Clark ran home instead of taking the bus. Chloe had basically filled the rest of his day with reporting homework, and he wanted to talk to Lana. He'd thought about calling first, but he knew what the answer would be – "Oh, that's okay, Clark, really… I'm fine" – so he was just going to walk there instead. He didn't know what he was going to say when he got there, but he wanted to comfort her and he wanted to make himself feel better about everything that had happened on Friday.

"Lana," he tried as he struck off for her house, "I want you to know I'll always be there, if you want to talk… Listen, Lana, if you need a friend… Lana, I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable on Friday-" He stopped talking for a moment. And I'm sorry you made me uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and eyed her house, looming against the sky. "Lana, I just wanted to make sure that you're comfortable talking to me, because I know you're going through something rough right now. I want to know you've got someone to talk to." That sounded pretty good. "I want you to know… I mean I want to know you can talk to me, because I would feel awful if something like that happened and I couldn't talk-" He stopped again, this time because his throat had closed up. For a moment the only sound was that of his feet on the road. He couldn't talk to anyone. No one that would understand, anyway. Well, Lex. He could talk to Lex. But not about everything. "I can't talk to anyone about everything," he whispered. It took him a second to realize he had said it out loud. He tried very hard not to feel lonely. "Lana," he started again, but by this time he had reached her house and it was too late to practice.

When she opened the door, her expression was enough to make him turn around and run back home right then and there, but she invited him before he could excuse himself clumsily and flee from her gaze of mixed feelings.

"I'm glad you're here," she said, and he couldn't tell if she meant it or not. "Everything's been crazy here. The phone's ringing off the hook. I might as well be a celebrity in the midst of a divorce," she laughed, but her laugh sounded sour and Clark felt infinitely sorry for her.

"Well, listen, Lana, I just wanted to come and say that-"

There was a knock on the door. They both stood staring at the door for a split second, and then Lana said, "Coming," and went to open it, with an apologetic glance at Clark.

She opened the door to reveal the last person in the world Clark had expected to see.

Lex Luthor's mouth was open as if to speak, but upon seeing Clark behind Lana, his words stopped instantly. He only looked a little puzzled, but Clark saw a vein in his temple throb and knew that he was either very surprised or upset about something. Clark felt a stab of confusion and wished he could see Lana's expression.

Since Lex seemed at a loss and Lana wasn't saying anything, Clark ventured, "Hi, Lex." Then they both started moving again, like wind-up toys.

"Yeah, hi," Lana said, and she sounded like Clark felt. "What are you doing here, Lex?"

The vein in Lex's temple kept throbbing. He glanced at Clark, then back at Lana. "Can I talk to you?" he said, and his voice was rather low. Lana didn't say anything for a second, and then she took hold of the doorknob.

"Yeah, no problem," she said, and put up one finger in Clark's direction, telling him to wait, as she closed the door behind them. Clark was left alone in Lana's living room.

His first thought was, What the hell? His second was that he could see through walls. He squinted slightly and watched Lana follow Lex a little ways away from the house, towards his car, which was pulled up on the road. He turned to face her and Clark, and started talking. His face looked unhappy, and Clark could see that vein going faster than ever. He wondered with some concern what was the matter. Lana crossed her arms, and she tilted her head slightly as she listened. Clark really wished he could see her face.

Lex glanced up towards the house, and for a sickening moment Clark thought he could see him. Then he came to his senses as Lex looked back at Lana, who was now talking. Lex interrupted her and said something with curt, tense hand gestures, and his face was as upset as Clark thought Lex would ever allow his face to be. Which was to say, he looked mildly disturbed. Clark got the feeling he was asking a question.

"Clark?"

He jumped and turned around. Nell was standing at the foot of the staircase with a vague smile on her face.

"Honey, where's Lana?"