Chapter 8

[Talon—Friday Morning—about 5:45 AM]

After a mostly sleepless night, Lana had risen well before the sun. The dinner with the Kents had lent her a taste of happiness and security. For a couple of hours, she'd had what she truly wanted.

A stable family setting in which she felt welcome and safe…where her words counted….

A loving guy at her side who wanted to be there. Her best friend…..

Her best friend…..

She sat in the blazer's driver seat and stared at the dress that hung in its garment bag on the passenger side's hook. So much glamour and glitz….To think I really didn't need it. I had what I wanted all along. She unhooked the bag and carried it through the predawn chill and fog toward the café. She heard the lock unlatch at the key's urging and stepped inside.

There she stopped…..

The whole inside of the café's sitting area had been transformed into an Irish sitting room. Beige table cloths covered the table surfaces. Lace doilies sat under a festive white candle with shamrock motifs in each one's center. An old fashioned oaken tea table replaced the standard coffee bar.

Miranda and that new girl had outdone themselves….

As she walked toward the stairs, she admired how everything sparkled and shone even in the dim lighting. She ascended toward the second floor apartment and the scene of her surprise for Clark later that day. With each step, she admired each new view of the masterpiece.

Lex said we could do it. Clark, thank you for believing! Lana almost swooned at the feeling of happiness overtaking herself. She wiped the happy tears off of her cheeks and smiled. Hopefully everyone else agrees! She reached the balcony and let herself into the apartment. Once inside, she snapped the lights on.

Before her lay the scene of her potential happiness…

She'd stolen up there during her breaks at work. She'd even left in the middle of the night from the Sullivans' to keep going. She'd toiled to set the entire place straight. She'd stacked boxes along the back wall. She'd swept and wiped every surface down until she needed shades to look at them any further. A boom box with CD player waited to serenade the ear. She'd brought fruit punch, cranberry juice and ginger ale for the punch she'd make later that afternoon. She'd even set a single white candle in the table's center.

White for purity…for her hopes….for the love of her best friend's heart….

…to be his Colleen….

She smiled wistfully at that thought. Her heart ached from the want of that. She survived so much that year. She'd watched from a distance as Clark had done the same. Both had suffered. Both had walked as tall as they could during their crises of faith. Both had agreed to edge closer and closer.

She hung the dress in the bedroom closet for the day's safe keeping and returned to the front room. She nodded in satisfaction at the paradise she'd created.

"Not bad, Lana. You really outdid yourself."

She froze and turned to find Lex standing there behind her. "Lex! What are you doing here?"

"Sorry. I saw the lights on and thought to check things out." He sauntered into the room and admired her handiwork more in-depth. "And here I thought Clark was the one with the creative flare. You do amaze, Lana." He smiled gently at her.

"I want Clark to enjoy himself. Why not a bit of romance?" she supposed almost defensively.

"Considering that you both are friends, it's a daring touch. Then again, as I told him, if it's there, go for it. I kind of knew you were up to something like this when I lent you the key." He smirked supportively.

Seeing her surprise, he shrugged. "I want my best friend and business partner to be happy. If they can make each other happy, who am I to say no? So sue me for wanting that." He motioned toward the downstairs. "Miranda and Jasmine really outdid themselves down there, didn't they?"

"Jasmine? That's the new girl?" she wondered.

"She's an exchange student at the high school. She wanted to work a few hours during the week and more on the weekends. It gives us an alternative to Sky thankfully. She's a real go-getter apparently," he detailed. "Just be happier, Lana. Hopefully the deal with Mr. Small works out. Meantime we're all here to help too."

"Thanks, Lex. That means a lot," she expressed gratefully. "And thanks for getting the stuff for today."

He smiled. "I'm always open to try new things. It's going to be a misty foggy day. Perfect for stew and corned beef, right? I think we're going to make a killing…in more ways than one. Good luck today." With that he departed and left her alone to her own thoughts.

Our friends are with us! She almost felt giddy enough to try a jig on her own. She took a deep breath and surveyed her surroundings once more. Then with a nod to herself, she stepped back out onto the balcony and locked the door.

School, a trip to the hairdresser and then the Main Event….The hours were going to crawl by…..

[The Loft—Kent Farm]

As Lana discovered her surprises at the Talon, Clark watched the sun rise through the fog covered window view from his Loft. His own dose of insomnia drove him to do all of the chores for his parents and himself for the previous three hours.

Frankly his heartbeat threatened to power Lowell County all by itself if he could've found a generator to hook himself up to.

He sipped on his coffee and stared out into the cloying haze. He knew that Lana and he had promised not to push each other….that they'd go to the dance as friends.

Frankly, after the previous night's dinner, he knew that sentiment no longer held any water in its own right. Everything seemed to be fitting together. Granted he'd need to let her in on the Secret eventually. He wouldn't make that mistake twice whether his father wanted that or not.

That last thought burned at him. He hated having to potentially exclude his decision to tell her from the parents. He had to insure that there wouldn't be a wedge between them. He bowed his head. "Why can't it be easy?"

It's as easy as it has to be, Numan…..

His ears perked in surprise. He stiffened and felt a slight chill. I don't feel cold like that! He turned to find Kyla standing by the stairs. "Kyla! How?"

"Good morning, Clark," she greeted with a whimsical smile. "I don't have very long but I had to see you."

"Not long? Are you okay? Is there something I can do?" he feared. Even as he asked, he wondered to himself how he could help someone who was already dead.

She giggled. "Your head is still as thick as your skin! I'm fine! I watch over you and the others when I can. I need you though to do me a favor."

"Sure! Anything!" he agreed readily.

She sighed deeply. "We weren't meant to be, Numan. I'm honored to be so loved and treasured by you. However there is another who is your Chosen One." She looked at him pointedly. "For someone who has so much power, you fail the one biggest thing." She pointed at his chest. "Learn to listen to your heart."

"My heart? But I love others."

She rolled her eyes. "You push them away. Your parents mean well. However soon you will need to reveal your true nature to your friends….You will need to trust Your One if you and she are to hold onto each other." She wiped a tear away.

"I'm upsetting you. I don't want you to feel like you're not important," he declared.

"I'll always be important in some sense! Stop wasting the opportunity to love! Lana's waiting for you! Tell her how you feel!" Kyla pressed pointedly. "Give her the bracelet, Numan. Make yourselves whole." She kissed his forehead and then smiled at him. "Even if I can't have you for myself, I can make sure you're happy. Love demands sacrifice. I love you. Since I'm gone, I can make sure that you're happy. That's all the happiness I require. Be well….." With that she turned toward the stairs and started down them.

He rushed toward her but couldn't find her.

Tell Lana you love her, Numan. Please don't waste that gift…. Kyla begged once more and then went silent.

Clark rushed about the barn at super speed. Then he cut through the mist faster than the eye would've seen even if it had been the clearest summer day.

No trace of his deceased companion remained.

He sped back up to the Loft to where his coffee still steamed away. He slumped onto the old couch while considering her words once again. "Listen to my heart…listen to my heart….." He closed his eyes and opened his ears.

Surprisingly he didn't hear much of anything at first. His mind's activity drowned out the sounds.

Then a soft and familiar beat caressed his senses. He rose without thinking from his roost and leaned toward the window. He instinctively listened.

"YES! YES!" his heart cheered. "FINALLY!"

He looked toward the house. Before he left for the Talon that afternoon, he'd have one more gift for Lana.

He just hoped she would be open to it….

That was going to be a long day for him as well…..