." Lana looked at her aunts face. Nell was shocked.
"Lana," Nell began. 'She's probably going to launch into some speech about how my parents would have wanted us to stay together and they wouldn't have wanted me to stay here in Smallville and not accomplish anything. I've made up my mind and there's nothing she can say to change my mind.'
"Don't start that now. I've never stood up to you on any issue other than this. This is what I really want to do. Now, you can either support me in my decision or you can never speak to me again. I don't really care which."
"Well, if you're really sure you won't come to Metropolis then I guess you can stay with Chloe, but just until you finish high-school. Then I want you to think about staying in Metropolis, alright?" 'It's better than nothing.'
"Alright. I'm going to go do my homework."
"Lana, wait. Clark called earlier and told me to tell you that Ryan was admitted to the hospital and he's had surgery. I'm sure Ryan and Clark would appreciate it if you would go over there."
"Okay, I'll see you later." Lana turned and walked out the door and drove to the hospital. 'I hope Ryan's going to be alright. I guess they figured out what was causing the headaches. Please let Ryan be alright.' When she got to the hospital she found Clark on the second floor.
"Clark."
"Hey, Lana."
"Is there any news?"
"Ryan's still in recovery, but Dr. Burton is optimistic."
"Then, everything's gonna work out."
"Yeah, I think it is." 'That a relief.'
"Oh, by the way, I took your advice. And to make a long story short Chloe and her dad have offered to let me stay with them until I finish high school."
"And Nell's cool with that?" 'Not at all.'
"Not really, but she's agreed to it."
"Well, I knew you were a fighter."
"It's scary but then I think of Ryan and everything that he's gone through. It kind of puts things in perspective."
"You and Chloe as roommates."
"Did you ever see that coming?" 'I know I didn't.'
"Not in a million years." She looked up and saw a look of sadness in his eyes.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. It's just you won't be the girl next door anymore." 'That's sweet. Eventhough I'm not really leaving he's still gonna miss me.'
"I'm not going anywhere, Clark. Maybe now you can give your telescope to Ryan." They laughed.
"Mom?" Clark asked. She looked over and saw the Kents walking over. From the looks on their faces she couldn't tell whether or not it was good news.
"Clark," his mom said. "Ryan's not doing so well. He's awake, but they don't think he's going to get much better. Bringing Dr. Burton brought him a few extra days, but the doctors aren't optimistic." Lana put her hand over he mouth trying to hold in sobs that were threatening to escape from her chest. She looked up at Clark and saw that he was holding back tears too. As she drove home, Lana tried to force herself to think positive. 'Doctors can be wrong, and something could change in the next few days.' She clung to that thought until it was shattered by a phone call from Clark she received the next day saying that Ryan had died. He didn't say much but he did tell her that there was going to be a memorial service that Saturday.
On Saturday as the minister was speaking she thought back on the few times that she had seen Ryan, and she thought about how hard it must be for the Kents, especially Clark. 'I mean, I only saw Ryan a few times. But when he was here he lived with the Kent family, so they must be crushed. I feel so bad for Clark; Ryan was like a little brother to him.' She brushed a tear from her cheek. 'Goodbye, Ryan. I'll always remember you.'
