-1Chapter Thirteen-Stage One
Class had come and gone quickly, and finals were next week. Clark was dreading the test seeing as he'd been too busy to actually study. He'd fixed everything up at the Talon and Lana hadn't complained about Lex showing up in her apartment. So all in all, the business was going good and Lex hadn't mentioned anything about the new locks.
Clark had stayed after school for football practice, and had to train this summer with the team. If he was going to get anything done, it would be a challenge. As far as he knew, Mr. Edge and the guys were going to be busy, and somehow he would be drawn into it.
Clark laid in his bed, his book across his chest. He wasn't getting this at all and it was frustrating him. If he had any friends he would call for help. He did have one number, but it was Lana. Ever since she had said he wasn't a Luthor and that she didn't hate him, well he pulled away.
He realized how much he actually liked her. It explained why he skipped school to change the locks, and why he got the Talon from Lex. He couldn't let himself get attached to anyone, not right now at least. He had a job to do with Mr. Edge and Lex. If Lana got in the middle, he couldn't live with himself if she got hurt. So he pulled away, just like he stayed away from Chloe and Pete.
Right now, he wanted more than ever to just call Lana up and ask for her help. He really just wanted to call her up and ask if she wanted to go to a movie. It was just his luck to fall for a girl in a bad part of his life. This had happened before and he didn't want a repeat of Alicia. He'd lost her because of his job he couldn't risk losing Lana too.
Clark tossed his book across the room and got out of bed. He needed some air, instead of laying here dwelling on what could be. Clark closed his bedroom door behind him, his stereo still blaring his rock music. He made his way down the hallway to Lex's study. Perhaps Uncle Fester could get his mind off the long dark haired beauty that was invading his dreams.
"Clark, just the person I want to see." Lex said as Clark entered through the double doors.
"What do you want?" Clark asked taking a seat.
"Well I have a job opportunity for you. By Mr. Edge's request." Lex
said, leaning back in his chair.
"What job?" Clark asked folding his arms across his chest.
"The job. I made a deal with daddy dearest and got you a summer job at Luthorcorp. Head of security." Lex said, folding his hands and placing them in his lap. Clark knew he was waiting for him to bark something out.
"When do I start?" Clark asked.
"Day after school lets out." Lex said.
Clark was quiet as he pondered the situation. Stage One was complete now that he had the job. All he had to do was get the blueprints and schedules for the break in. It was going to be rough for him, seeing that Luthorcorp was in Metropolis, and he had football practice here.
"I take it you'll fix up my bike for the massive amount of miles I'll be putting on it." Clark said. It was more a demand than a question and Lex recognized that.
"Don't worry about your precious bike. Just get the job done." Lex said.
"Fine." Clark said standing from his chair. He should have just stayed in his room doing his homework. Clark turned and started for the doors.
"By the way, since you'll be gone someone needs to watch over the Talon. If I could get the keys I'd be more than happy to." Lex called.
Clark turned back to him and stared him in the eyes. "Lana can handle the Talon while I'm gone. Beside's I'll sleep better knowing that a peeping tom won't be waiting for her in her living room while she sleeps."
Lex met his death stare head on. "If that's how you feel."
"It's not just about how I feel. Lana felt fear when she woke up and you were there. The least I could do was change the locks." Clark shot back. He turned on his heels and left the study, slamming the doors behind him.
He went back to his room and found his door open. Clark hesitated as he pushed the door the rest of the way open and took a step in. He didn't think Lex would have him attacked by merely telling him off. Of course Lex had plenty of skeletons in his closet, what was one more?
Clark heard a shuffle to his left, behind the door. Quick as lightning he had slammed the door shut and his fist flying towards the intruders head. When he saw that it was Lana, he had a split second to divert his fist into the wall next to her.
Unfortunately it was a glass picture frame that he destroyed with his fist. He pulled back and hissed in pain. Glass rained down on the floor from the busted frame. The pictures of his parents and himself was barely hanging inside the remains of the wooden frame.
Lana reached out and touched his hand softly, careful not to touch his bleeding knuckles. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." She said.
"It's okay." Clark muttered, mesmerized by the gentleness of her touch. "What are you doing here?" He asked as she grabbed a tissue and dabbed away the blood.
"I would have called if I'd known you were so jumpy in your own house. Steve lead me back here after he swore not to tell Lex that I was here." Lana said.
"Steve is a good guy, working for the wrong kind. Though you still didn't answer my question." Clark said.
She removed her hand and tossed away the tissue. "I was…I thought you could use some help with your studies. After all you've been so busy fixing up the Talon you've been sleeping in class."
Clark couldn't believe it. Here he was trying to avoid this angel and she shows up in his bedroom to help him with his homework. Something he was desiring not too long before. He growled and flopped back on top of his bed.
Lana giggled as he buried his face into his pillow and screamed. "I didn't know I was that frustrating."
Clark rolled over and smiled over at her. "It's not you, just the irony of the situation."
She sat down at the edge of his bed, "What's so ironic?" She asked.
"It's just that I was thinking of calling you for homework help only five minutes ago." He said sitting up. His face was only inches away from hers as he leaned on his right hand.
"It looks like we were thinking of each other." Lana said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Clark looked down at her lips, then back up into her eyes. He saw something there that he hadn't seen in awhile. It was longing, kind, peaceful. He couldn't stop himself as he leaned closer, his face mere centimeters from hers.
Her head tilted to the side and he closed the distance. A spark traveled from his lips to his heart when he kissed her. It was nothing he'd experienced before. They connected perfectly together in this one moment. When they pulled apart he looked back into her eyes. She smiled at him. He had to make a decision. Either take this further or end this before it got too far.