Chapter 11- No More Secrets
"Lex, I can explain," Chloe started.
"What's going on?" Lana asked stepping inside. She took a quick breath when she saw Clark.
"Do me one favor. Get dressed first. I'll get dressed and wake Clark up. I promise he'll explain. Just please let me talk to him first," Chloe begged.
"Okay, Chloe. You two better have a good explanation," Lex said walking into his room.
Chloe ran to her room and changed as fast as she could. Then she ran to Clark.
"Clark, wake up now!" she urged. "Clark, please!" When he didn't wake up she tried again, her voice full of tears, "Clark, you have to wake up!" Clark woke up and crashed to the couch.
"Chloe?" he asked sleepily. When he noticed that she was on the verge of tears he sat up. "What is it, Chloe?"
"They saw you. We went to the pool and let you sleep. When we came in you were floating. I didn't remember until Lex had already walked in. I'm so sorry! I should have came in first," Chloe said softly.
Clark closed his eyes.
"Clark, we have no choice. We have to tell them. I promised that we would explain why. That was the only way I could get them to let me wake you up. I'm so sorry," Chloe said.
"It's not your fault. You're right. I have to tell them now," Clark said.
"Yes, you do," Lex said walking into the room with Lana.
"Sit down, please," Clark told them, pulling Chloe onto the couch beside himself.
"What's going on Clark?" Lana asked.
"You know how I said that the thing I regretted most was keeping secrets? Well, this is a big one," Clark said looking at Chloe.
Chloe squeezed his arm and nodded at him. "Clark isn't exactly like us. He has certain powers."
"What do you mean?" Lex asked.
"I'll try to tell you one by one and explain some things as I go along," Clark said. "First of all, I'm invincible. I can't be hurt."
"My car…" Lex trailed off.
"Yes, Lex. That day on the bridge, you hit me going sixty miles an hour. You hit me so hard that both me and the car went through the rail and into the water. When we went in, you were knocked unconscious. I punched a hole in your windshield and peeled back the roof to get you out," Clark explained.
"You said that it didn't happen that way. You made me feel like a horrible person for not trusting you," Lex said his face lined with pain.
"I know. I couldn't let anyone know about my powers," Clark said sadly.
Chloe continued for him. "He also has super strength. Which is the reason that he could peel back the roof of your car. That's also how he stacked all the jock's cars after the homecoming dance," Chloe explained.
"That was you?" Lana asked.
"Yes, it was stupid but I was mad at them for making e the scarecrow," Clark admitted.
"Is that why you defended my dad, Chloe. Why you told lark to let go?" Lex asked.
"Is that why you were yelling at him?" Lana added.
"Yes. I had never seen Clark that mad. It scared the hell out of me. When I heard Lionel's arm crack I knew I had to stop him. I yelled at him because I wanted him to realize what he was doing and what he could have done. It was wrong of me to scream at Clark, I was just scared," Chloe said.
"What else?" Lex asked trying not to get angry.
"I have super speed. Meaning I can run very fast," Clark said.
"That's how he always seemed to be in the right place in the nick of time," Chloe explained.
"Keep going," Lana said a little hurt and intrigued at the same time.
"Last, is x-ray vision. Clark can see through things," Chloe went on.
"What do you mean? Like he can see through walls?" Lana asked.
"Anything that doesn't have lead in it," Clark went on. "Meteors are the only thing that can hurt me. I don't know why they do, but they make me very sick and weak."
"Lana, that's why Clark would always stumble around you. It was your necklace," Chloe told her.
"If the meteors are encased in lead, then they have no effect on me. Like that lead armor box. As long as your necklace was in there, it wouldn't make me sick. I'm not sure why lead does that, I just know it does," Clark said.
"That still doesn't explain the floating," Lana said.
"Clark's powers sort of evolve. He didn't just have them from the beginning. We think the floating might lead to flying. We're not sure, it's just a theory," Chloe replied.
Clark looked at Lex. Lex looked angry on top of other things.
"Lex? Say something," Clark said desperately.
"You lied to me. So many times. I thought we were good friends, best friends. You lied," Lex said.
"I didn't want to. Only my parents and me knew about it. We were afraid to tell anyone. So, we decided not to," Clark said sadly.
"I only found out the night of our picnic. Clark told me because he wanted our dating relationship to be completely open and honest. It killed him not to be able to tell anyone," Chloe defended Clark.
"You could have trusted me," Lex almost growled.
"I know, Lex. I was just afraid to let anyone know," Clark said. "Please don't be angry."
"I'm not angry, just hurt," Lex said.
"I'm very sorry," Clark replied sincerely.
"Lana?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know what to say," Lana confessed.
"Do you have any questions?" Clark questioned.
"What about when you got hurt. I saw you at the hospital," Lex asked.
"Do you remember that kid Eric who had the powers?" Clark asked.
"They were yours, weren't they?" Lana said more a statement than a question
"I got caught in that electrical storm when we went rock hunting. Eric had a piece of the meteor in his hand. He started to fall over the bridge and I grabbed him. Before I could pull him back I got struck by lightning. The meteor combined with the lightning transferred my powers form me to him," Clark explained.
"Then how did you get them back?" Lana asked.
"If you remember, I took your necklace. I knew it was the one thing that could hurt him. Eric wanted to see if he was invincible, so he grabbed a live wire. I knew that electricity was the way I had lost my powers, so I thought I could get them back that way. I grabbed your necklace and grabbed Eric, and when we got electrocuted my powers transferred back to me."
"I see," Lana started.
"You guys have every right to yell at me and scream and be fuming. I deserve it," Clark said.
"No, I see how much it hurt you to keep it from us. I couldn't be mad at you, Clark," Lana said compassionately.
"Thank you, Lana. That means a lot," Clark said. Chloe squeezed his arm again.
"Like I said, I'm not mad, just hurt. I'll get over it. I'm glad you told us now," Lex said.
Clark nodded.
"I think that I am just going to go to bed. I need to think this over," Lex said getting up.
Clark looked at him. Both boys had pain in their eyes as Lex walked away.
"I think I'll go to bed, too" Lana said. She stood up and crossed to Clark and Chloe. She bent to hug Clark. "Thank you for explaining. I know it was hard for you. It will take some getting used to, but I'm glad I know."
"Thank you, Lana," Clark replied as she walked to her room.
"Are you okay?" Chloe asked Clark.
"I wish they hadn't found out this way."
"I should have thought about it. I should have made you move to your room when you fell asleep."
"Its not your fault. Lex and Lana know now and there's nothing I can do about it."
"I know."
"Lex looked so hurt. He's my best friend, I don't want to lose him."
"Give him space and time. That's all you can do. He'll come to you in his own time," Chloe explained as Clark yawned. "Are you tired?"
"Very. Will you stay with me tonight? I don't want to be by myself."
"Of course. You change and I'll make up the couch."
Clark kissed her on her head before getting up. Chloe went to her room and pulled the sheets off of her bed. She didn't know where the clean sheets were and didn't feel like looking. She carried the sheets to the living room and spread them on the couch. Clark came back and they lay down without saying a word. Clark lay on his back and Chloe put her head on his shoulder and threw one of her legs over both of Clark's. They lay there in silence before falling asleep.
"Lex, I can explain," Chloe started.
"What's going on?" Lana asked stepping inside. She took a quick breath when she saw Clark.
"Do me one favor. Get dressed first. I'll get dressed and wake Clark up. I promise he'll explain. Just please let me talk to him first," Chloe begged.
"Okay, Chloe. You two better have a good explanation," Lex said walking into his room.
Chloe ran to her room and changed as fast as she could. Then she ran to Clark.
"Clark, wake up now!" she urged. "Clark, please!" When he didn't wake up she tried again, her voice full of tears, "Clark, you have to wake up!" Clark woke up and crashed to the couch.
"Chloe?" he asked sleepily. When he noticed that she was on the verge of tears he sat up. "What is it, Chloe?"
"They saw you. We went to the pool and let you sleep. When we came in you were floating. I didn't remember until Lex had already walked in. I'm so sorry! I should have came in first," Chloe said softly.
Clark closed his eyes.
"Clark, we have no choice. We have to tell them. I promised that we would explain why. That was the only way I could get them to let me wake you up. I'm so sorry," Chloe said.
"It's not your fault. You're right. I have to tell them now," Clark said.
"Yes, you do," Lex said walking into the room with Lana.
"Sit down, please," Clark told them, pulling Chloe onto the couch beside himself.
"What's going on Clark?" Lana asked.
"You know how I said that the thing I regretted most was keeping secrets? Well, this is a big one," Clark said looking at Chloe.
Chloe squeezed his arm and nodded at him. "Clark isn't exactly like us. He has certain powers."
"What do you mean?" Lex asked.
"I'll try to tell you one by one and explain some things as I go along," Clark said. "First of all, I'm invincible. I can't be hurt."
"My car…" Lex trailed off.
"Yes, Lex. That day on the bridge, you hit me going sixty miles an hour. You hit me so hard that both me and the car went through the rail and into the water. When we went in, you were knocked unconscious. I punched a hole in your windshield and peeled back the roof to get you out," Clark explained.
"You said that it didn't happen that way. You made me feel like a horrible person for not trusting you," Lex said his face lined with pain.
"I know. I couldn't let anyone know about my powers," Clark said sadly.
Chloe continued for him. "He also has super strength. Which is the reason that he could peel back the roof of your car. That's also how he stacked all the jock's cars after the homecoming dance," Chloe explained.
"That was you?" Lana asked.
"Yes, it was stupid but I was mad at them for making e the scarecrow," Clark admitted.
"Is that why you defended my dad, Chloe. Why you told lark to let go?" Lex asked.
"Is that why you were yelling at him?" Lana added.
"Yes. I had never seen Clark that mad. It scared the hell out of me. When I heard Lionel's arm crack I knew I had to stop him. I yelled at him because I wanted him to realize what he was doing and what he could have done. It was wrong of me to scream at Clark, I was just scared," Chloe said.
"What else?" Lex asked trying not to get angry.
"I have super speed. Meaning I can run very fast," Clark said.
"That's how he always seemed to be in the right place in the nick of time," Chloe explained.
"Keep going," Lana said a little hurt and intrigued at the same time.
"Last, is x-ray vision. Clark can see through things," Chloe went on.
"What do you mean? Like he can see through walls?" Lana asked.
"Anything that doesn't have lead in it," Clark went on. "Meteors are the only thing that can hurt me. I don't know why they do, but they make me very sick and weak."
"Lana, that's why Clark would always stumble around you. It was your necklace," Chloe told her.
"If the meteors are encased in lead, then they have no effect on me. Like that lead armor box. As long as your necklace was in there, it wouldn't make me sick. I'm not sure why lead does that, I just know it does," Clark said.
"That still doesn't explain the floating," Lana said.
"Clark's powers sort of evolve. He didn't just have them from the beginning. We think the floating might lead to flying. We're not sure, it's just a theory," Chloe replied.
Clark looked at Lex. Lex looked angry on top of other things.
"Lex? Say something," Clark said desperately.
"You lied to me. So many times. I thought we were good friends, best friends. You lied," Lex said.
"I didn't want to. Only my parents and me knew about it. We were afraid to tell anyone. So, we decided not to," Clark said sadly.
"I only found out the night of our picnic. Clark told me because he wanted our dating relationship to be completely open and honest. It killed him not to be able to tell anyone," Chloe defended Clark.
"You could have trusted me," Lex almost growled.
"I know, Lex. I was just afraid to let anyone know," Clark said. "Please don't be angry."
"I'm not angry, just hurt," Lex said.
"I'm very sorry," Clark replied sincerely.
"Lana?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know what to say," Lana confessed.
"Do you have any questions?" Clark questioned.
"What about when you got hurt. I saw you at the hospital," Lex asked.
"Do you remember that kid Eric who had the powers?" Clark asked.
"They were yours, weren't they?" Lana said more a statement than a question
"I got caught in that electrical storm when we went rock hunting. Eric had a piece of the meteor in his hand. He started to fall over the bridge and I grabbed him. Before I could pull him back I got struck by lightning. The meteor combined with the lightning transferred my powers form me to him," Clark explained.
"Then how did you get them back?" Lana asked.
"If you remember, I took your necklace. I knew it was the one thing that could hurt him. Eric wanted to see if he was invincible, so he grabbed a live wire. I knew that electricity was the way I had lost my powers, so I thought I could get them back that way. I grabbed your necklace and grabbed Eric, and when we got electrocuted my powers transferred back to me."
"I see," Lana started.
"You guys have every right to yell at me and scream and be fuming. I deserve it," Clark said.
"No, I see how much it hurt you to keep it from us. I couldn't be mad at you, Clark," Lana said compassionately.
"Thank you, Lana. That means a lot," Clark said. Chloe squeezed his arm again.
"Like I said, I'm not mad, just hurt. I'll get over it. I'm glad you told us now," Lex said.
Clark nodded.
"I think that I am just going to go to bed. I need to think this over," Lex said getting up.
Clark looked at him. Both boys had pain in their eyes as Lex walked away.
"I think I'll go to bed, too" Lana said. She stood up and crossed to Clark and Chloe. She bent to hug Clark. "Thank you for explaining. I know it was hard for you. It will take some getting used to, but I'm glad I know."
"Thank you, Lana," Clark replied as she walked to her room.
"Are you okay?" Chloe asked Clark.
"I wish they hadn't found out this way."
"I should have thought about it. I should have made you move to your room when you fell asleep."
"Its not your fault. Lex and Lana know now and there's nothing I can do about it."
"I know."
"Lex looked so hurt. He's my best friend, I don't want to lose him."
"Give him space and time. That's all you can do. He'll come to you in his own time," Chloe explained as Clark yawned. "Are you tired?"
"Very. Will you stay with me tonight? I don't want to be by myself."
"Of course. You change and I'll make up the couch."
Clark kissed her on her head before getting up. Chloe went to her room and pulled the sheets off of her bed. She didn't know where the clean sheets were and didn't feel like looking. She carried the sheets to the living room and spread them on the couch. Clark came back and they lay down without saying a word. Clark lay on his back and Chloe put her head on his shoulder and threw one of her legs over both of Clark's. They lay there in silence before falling asleep.