Chapter Two: A Startling Discovery

Later that night, Lana Lang opened the front door of her home and stepped out on the porch. The night air was chilly for spring but the moon hung brightly in the sky, casting a silvery color upon the porch.

Lana pulled her sweater closer around her as she sat down on the porch swing. Pulling out an unopened envelope from her pocket, she took a deep breath before running her eyes over the sender's name. Whitney Fordman.

She flipped the envelope over, opened it and took out the contents, which was a one-page letter and something else. It was a photograph of Whitney that had been taken last Christmas.

Lana felt a sad smile come to her face as she stared at the picture. She was surprised at how much she missed Whitney the past two weeks. She set the picture aside to read the letter.

Dear Lana,

Sorry I haven't written to you before now. I received your email a few days ago but I've be so busy, I hadn't had the chance to write back. How are you? How's the town and everyone? Mother wrote to me and told me about what happened with the tornados. Why didn't you tell me Lana? I'm so glad Clark was there to rescue you. I wish it had been me up in that tornado instead of you. I realize that you where in the path of it because of me. If you hadn't dropped me off, you would have been safe.'

Lana eyes filled with tears. She reached for her meteor necklace that had always given her a source of strength. But it wasn't there. Lana realized that she had given it to Whitney the day he left. She wiped away her tears and continued to read.

'But I'm glad your safe. When I was on the bus I kept thinking, was this the right thing to do? You know, dropping everything and everyone to join the Marines. But know that I'm here, I sure I made the right choice. Mom says that dad would have been proud. I have to go. I miss you.

Love Whitney.

Lana re-read the letter before looking at the picture again. Since they had been together, Whitney had never been away from Lana's side for more then a week. He had always been there for protection when she needed it. And sometimes, the whole protective boyfriend thing got on her nerves. Several times they had talked over having space and time apart. But now that Whitney was gone, she missed him being around.

Lana's thoughts turned from Whitney to Clark and the whole tornado incidence. She couldn't remember what happened exactly. But there was more to it then what Clark was saying. She just knew there was. How did Clark get her out of the tornado? How did he find her when he was supposed to be at the dance with Chloe?

Still, Lana was so thankful Clark had been there. He was always there. Whenever or whatever she was doing, Lana could always count on Clark. Lana shook her head. She couldn't deny it. She had feelings for Clark. She never realized it until Clark started to pay attention to Chloe. Lana wasn't mad or anything with Chloe. If fact, she was the one that told Chloe that she didn't feelings for Clark and for Chloe to go for him herself. But one question plagued her mind more then any other. What about Whitney?

"Yes," Lana sighed. "What about Whitney?"...

Late the next afternoon, Clark was in his "fortress of solitude" thinking when he heard someone coming up the stairs.

"Hey, son." Jonathan Kent said, as he reached top of the stairs. "You finished you chores early just to come up here and stare into space?"

"Yeah." Clark sighed.

Jonathan sat down beside his son. "What where you thinking about?"

"Chloe... and Lana." he answered. "I really let Chloe down."

Jonathan raised his eyebrow. "How?"

"Remember that article that I interviewed Lex for about how he's been trying to re-open the Luthor plant and about his father. Well, I was supposed to hand it into Chloe yesterday. But I never got around to writing it."

"Let me guess why that was," Jonathan said, smiling. "Lana?"

Clark nodded. "I really feel bad about letting Chloe down. Of course it doesn't help that she's going on her internship next week for three whole months. And to make matters worse, I don't think we are on good terms. Chloe says that things are fine but they don't feel fine."

"Well, son, I'm sure you and Chloe will work things out before next week." Jonathan said.

"And then there is Lana. She's become suspicious ever since the tornado. So now every time I go near her, she's giving me the eye." Clark ran his hand through his hair. "Dad, there have been several times that I've wanted to tell her about my powers."

"Clark-." Jonathan started but Clark cut him off.

"Don't worry. I haven't told her a thing and I don't intend to. There just seems to be so much coming at me at once, I'm not sure that I'm strong enough to handle it." Clark sighed again.

"Oh, Clark, we all have these troubles."

"Yeah, but your troubles don't involve x-ray vision and super strength." Clark gave his father a small smile.

Jonathan nodded. "True. But, son, but that doesn't make our problems any less troublesome then yours. We all have trials. We need to stand for what we believe and go for what we want."

"But what if you don't know what you want?" Clark muttered. "Or who."

Jonathan smiled. "I'm always here if you need to talk. And I always will be. But I think you'll figure things out for yourself. You're strong." Jonathan stopped then added. "Mentally and physically."

Clark smiled then stood up. "I think I'll go for a walk. You know, to clear my head."

"And I better go get washed up for dinner or else your mother will have a fit." Jonathan said. Together they headed down the stairs.

Clark walked along the field staring at the ground, lost in thought. A sudden noise made him look up. He looked around but didn't see anything. Then, from out of nowhere, a girl appeared on the ground beside his feet. She looked as if she was sleeping.

As Clark knelt beside her, she vanished again. Then re-appeared, still sound asleep. The girl looked to be around Clark's age but with her face, clothes and hair covered with dirt, it was hard to tell.

The girl's eyes opened and she stared wide-eyed at Clark. She raised her hand toward him. "Hel-." she croaked out. "Help me, please..." her voice trailed off as she passed out again.

"It's all right." Clark muttered, not sure whether she could hear him or not. He glanced around. "You're safe now." Clark picked the girl up in his arms. She let out a gasp and vanished again. But he could still feel her in his arms.

He carried her to the Kent house and opened the front door. "Mom! Dad! You better come here..."