Lessons on Being Free
by Hayla

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..::Lesson II::..
..::Just Relax::..

Instantly upon entering the nondescript building, the two were greeted with the barraging sounds of trancic melodies and thumping, almost hypnotic beats. The music surrounded them instantly, filling their bodies, and drawing them in. Clark knew immediately... this was no school dance.

Lex moved the slightly shell shocked boy through the silk curtains that graced the entranceway, his hand pressing gently on the youth's back, urging him forward. They entered the small area which opened up to a huge room filled with people, lights, sounds, and smoke.

However, where they stood a few people milled around. Some holding drinks, others talking to their companions or rocking gently to the rhythms that surrounded them. A quick glance around revealed a small room opening to the left. From what Clark could see, it was filled with soft cushions spread over the ground. A dim light revealed the few people who seemed to almost be dozing in the room. Some stared blankly into space... all looked peaceful.

A few eyes followed the pair as they moved to the far side of the entrance. Suddenly Clark felt very self conscious, and he grasped his arms across his chest. Lex had been generous enough to clothe him for his first night out, but he wasn't prepared for what he had to offer. Frankly, he felt naked, even if he was almost fully clothed.

He wore simply a pair of black leather pants. They rested easily at his hips and weren't too tight. Surprising comfortable when he first tried them on. His torso was decorated in a see through, short sleeved, black mesh unbuttoned half way down his chest. Lex had told him he would be the hit of the scene. He was less then convinced.

Lex, on the other hand, looked perfectly comfortable- wearing his almost trademark black linen slacks and a deep purple silk shirt that, like Clark's, was left halfway undone, exposing the delicate skin of his neck and clavicle. The silken sleeves traveled down his arms leaving the cuffs undone at his wrists.

Clark moved in closer behind Lex who had taken the lead through the mingling crowd. He couldn't help but feel that he was being checked out. Maybe I'm just being overly paranoid...

Eventually, Lex stopped his trek at a long make shift table. He reached forward, grabbing two brightly colored liquid vials from a young girl that passed by with a tray. She was surprised with the sudden hand, not seeing anyone next to her. He smiled and gave her a devilish wink before turning around to his companion.

"Here," He stated, holding out the tube to Clark, who was eyeing it with complete suspicion.

"You never know how your body will react..."

Clark's mother's voice rang through his head- his pesky conscious and always heeded warnings. Were they so justified? He was beginning to doubt.

"Lex, I--"

"Look, I need you to just relax. I won't let anything bad happen to you." He shoved the drink into the younger man's hands. He uncapped his own, put it against his lips, then downed it all in one fluid motion. He tossed the empty vial to the floor, reached to pull back the seal on Clark's, then folded his arms, waiting patiently, giving him that seductive smile. "Well?"

~*~

"Well what?"

"Could you atleast pretend to think about it," Clark entreated dolefully as he leaned against the locker doors next to Chloe. He tried giving her his best puppy dog eyes and most pleading frown. She wasn't falling for it.

She glanced over her armful stack of books entitled Paranormal Farming Attacks in the Past Two Decades and Mythos and Folklore of Meteorite Research as well as other highly classified 'research' material. She saw her friends forlorn expression and slammed her locker closed forceful with her shoulder.

"You know they're illegal."

"But Lex said--"

"Lex!" She cried out in exasperation, blowing a strand of blonde away from her pensive face. "Honestly Clark, I don't know what you see in him."

The dark haired boy shrugged lightly, taking a few books from his friend as they headed down the hallway.

"Come on, what else do you have to do on a Friday night," he prodded gently.

She shot him a cynical look, then gestured to the amount of books and papers the two of them were now carrying. He mouthed a small 'oh'.

"It just sounded like fun," he added softly.

"Fun?" She turned quizzically towards him, one eyebrow raised. "Do you know how many kids die each year in illegal raves? Drugs, overdoses... rapes... suffocation and exhaustion... they're dangerous! And frankly, going to an abandoned building in the midst of nowhere with no help around and the possibility of arrest doesn't sound like too much fun to me." She scrunched up her nose in disgust. "Besides, do you really want to hang out with a bunch of high, over-drugged, psychotic, sexed up teenagers packed in a small sweaty room with mind numbing music pounding in your brain?"

"Well..."

"Clark Kent! Wait till I tell your parents," she jested, opening the door to The Tourch's office.

"I wasn't planning on telling them."

This time it was Chloe's turn to mouth a questioning face of surprise. "My, my. Quite the rebel, aren't we. Really didn't think you had it in you."

She stared at him for awhile and Clark shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny. Why was it that everybody had a set mold for him... an idea of who he was and who he wasn't. There was so much they didn't know about him, what made them an expert on how he could act.

"Promise me you won't go, Clark," she said finally.

He just nodded, breezing past her into the small room, his mind turning over in thoughts and frustrations.

Chloe followed him into the cluttered space, dumping a barrage of books, papers, and news articles onto her already overflowing work desk. She sighed loudly as she picked up a black and white photo of a local farmer standing next to a haggard old cow.

"What's that," Clark asked trying to break the uncomfortable silence that was settling in the air. He added his books to the war-zoned clutter already assembled on the desk.

Chloe crossed the room to her 'Wall of Weird', searching out for a few pushpins before adding her latest prize possession to the mass of papers.

"Meteoractic Milk. Strong bones, a healthy smile, and oh so much more." She turned to him and smiled. "Feel like coming with me for some late night snoop fest?"

He was silent for a split second. Lex was going to be picking him up tonight. Wasn't he looking for an excuse?

"Nah... sorry, Chlo. I got plans already." He returned her smile. "Maybe next time."

"Oh, a hot date," she smirked. "You'll have to tell me all about it!"

More to learn... Lesson III...

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