Canning

DJ Dubois

August 2019

Rating: T (Teen)

Notes Part 1: This story takes place after "Slumber." It also includes events from "Perry" even as it diverges from that episode.

Notes Part 2: Smallville belongs to DC and the CW. Any other characters mentioned mine. Please send comments to dante0220 .

Chapter 1 [Kent Farm—Right After the Events in "Slumber"]

Luna brushed her gentle light across the Kansas prairie. A hot breeze swayed the parched grasses. A few cows still roamed the back forty under the stars.

The residual heat had everyone thinking…..

Clark watched Lana's blazer drive back up the dirt road toward the highway. For once he had to admire his own good fortune. Most recently, he'd dealt with several walks on the wild and weird side even by his own standards. He'd lost several months in Kal's red meteor-driven escapade in Metropolis. He still dealt with the questions and doubts, both spoken and unspoken, of his friends and neighbors. Jor-El still lurked in the Caves and close by; his demands looming over Clark's head like a sword of Damocles. The spontaneous link with Sara Conroy illustrated Clark's limitations in dream realms. While in that dream world, he'd missed his history test, flipped a truck and nearly lost Lana. Most unfortunate however, he'd lost that relationship with Lana.

Despite this, however, Lana had offered him an outing…granted a friendly one…but an outing nonetheless. She proposed going to the lake for a swim. After urging him to open up and pushing to know what was going on, she offered him a way in. She was waiting for him.

I can't screw this up. He sighed. He ran his hands through his dark hair. First the history test and then I can start setting things right with her. Sara's right. I can't push Lana away. I have to listen to love. There has to be a way I can balance everything. Right? He glanced toward the history book sitting on the table beside the couch. One thing at a time. Still she actually brought up Crater Lake! He smiled at the thought of a pleasant picnic with her. Maybe he'd could open up on things without giving too many things away. I can't believe I brought up the skinny dipping thing though. Really? He rolled his eyes. Embarrassment tinted his cheeks with a scarlet streak. He could almost hear Pete chiding him. He imagined Lex rolling his eyes.

Casanova he wasn't….

"I'm trying to let you in, Lana. Really I am!" Clark called out to the darkened surroundings. He picked up his book and clomped down the wooden stairs. He could see that everything seemed in order around the barn. Now it was time to make sure he got enough sleep.

Even Kryptonians needed to pass their classes after all…..